Growing up, I had very few games, but the ones I did have were all I needed. I spent a lot of time playing games like Pitfall and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, but I never finished them. Rather, I was happy to keep hitting my head against them, picking up new skills with every setback to help me advance a little bit on my subsequent attempts. I would not come to understand just how brief such games were until I was much older. In less than three hours, I could defeat Sonic if I played my cards correctly. The game Pitfall, which I spent years playing, was just forty minutes long. Hardness equated to worth.
While playing Contra: Operation Galuga, I can clearly see how far the video game industry has strayed away from that concept. The latest game is a brand-new version of Contra, a run-and-gun shooter that helped define the genre and is infamous for its difficulty. In the past, the gaming website IGN even declared the original Contra to be the “Toughest Game to Beat.” Even if a complete run just takes an hour or so, you may play it for years without ever seeing how it ends.
Contra: Operation Galuga, which has been updated with additional features and improved graphics, is a prime example of how much the concepts of value and substance have impacted game design. That could annoy purists, but it doesn’t take away from an entertaining take on a retro recreation. Contra: With Operation Galuga, players can take a fresh approach to Contra and increase their mastery flexibility.
Secure and fill
Contra: WayForward, a studio that specializes in making contemporary vintage games, is the source of Operation Galuga. Here, that skill is put to good use as it creates a new iteration of the iconic shooter that feels both more contemporary and true to its forerunner. It seems like a tried-and-true Contra. In an arcade-style run-and-gun genre, players blast through eight intense levels, blowing away foes, obtaining upgrades for flying weapons, and taking down some tough bosses. Proceed to the right, fire, run out of lives, then try again.
I could see faults with certain parts, such as awkward platforming and a drab visual aesthetic. However, Operation Galuga largely fulfills the desires of devoted viewers of the original series. It’s a fast-paced action game with fresh side-scrolling thrills mixed in with traditional Contra bosses. In one stage, I’m riding a motorcycle and blasting foes. The majority of the action takes place in two dimensions, but as I go diagonally along a hallway filled with test tubes or jump off a ramp, the perspective changes. The camera swings in front of me to reveal the dangerous car that my familiar employer, a spike-adorned vehicle, is speeding toward me. Everything has a little more dynamism without sacrificing the genre’s essential elements.
Its revised weapon system also reflects that idea. Timeless favorites are back with a few new tweaks. Players can increase the power of one of their two existing weapons by one level by grabbing a stray power-up. A flamethrower’s short range increases significantly with a three-shot burst, which also doubles its dispersion. In order to trigger a super power, players can also relinquish weapons at any time, which introduces some decision-making into the gameplay. Upon spotting a fresh power-up, I have the option to discard a weapon to release its potential and create space for the new firearm. Alternatively, I can decide to hang onto what I have in the hopes of eventually double its potency. It’s a minor adjustment that works well.
The way Contra: Operation Galuga extends a brief game to cater to players with contemporary expectations is the largest shift, though. There are three different modes for the bundle. Death indicates that the game is over in Arcade Mode, the original Galuga experience. Story Mode offers players greater flexibility by allowing them to access any unlocked level and providing mid-stage checkpoints. The remaining portion is made up of Challenges, which assign players to finish brief segments of levels under specific circumstances (a speedrun race, challenging opponent layouts, etc.). All of that creates the impression that Contra has a lot more “value” thanks to some ingenious remixing.
But the one thing that truly sticks out is how it approaches growth, which is different from previous arcade games. Each of these game types awards currency that can be used to purchase all characters’ permanent benefits and enhancements. Gamers can start runs with a certain weapon, improve their health bar, and increase the number of lives they gain during a run. That tiny twist serves several purposes. One benefit is that it somewhat enhances the satisfaction of repeatedly hitting one’s skull against difficult levels. Even a botched run will bring in some serious money. In addition, because every character has two booster slots, it allows players to be a little more creative with how they play. I’ve gotten into a rhythm where I start every life with a spreader shot to increase my health and make otherwise difficult stages easier to handle.
The repetitive nature of the system can tire players, as they must repeatedly go through the same phases in order to purchase improvements. Nevertheless, it’s a clever ploy for contemporary gamers accustomed to games that continuously reward them. It uses more material rewards on its stick as a motivation than just sheer talent and willpower. And it accomplishes it without completely giving up the former. Arcade Mode allows players to switch between one-hit kills and more traditional gameplay. After you’ve completed Story Mode with assistance, you can take on that entirely different task. Contra maintains its replayability with an additional layer of mechanisms to prevent new players from giving up completely.
Contra: Operation Galuga is a typical classic shooter game with a few interesting changes, so I wouldn’t say it’s a complete revolution. However, I value that it lets me consider how my personal engagement demands have evolved since I first started playing video games as a child. In my youth, I spent a lot of time playing games like Contra, even though I may have just completed the first few stages. I wish that was plenty for me now, but I need even the tiniest of hooks to keep me going. Operation Galuga accommodates this shift in perspective by providing more sides to a light dinner and ensuring that I have plenty to eat however I choose to play.
Contra: The PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC will all be able to play Operation Galuga starting on March 12.
