History of Contra Series:-
In 1987, Konami brought the classic arcade game called Contra is the Run N Gun shooter for the Arcade machines, and then one year later, it was later ported to NES console is due to success of the arcade version. Contra for NES is well known for unique levels, challenging difficulty, colorful graphics, and ironic gameplay with excellent weapon's power-ups and having 2-player co-op what makes the game so memorable on NES version considered to be one of the best Run N Gun game of 80's that becomes Run N Gun legacy.
The game had becoming popular among with fans and gamers, the sequel for NES called Super C was released in 1988, which still retains the side scrolling format, along with vertically view perspective in some level. It receives still positive review from the critics by saying it's a good game sequel with great boss fights, and has more action what makes this game still worth to play on NES.
In 1992, there are another sequel for SNES called Contra 3: The Alien Wars, which has more variety of gameplay by having new weapons with upgrades, top-down perspective for some levels, complex level design, and more intense action than the previous game makes the game look amazing on the SNES system. Two years later, Contra: Hard Corps for SEGA Genesis was came out in 1994, so it offers 4 new characters, 6-button controls allowing the character have options to shoot while walking or standing still and weapon selection, high-tech graphics, and kick-ass techno soundtrack. It is the great Run N Gun shooter for SEGA Genesis owner to enjoy the atmosphere of the hardcore shooter style. In between 1996 and 1998, they bringing the game called Contra: Legacy of War and Contra Adventure for PS1 and Saturn, which features the 3D perspective gameplay, isometric graphics, and different storyplot, which is different from the previous game for PS1 and Saturn. It receives poorly review from the critics citing the 2D gameplay were absent from the previous game, criticizing clunky controls, scrappy looking graphics, and being washed out compared to previous game making the worst on the series.
In 2002, Konami yet to bring another game called Contra: Shattered Solder for PS2, which brings back the 2D sidescroller, better controls, and brand new weapons. However, the game gets much decent reviews from critics citing the game have been improved over the previous game for PS1, and it deserves much credit that Konami have made the wise decision by having the classic 2D sidescroller makes the game look better than was before.
In 2007, Konami brought Contra 4 for DS, which brings the classic root to the original 1987 NES classics. The game receives far even great reviews from critics citing it is the best Run N Gun shooter up to date for DS.
In 2011, Hard Corps: Uprising was released for PSN, and XBLA. It features anime graphics style, more variety of gameplay, 2-player co-op on local or online, 3 downloadable chararcters, and unlockable level select. It receive good reviews from the critics citing the game is quite decent, but not just good as the original 1994 SEGA Genesis game, but still fun to play are recommended for the fans of Run N Gun shooters.
Hard Corps: Uprising PS3 Digital Download Review:-
Hard Corps: Uprising is the Run N Gun game for PS3 and X360, which developed by Arc System Works, and published by Konami. It is the prequel of the Contra: Hard Corps for SEGA Genesis as well the original Contra for NES.
This game had some potential that the developers did a wonderful job on the whole game will pleased the fans of Contra series are looking forward to play this hardcore sidescrolling madness with amazing gameplay, fluid anime graphics, upgradeable weapons and abilities, well challenged levels, and even more fast paced action makes this game so awesome and enjoyable to play.
You get to play as the 2 of the characters like Bahamut and Krystal has the mission to take down the death squad from taking over the world.
You can also play as the 3 of the characters like Harley Daniels, Sayuri, and Leviathan, which are available on PSN and XBLA store as DLC characters.
The gameplay has similar control as the Contra: Shattered Solder, which allows player to shoot in different direction while standing still and strafe is to keep player in same side-position while shooting. You can deflect the bullet by pressing the action button to avoid getting hit by the enemies.
Character can able to sprint by holding the dash button or tapping forward twice, but you can perform dash in mid air and double jump by pressing the jump button twice, which seems works very well for character movements.
The weapons are pretty well done in the game. You have the choice of the weapons like super machine gun can shoot automatically while holding the shoot button. Spread shot can shoot with between 3 or 6 bullets, Crash gun that shoots with grenades, ripple gun can shoot with wave on near distance and it is also act as the forcefield when sprinting, Heat gun can shoot flames in larger blast of fire, and chain laser can shoot around the enemies, but the characters can hold 2 weapons so you have an option to change weapons as well. Each of the weapons in the whole game works pretty good in the game. In rising mode, you can upgrade your weapons from customization shop, which allowing to improve accuracy and range of weapons, characters abilities can able to perform better dash moves, triple jump, and more character's action skills, and gaining more health and lives to make game easier for Rising mode.
I say the gameplay stages are far fun to play because it has so many enemies in the levels, so many hazards to avoid getting killed, and the boss fight is definitely worth challenging as well. I find the rising mode is quite too easy to beat, but if you want to go for higher challenge then try the arcade mode for harder difficulty makes the game impossible to beat, but it's still fun to play.
The graphics are much like from the Arc System Works's game like Guilty Gear and Blazblue series by having artistic anime style with fluid character, greater details on level stages with nice backgrounds and texture, and having decent animation looks pretty good on intro cutscenes.
I say it's a very unique art style for graphics makes the game look amazing by having a stunning animation so far.
The music and sounds has really awesome Heavy Metal soundtrack by the video game composer Daisuke Ishiwatari, which he did for the game like Guilty Gear and Blazblue what really makes the music on this game sounds really awesome. The sound effects are pretty decent for sound atmosphere, and background noise are perfect for sound systems, but I say the voice acting sounds really mediocre for most of the enemies has the annoying dying voice when shot down by the protagonist.
The special features offers the unlockable stuff like having 30 lives from customization shop, and stage 1 remix from original Contra by using the Konami codes. You can download 3 characters from the PSN and XBLA Store to unlock them as the playable characters. It has trophy support and online score ranking.
Advantages
Brilliant gameplay
Variety of levels
Upgradeable weapons and abilites
Intense boss levels
Fluid graphics
Awesome soundtrack
Disadvantages
Poor voice acting
Customization shop can be expensive to unlock all items
Sometimes the game can be bit frustrating to beat game
Final Verdict
Is it the best Run N Gun game for modern consoles? Here is my final verdict.
Gameplay 8.5/10 - Brilliant gameplay, variety of levels, upgradeable weapons and abilites, and intense boss levels.
Graphics 8.5/10 - Artistic anime style with fluid character, greater details on level stages with nice backgrounds and texture, and having decent animation.
Music and sounds 8/10 - Awesome soundtrack and decent sound effects, but has poor voice acting for most of the enemies.
Special Features 8/10 - Unlockable 30 lives, plays stage 1 music remix from original Contra, DLC characters, trophy support and online score ranking.
Overall 8.5/10 - I say it is the best Run N Gun on the modern console, but it's not just good as the original contra for NES and Contra: Hard Corps for SEGA Genesis, but this game deserves putting the effort of the game itself. I love the weapons upgrades, precised controls, putting more action in the gameplay atmosphere with lots more enemies and bosses, amazing soundtrack, and very stylistic graphics makes the game entertaining.
If you're the hardcore fan of the Run N Gun shooters then this game is for you to enjoy it, so you can download it from the PSN and XBLA store.
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