Contra Rogue Corps Review (PlayStation 4)

by Jim Smale · Published September 23, 2019 · Updated September 9, 2023

CONTRA ROGUE CORPS

For this Contra Rogue Corps Review, we learn that CONTRA is back! Two years after the Alien Wars ended, the Damned City erupts from the final battleground. In the midst of the chaos, a group of scoundrels emerges. They might not be typical heroes, but they’re here to save the world… or get rich trying. Featuring action-packed battles, customizable gear, gigantic bosses, and explosive multiplayer action.

Contra Rogue Corps Review Pros:

OK, graphics.
10.86 GB download size.
Shmup gameplay.
Four characters-Kaiser, Ms. Harakiri, HB (half beast and Gentleman.
Platinum trophy.
HDR support.
The Base camp is your hub where you are free to walk around. You can do shooting range, shop, surgery, character select, missions, and multiplayer PVP.
Guns-earn exp and level them up to increase stats. Using a gun earns exp.
Rad-name for weapon mods. Find these in-game or buy them to add new abilities/stats to a gun. You have multiple slots and is all governed by power. Each rad has power and is also used for upgrading weapons.
Big boss and mini-boss encounters.
The player shows off any earned medals, chooses an avatar, and shows stats.
Buy/sell items.
Loot shooter element.
Clear easy to read Hud and Ui.
You need to understand that this game is more RPG than a shooter and it is all about replaying levels, upgrading guns, and then advancing the story.
A lot of over-the-top explosions.
Respawn on the spot.
Contra of old- sound effects, bombs, and shooting gallery view which is a face-on encounter harking back to the walls and barricades of the older games.
Kill move- what has replaced the bomb but still uses the icon, does a high amount of damage in a small area with each character having a different animation.
Crates can be picked up and thrown or shot as they might have pickups and can do damage to enemies.
Items drop from enemies.
You can change character at any point in the hub.
Each player is unique from stats to abilities.
Surgery-when adding a new transplant you can choose 1 of 3 surgeons to do it and they have a chance to add an extra bonus.
Exploration missions- Unlock them and they are random locations with random enemies and are split into levels so you can quit If you die and get the game over you lose everything.
Hidden areas.
Couch Co-op supports four players with player 1 getting all the loot at the end and the other players just a clone of player 1.
Online Co-op in both private and public lobbies as well as a server browser.
Combo counter.
Easy to grasp controls.
Camera angles make the game feel and play differently.
None of the weapons/gear are tied to a specific character.
It can blow up vehicles and barrels.
You have a main story and optional side missions.
Intel is in the game and shown as bright flashing capsules, Once discovered you have a set amount of time to collect them or they disappear.
End of level breakdown showing a rank for kills, objectives, and time.
World map level select.
You can and are encouraged to replay levels multiple times.
Click a button on a stage to see what possible loot will drop there.
Big stage-filling boss and mini-boss encounters.
Smash enemies into the screen which looks cool but isn’t practical.

CONTRA ROGUE CORPS

Cons:

Matchmaking is slow and you can only browse one particular level as it’s not universal. Once it starts searching you cannot quit.
Doesn’t explain things well.
Anything to do with upgrades and affixing rad parts is a nightmare, No explanation coupled with a messy UI.
Shooting/aiming goes weird in particular views and feels almost inverted.
Bullet sponge enemies and bosses.
Camera angles are constantly changing and can obstruct you.
Slowdown happens a lot in and out of busy areas.
You can turn it off but the surgery sections have a pointless cutscene.
Pain to sort/change gear, especially the implants.
Swapping characters is slow if you plan on switching guns.
Can’t change difficulty in-game.
Transplants can fail but still cost and this is never mentioned.

Contra Rogue Corps:

Official website

Developer: Toylogic

Publisher: KONAMI

Store Links –

PlayStation

7/10

Graphics - 7/10
7/10

Sound - 7/10
7/10

Accessibility - 7/10
7/10

Length - 7/10
7/10

Fun Factor - 7/10

7/10

Summary

Contra Rogue Corps is a shoot ’em up within a 3d setting forgoing the traditional 2d setting we all know and love. With this transition comes great sacrifice, most notably the gameplay is just not as tight and fun as the earlier games. It tries to keep some of the charms like icons and the occasional sound bites and maybe even set-pieces but it’s just not the same. Its camera is not ever in your control and with that, you get constant changes sometimes jarring sometimes pleasant but you never know. Adding loot shooting should have been a fun addition but in reality, it’s something you soon forget as it’s just a small colored block you pick up, It’s meant mostly to add mods to weapons but they just don’t feel important. Transplants again like weapons are just not that important and even the actual guns fall, victim, I picked a machine gun and homing gun and never changed them as they were enough to deal with everything. A couple of mods were added when I could be bothered to check and that’s it. It’s a bummer for me overall as the enemies are just bullet sponges and it’s only really the Co-op aspect that keeps it around as at least you can chat and laugh. I kept playing and playing hoping something would mix it up but it just never came so for me it’s a game I enjoy in very small doses but even then one bad level and I’m done. I have since gone back and attacked the game as an RPG and it makes a lot more sense, Replaying levels over and over is boring and tedious but it is necessary in order to upgrade and get new gear so I can then progress the story. I cannot dismiss the many issues and weird design choices but I can at least feel like I finally know how to play the game how it was intended even though it took me several years, a lot of googling, and coming back on different platforms. Contra Rogue Corps… It’s a thing.