After years waiting for a true new entry, Contra: Operation Galuga aims to recapture that old-school magic
Contra is one of the iconic shooter franchises that helped define the 'run and gun' genre. After years waiting for a true new entry, Contra: Operation Galuga aims to recapture that old-school magic. Developed by WayForward, does this new entry deliver a fun and challenging experience for series veterans and newcomers alike?
Galuga Island serves as the setting, with mysterious ancient technology putting the world in danger once more. You take control of one of several soldiers, including series mainstays Bill and Lance, equipped with an arsenal of weapons to blast their way through waves of enemies. The story, while simple, provides enough context to motivate battling through each stage. Voice work, especially from Steve Blum as Bill, helps elevate the cutscenes.
Gameplay sticks closely to Contra's roots. You run, jump and shoot constantly moving hordes of soldiers, mutants and aliens. Dodging is key to survival thanks to the fast enemy projectiles and challenges of each stage. Different weapons like the spread gun and flamethrower dispatch enemies in unique ways, and stacking them multiple times makes them stronger. While the traditional 'one hit death' provides the authentic Contra challenge, options like extra lives and a health bar that allows you to take multiple hits make it accessible for all skill levels.
Each stage takes place in a new environment like jungles, temples and alien worlds. While not pushing graphic boundaries, visuals maintain the sci-fi alien feel through colorful enemies and animated backdrops. Soundtrack mixes new tracks fitting the action while honoring series favorites. Boss encounters showcase their imposing forms through interesting attack patterns.
Mastering the controls to smoothly maneuver and aim across stages takes practice. Later levels notably raise the difficulty through tighter spaces and more aggressive enemies. Challenge Mode offers bite-sized gauntlets perfect for improving skills. Unlocking additional characters like the hovering drone inject new strategies through tweaked movesets.
While the core 8 stages provide a respectably length campaign in around 2 hours, replay value comes from aiming further in Arcade Mode or tackling the truly punishing Challenge levels. An in-game store lets you spend earned credits on perks to customize their soldier with buffs, though the slow earn rate discourages frequent usage.
Despite some challenging moments, Contra: Operation Galuga recaptures the classic run and gun thrills the series pioneered. Faithful to its roots while introducing quality of life tweaks, it offers accessible and rewarding gameplay for series veterans and newcomers alike looking for retro shooting fun. After years waiting, this new Contra release is a worthy new entry that will have you blasting through waves of enemies for hours to come. Thanks for reading!
The game was reviewed on a PS5 using a review copy provided by the publisher. Contra Operation Galuga is available on Steam, Xbox X|S, PlayStation 4/5 and Nintendo Switch.
