When it comes to resurrecting classics, there's a delicate balance to strike between honouring the original and modernizing it for current times. WayForward has stepped into the arena with Contra: Operation Galuga, an attempt to inject fresh life into the Contra series, known for its unforgiving gameplay and high-octane action.
Captured on the Nintendo Switch, Contra: Operation Galuga respects the hardcore essence of the original Contra games, particularly reminiscent of the developer's previous work on the 2007's Contra 4. The game is set against the backdrop of a different gaming landscape, one that has evolved significantly since the series' earlier days. This evolution is reflected in the options available to players, catering to a wide range of preferences and skill levels.
At its core, there are two main modes—Arcade Mode and Story Mode. Arcade Mode offers a focused and stripped-back experience for purists, while Story Mode introduces narrative elements, including cutscenes and occasional in-game communications. Players also encounter NPCs joining the fray from time to time. This mode provides an alternative experience that, although sometimes repetitive, expands the Contra gameplay for those seeking a richer story.
To spice things up, Contra: Operation Galuga includes Easter eggs such as unlockable characters with unique abilities and the return of the child-friendly Probotector droids, familiar to European gamers. The game also softens the difficulty curve with three difficulty settings and a three-point health bar—a departure from the series' infamous one-hit deaths. Players can earn points to spend on upgrades and perks that tailor the experience to individual playing styles, ranging from invulnerability boosts to new jumping heights.
Such options are meant to welcome new players into the Contra fold. Despite these modern concessions, the game stays true to its roots by offering a rigorous challenge, especially on the hardest settings or when foregoing the perks for a more traditional experience.
Visually, some have criticized the game's graphics, which favor a contemporary style over pixel art. Nevertheless, the design works within the context of the 2.5D plane, with dynamic camera angles that harken back to thrilling moments from past titles like Contra: Shattered Soldier. The stages are meticulously crafted, riding on the benefits of modern hardware to deliver expansive and immersive bullet-riddled chaos.
The confrontation ends up high-stakesenemies, with intense boss battles demanding keen memory and swift reflexes. Every weapon feels meaningful and strategically diverse, a breath of fresh air from the once all-dominant Spread Gun. You'll find an arsenal with upgradeable damage levels and new attack modes, like powerful overloads that can turn the tide of battle with shield bursts or explosive barrages.
Where Contra: Operation Galuga truly excels is in its gameplay mechanics. The addition of double-jumps and dashes creates a synergy with the combat. These moves open up new possibilities for navigating levels and dispatching adversaries, cementing the game's potential as a playground for speedrunners and veterans alike.
However, not all is smooth sailing, particularly with the Switch version of the game. A pre-launch demo suffered from performance issues, and although one would expect these to be resolved in the full release, the game still struggles. Texture quality and graphics generally take a hit on the Switch, but the real concern lies with the frame rate, which is inconsistently below the 30fps target.
Frame drops lead to control sensitivity issues and outright freezes, which can make for an unfairly difficult experience, not due to the game's design but rather its subpar performance. Oddly, these issues don't affect all parts of the game evenly, with some stages feeling smoother than others.
When played docked, the Switch version handles slightly better due to the larger screen, which helps mitigate the difficulty of tracking action during moments when the camera zooms out. On handheld mode, however, the small size of the Switch screen can make following the action a herculean task, detracting from the precision which is a staple of the series.
Despite these performance setbacks, Contra: Operation Galuga remains an engaging title at its core. It's a refined Contra experience that might be worth the patience for some players, though the performance issues might deter others. It's a shame that such a well-constructed game is marred by technical flaws on the Switch, leaving players to consider whether to endure the problems for the sake of the gameplay or to explore other versions that deliver a smoother experience.
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