Contra: Operation Galuga Review (Steam)

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.

Contra: Operation Galuga Review Cons:

  • No actual graphics settings.
  • The text pop-ups can get in the way of the action.
  • So much is going on it can be hard to make things out.
  • Vehicle-based shooting is stressful as you aim where you are moving.
  • The biggest obstacle is avoiding picking up weapons you don’t want.
  • You have to re-learn what all the weapons are and do.
  • Unlocking credits takes a while.
  • When weapons drop in water you can’t see them at all.
  • Bullet sponge boss battles.
  • The story is not the strongest.

Related Post: Contra Operation Galuga Demo Video Review

Contra: Operation Galuga:

Official website:

Developer: WayForward

Publisher: KONAMI

Store Links –

Nintendo

  • 8/10
    Graphics - 8/10
  • 8/10
    Sound - 8/10
  • 8/10
    Accessibility - 8/10
  • 7/10
    Length - 7/10
  • 9/10
    Fun Factor - 9/10
8/10

Summary

Contra: Operation Galuga is a game that offers a blend of classic and new elements that will appeal to both veteran and novice players. The game supports full controller support, Steam achievements, and up to four-player co-op. It offers a ‘Run and Gun’ gameplay with an 8-directional or full 360-directional firing setting. Players can equip two weapons at a time and hotswap between them. Picking up the same weapon again improves the gun. The weapons range from spread guns, and flame throwers to homing missiles. Each weapon has a unique special attack that can be activated by sacrificing the gun.

In addition to the original characters Bill and Lance, the game introduces the Probotector robots from the UK version of the NES game. Probotectors can hover and fly around for a short time, adding a new dimension to the game. New characters can be unlocked as you progress through the story mode. The game also features a perks system that allows you to add two perks to your character before a stage, such as extra health or retaining your gun upon death.

Contra: Operation Galuga includes a story mode with three difficulty levels (Easy/Normal/Hard) and a danger level (one-hit kill or health bar). There’s also an arcade mode that cuts out the cutscenes and character interactions from the story mode. A challenge mode with set objectives and fail-state objectives is also available. The game allows button remapping for the controller and has a shop where you can buy perks.

The game boasts decent graphics with a 2D perspective and an animated 3D backdrop. When ducking in shallow water, you go underwater and the music changes to a muffled version. The game also offers bonus unlocks like the Contra 4 and Contra 8 Bit OST, and a Castlevania 8 Bit OST if you have a Castlevania collection save.

Contra: Operation Galuga has high replay value as you don’t unlock and see everything in one playthrough. There are 8 stages to unlock and play, and some levels have multiple routes. You can also unlock the ability to buy characters from previous games and new soundtracks, including a Konami 8-bit classic megamix.

Despite its strengths, the game has a few drawbacks. The text pop-ups can get in the way of the action, and the vehicle-based shooting can be stressful as you aim where you are moving. The game lacks actual graphics settings, and unlocking credits can take a while. The story is not the strongest, and you end up running through the same 8 levels over and over.

Overall, Contra: Operation Galuga offers a fast-paced, action-packed Contra experience with a mix of new and classic elements. It’s a game worth trying for its new spin on gameplay, new and returning characters, and replay value. However, be prepared for some challenges along the way. In short old Contra is back and better than ever! I look forward to watching the speed runs.

Jim Smale

Gaming since the Atari 2600, I enjoy the weirdness in games counting Densha De Go and RC De Go as my favourite titles of all time. I prefer gaming of old where buying games from a shop was a thing, Being social in person was a thing. Join me as I attempt to adapt to this new digital age!