Contra: Operation Galuga – A Familiar Yet Underwhelming Experience
Introduction
Returning to the 2D run-and-gunners of my youth, Contra: Operation Galuga offers a modernized version of a classic. While it provides an enjoyable journey alongside friends, it falls short of delivering any significant evolutions. Let’s delve into this reimagining of the original Contra and explore its ups and downs.
Adequate Modernization, Lack of Evolution
Contra: Operation Galuga maintains a reliable and safe approach, mirroring its predecessor’s formula of battling enemies through stages and challenging boss fights. While it claims to be a sequel, it feels more like a remake with slight modifications. Despite this, the game introduces some fresh elements like fully voiced characters, new playable characters with unique abilities, and new 2D stages. However, it remains largely faithful to its roots, resulting in a journey that feels all too familiar and lacks excitement.
Underwhelming Story and Dialogue
Unfortunately, Operation Galuga doesn’t deliver compelling storytelling. The added story, although providing extra context, suffers from stilted writing, one-dimensional characters, and lengthy dialogue sequences that lack meaningful developments. While appreciating the need to defeat the villain and prevent the destruction of humanity, extensive monologues and unnecessary dialogue interruptions hinder the overall fast-paced and action-packed experience.
A Mix of Nostalgia and Solid Arcade Action
Operation Galuga presents a blend of classic levels and completely new stages, serving nostalgia and old-school action. While revisiting familiar Contra levels evokes a sense of enjoyment, the overall gameplay remains largely untouched. Players find themselves engaged in the traditional dodge-and-shoot mechanics, which, although reliable, lack surprises or evolutionary changes that could enhance the experience.
Familiar Gameplay, Minor Tweaks
The core gameplay of Contra remains intact in Operation Galuga, offering little innovation beyond the addition of hover abilities, grapple hooks, and sliding mechanics for the new characters. The timeless arsenal of weapons, alien and commando enemies, and challenging boss battles provide what fans expect. Minor tweaks, like the two-weapon system and weapon upgrades, add a touch of freshness, but they don’t provide a groundbreaking difference.
Retaining Contra 4’s Successful Elements
Elements from developer WayForward’s previous Contra game, Contra 4, intermingle with Operation Galuga. The two-weapon system, which allows players to switch firearms depending on the situation, and the ability to upgrade weapons by collecting duplicates offer slight refinements to the gameplay. The addition of weapon overloading, with temporary benefits in exchange for sacrificing the weapon, adds a strategic element to combat.
Arcade and Challenge Modes for Multiplayer Fun
Continuing the tradition of Contra 4, Operation Galuga features the Arcade and Challenge modes. The Arcade mode allows four-player co-op and presents a challenge to progress as far as possible with a limited number of lives. The Challenge mode offers unique limitations, such as completing a level without firing a weapon. While these modes provide a novelty and chaotic experience, the lack of variety in the levels eventually diminishes the excitement.
Conclusion
Contra: Operation Galuga brings a mix of nostalgia and solid arcade action, providing fans with an adequate modernization of a classic game. While it delivers an enjoyable experience with some new additions and multiplayer modes, the lack of significant evolution and underwhelming storytelling prevent it from standing out. Operation Galuga remains an entertaining but ultimately forgettable installment in the iconic Contra series.
