It’s been so long since I’ve played a good Contra game that I didn’t really have any expectations when a new one was announced. Thankfully, WayForward have done a pretty solid job of reviving the series in a way that doesn’t comprise its challenging roots but doesn’t push the series further in any meaningful way either. Depending on who you ask, this may or may not be a problem, but for someone starved for a good entry, I’ll take what I can get. Is Contra Operation Galuga worth your time? Let’s find out.
Gameplay and Story
Contra games usually throw you into the action as soon as you hit start, but there's a bit of a story element here this time too. The Red Falcon terrorist group has launched an attack on the Galuga Islands, and it’s up to Bill Rizer and Lance Bean to fend off the ground invasion and put a stop to their plans.
There are in-game cutscenes and dialogue sections, and characters will share banter during missions too. It's not intrusive, doesn't get in the way of the action, and largely pushes the plot forward. It's campy, with tons of one-liners, and not a bad addition, all things considered. It's a standard 80s action plot, and it's hard not to appreciate the commitment to that style of narrative, and I had a smile on my face for most of it.
Gameplay is the most important thing about a Contra title, and Operation Galuga is as solid as you'd expect. It's essentially the same Contra games you've grown up with, and the run-and-gun action is practically untouched. You can aim in a full 360 direction, lock the aim, prone, double-jump, and dash as well. The controls are responsive, and the visual feedback is consistent with your actions. The new characters you unlock have some unique traversal mechanics as well and add to the replayability.
There are multiple weapons that you’re constantly bombarded with as well. Some are way better than others though, and the homing missiles can trivialize most sections, especially if you’re good at avoiding incoming attacks. That’s the other part of Operation Galuga because this is an uncompromising retro-style run 'n' gun experience, and getting hit a few times means Game Over. There’s also a 1-hit mode here for the hardcore enthusiasts, but I stuck with the default Normal mode.
Levels aren’t that long, but if you aren’t careful, you’ll be reloading checkpoints multiple times over. Enemies don’t ever stop coming, and the fast-paced action is never interrupted. This is something that I really missed in a lot of modern 2D action games, and I’m glad this can scratch that itch. While the levels can be fairly difficult, the bosses aren’t that hard. If you have a decent weapon equipped, most bosses felt like pushovers to me, which does make the difficulty feel a bit unbalanced.
Overall, the gameplay is exactly what you’d expect from a Contra game, and there are a few neat additions here and there.
Graphics and Audio
While I love the gameplay part of Operation Galuga, I’m not the biggest fan of the visuals. WayForward’s catalog is full of 2D titles that feature high-quality pixel art, which has a timeless quality to it. Operation Galuga ditches that for a 2.5D aesthetic, and while there’s nothing offensively bad about the presentation, it’s one of the weaker aspects for me. It doesn’t have a stylized approach similar to something like Strider either and loses a lot of the charm of the Contra series which boasted some excellent pixel art in previous entries.
This is obviously subjective, and it’s possible you might end up liking the 2.5D direction more, but for me, it just feels a bit stale, and boring to look at, even if it’s getting the job done. The music is pretty good for the most if not a bit unmemorable. You can however unlock remixed versions of the soundtrack
Feedback
You can get through the game’s 8 levels in an hour to an hour and a half if you’re good at run 'n' gun games, and it’s priced at $40. Depending on how much you plan on replaying the levels, this is something you should also take into account. Personally, I think it’s a bit steep, and while I appreciate the replayability aspect, there are a lot of longer run 'n' gun titles that go for much lower, and offer more content.
Verdict
Contra Operation Galuga is a solid entry in the series, and WayForward have once again stayed true to the roots of what makes Contra games so fun. The fast-paced action, responsive controls, and campy tone add up to a worthy revival of the series, but its uneven presentation and steep price hold it back from true Contra greatness.
