Contra: Operation Galuga Review (Steam)

by Jim Smale · Published March 12, 2024 · Updated March 8, 2024

Contra: Operation Galuga Review, When the Red Falcon terrorist group takes over the Galuga Islands off the coast of New Zealand, elite Contra commandos Bill Rizer and Lance Bean spring into action, initiating an all-out war in which the fate of mankind hangs in the balance!

Contra: Operation Galuga Review Pros:

Decent graphics.
7.5GB Download size.
Steam achievements.
Full controller support.
Graphics settings – resolution.
Supports up to four-player co-op.
Firing setting – 8 directional or full 360 directional firing.
Run and Gun gameplay.
Perks allow you to add two to your character before a stage and they are things like extra health or keeping your gun upon death.
In the game, you can have two weapons equipped at one time and can instantly hotswap between them. Picking up the same weapon again improves the gun and shows an II symbol.
Weapons are as you would expect, spread guns, flame throwers and homing missiles, and so on but here you can sacrifice the gun and do a shared shit that does a special attack, each gun does something else.
Characters you have the two original characters Bill and Lance but in a cool addition you get the Probotector robots who are the characters you play in the Probotector game which is the UK version of the NES game. Probotectors can hover and fly around for a short time and mix up the game.
Unlock new characters as you play through story mode and it unlocks them for that and arcade mode.
Weapons are as you would expect, spread guns, flame throwers homing missiles, and so on but here you can sacrifice the gun and do a special unique that does a special attack, each gun does something else.
The voice-over narration is kinda cheesy and not that great but it does set the scene that the game is not as serious as the original.
Bonus unlocks – demo save gives you some credits and the Contra 4 and Contra 8 Bit OST, if you have a Castlevania collection save you get a Castlevania 8 Bit OST, All soundtracks can be listened to during arcade play.
Arcade mode is just story mode but with the cutscenes and character interactions cut out.
Can remap the buttons for the controller.
The shop is where you can buy perks to equip them and they are filtered into available, affordable, purchased, all perks, player, and global.
Once you beat a mission in story mode it stays completed so you don’t have to finish the game in one sitting.
Challenge mode has set objectives and fail – state objectives. You can set the soundtrack and you see your best and par time.
Story mode has three difficulties (Easy/normal/hard), and danger level (one hit kill or health bar).
Earn credits in story mode based on performance and get bonus credits for finishing levels with other characters.
2D perspective with an animated 3D backdrop.
Opening tutorial text pop-ups.
Capsules fly across the screen and shooting it drops a new gun.
As standard, you lose the currently equipped weapon upon a life loss.
When ducking in shallow water you go underwater and the music changes to a muffled version.
Excellent animations.
Fast-paced good old action fun.
In-game cutscenes and character interactions.
End-of-level breakdown of performance and time taken.
3 save slots in story mode.
World map level selected in story mode allowing you to replay levels.
Lose all your lives and you have to restart the level.
All new 3D-implemented changes to enemies and boss spawns and actions make it feel a lot more immersive and destructive.
Kill enemies and fill the bonus capsule under your health bar, once full press a button at any time to make a capsule appear.
Score enough points to earn extra lives.
Clever new boss battles.
Some characters change how guns work, for example, Lucia changes the spread gun into a wave shot that can be charged for a bigger wave.
The gimmick of overpowering your weapon is key to victory as it can give you huge advantages like shields or barriers.
Has vehicle sections.
Some of the levels have multiple routes to them.
8 stages to unlock and play.
Has a cool end-of-credits sequence.
Unlock the ability to buy characters from previous games, and new soundtracks including a Konami 8 Bit classic megamix.
Has replay value as you don’t unlock and see everything in one playthrough.