I’ve obtained fond recollections of taking part in Contra on the communal SNES at after college care as a child (or Tremendous Probotector as I imagine it was renamed in Aus). Despite the fact that I don’t suppose me and the others ever obtained previous the second stage, it’s nice to see a revival. Contra: Operation Galuga evokes a way of nostalgia, by means of the acquainted run and gun motion, depraved weapons and issue spikes. I’m simply glad now I’m not taking part in ‘dying and move on’ with six different youngsters on a Thursday arvo within the college corridor.
Contra: Operation Galuga is the primary new Contra recreation since Contra: Rogue Corps in 2019. And since that title opted for an odd twin-stick shooter shtick, Operation Galuga is the primary traditional side-scrolling Contra recreation since Arduous Corps: Rebellion in 2011. Fairly a look ahead to certainly one of Konami’s outdated licensed classics.
This time, the Contra lads are up in opposition to an odd, new alien race, threatening the entire planet’s existence. The story is all nicely and good, however truthfully it’s only a car to leap round and blast some baddies. Arcade mode is the place the story unfolds, solo or with a mate, and also you’ll have the ability to unlock new characters, whereas arcade is your traditional no nonsense Contra expertise, however playable with as much as three mates domestically!
Inside a stage, you’ll do your traditional working and gunning – dodging enemies and their projectiles, and choosing up new weapons on the fly to blast ’em with (360° of vary too!), all whereas charging for the tip of the stage. You may retailer a further weapon as nicely, which you’ll swap between, however die and also you’ll drop your outfitted one. You too can decide up the identical weapon a second time to get an upgraded model, however take injury simply as soon as and that’ll revert again to its base kind. There’s additionally weapon overloads, which’ll deplete your outfitted weapon in alternate for a brief means, akin to a time freeze, some battle drones, or a barrage of missiles.
It’s actually just a few traditional Contra, with a sprinkle of modernity. There’s now a perk store the place you should purchase buffs, like some extra well being, or at all times spawning in with a sure weapon. In the event you’re actual good at racking up credit you possibly can even purchase some secret characters or particular music, just like the Castlevania BGM. And for a fast repair of credit with an enormous issue spike check out the mini-missions in problem mode – too wealthy for my blood however good for lovers of brutal issue.
Contra: Operation Galuga did crash on me a couple of occasions, the loading screens are longer than I’d count on for a 2.5D recreation, and a few of the costs within the perk store are ridiculous, however finally it’s an excellent little bit of enjoyable. I’ve been lacking run and gun motion like this since major college. Invoice Rizer and Lance Bean, I salute you.
Score: 4/5