Contra: Operation Galuga [Review]
WayForward’s Operation Galuga is one of the best Contra games to date.
Image credit: Konami / WayForward
Konami worked with WayForward to bring us a Contra game any fan of the series will love. Operation Galuga is a loose modern remake of the first game of the series that includes elements from some of the later games, more levels, a new story, and additional features.
Contra soldiers Bill and Lance land on Galuga Island to eliminate invading terrorist group Red Falcon. The rumor is that the terrorists are developing dangers and unpredictable gravity weapons, so it’s important to resolve the situation quickly. Of course, some complications ensue. The story and its dialogue aren’t particularly good. The developers had the wisdom to mercifully allow us to skip cutscenes. Thankfully, story isn’t what I look for when I play Contra. All that matters is that you go somewhere overrun by bad guys and must urgently blow everything up.
Image credit: Konami / WayForward
Contra is a quintessential run and gun game that helped establish the action-packed genre. You have to advance through each level, gaining ground by blasting a never-ending onslaught of enemies that attack from all sides, ultimately leading to gargantuan, screen-filling bosses. Operation Galuga combines the mechanics of the original game as well as updates from series best Contra III, such as climbing and the ability to swap between two weapon powerups.
The series is know for its punishingly difficulty where one hit means death, so it’s notable that Operation Galuga offers updates that allow you to modify the level of challenge. Players now have three hitpoints for each life; one-hit kills are an optional difficulty setting. The game also features a story mode with unlimited continues and mid-level checkpoints.
Image credit: Konami / WayForward
Another welcome addition is a perks shop. Points earned during the game are used to buy perks that buff your abilities or make the game easier. For example, all weapons have two stackable levels to make them more powerful, and you can get a perk that will always start them off at level two. Other perks can do things such as granting an extra hitpoint or an extra life across the board. Two perks can be equipped at once.
Image credit: Konami / WayForward
Though I haven’t unlocked many yet, the game includes more characters than just classic protagonists Bill and Lance. Each has unique abilities, making multiplayer even more rewarding. The game supports up to four players in couch co-op and I always find that more rewarding when characters feel unique.
The game feels great to play, which is especially important for Contra. Controls are responsive and precise. Hitboxes are tight and always feel fair, allowing you to pull off impressive dodging maneuvers that will give you a rush. The game can be a nailbiter at times that’s almost as fun to watch as it is to play.
Image credit: Konami / WayForward
Like the best Contra titles, Operation Galuga is in 2D with horizontal or vertical scrolling. Here things are in 2.5D; levels will sometimes gently curve into the foreground or background, creating a greater illusion of depth. Some levels have brief action cutscenes sprinkled in. An autoscrolling hovercycle level features cutscenes where you’ll automatically ride on walls to clear gaps between sections, or change camera angles to introduce minibosses that pursue you. The game’s 3D graphics do justice to the look of the classic games. The presentation is bright and all the action is crystal clear, unobscured by environmental effects. Character animations are minimal and a bit stiff; I imagine this was a necessary sacrifice to allow the precision and speed of movement that the game has.
There are over a dozen games in the Contra series, many of them total misfires. With WayForward, Konami definitely chose the right partner to bring back the classic franchise. They have an impressive portfolio of classically styled side-scrollers and it’s clear they understood what makes Contra tick. I hope we see more games in the series and that Konami allows WayForward to let it grow and evolve.
Contra: Operation Galuga is available now on PC (Steam), PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One / Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
Overall Score: 7/10
Played on: PS5
