Nintendo has always stood out for its exceptional ability to evolve over time without betraying the core pillars of its philosophy: fun, tradition, and innovation. A remarkable trio, in an era of remakes that are often ends in themselves and have not been able to convey the original soul of the reference game.
So we can imagine the excitement among veteran players, the ones labeled hardcore by industry insiders, when Contra: Operation Galuga was announced toward the end of 2023, a thunderous sequel to the legendary franchise dedicated to hard-as-nails soldiers born from that volcano of ideas called Konami.
The saga historically boasts a significant number of chapters: the first saw the light in 1987 and was one of the many video games that defined the new standards for consoles; at that time it was the NES that hosted the adventures of Bill and Lance, with the possibility of playing side by side with a friend in the comfort of one’s own living room.
This new incarnation, coming out on March 12, 2024, takes up the series’ original concept again, a side-scrolling shooter packed to the brim with enemies and one in which it is so easy to die that you will hardly even notice how long you’ll be able to stay standing amid clouds of bullets, lasers ready to slice you in two, and sniper drones with a single goal: to take you out, as quickly and painfully as possible.
Finely from the first images released by Nintendo, it was clear that Contra: Operation Galuga would once again throw players into a bullet hell (before the term Bullet Hell had even become popular among hardcore gamers passionate about space shooters) in the saga’s iconic levels, I’m talking about the dense jungle seen in the first title, or the village assaulted by robots and giant mechas as armored as Gundam and just as dangerous and lethal.
But all this in a new millennium key, with the graphical department dressing the game in a more elegant way, but no less complex for that, immersive audio effects that clearly recall the golden age of 8-bit.
La characteristic feature of the Contra series, perhaps the best known and the one that has been able to foster a love/hate relationship with the game, is that of instant death: no energy bars or second chances are предусмотрено in this fratricidal war, because the moment your protagonist brushes against an enemy or is hit by the countless bullets scattered across the screen like promises of blood, it will be the end.
This aspect gave the game incredible longevity, of course, but also many broken joypads!
The new Contra seems to promise well, and above all it is clear that the difficulty levels (three have been announced) will also allow newcomers to approach the saga, but are we sure that those who will want to experience the same sensations of the past again will be able to do so with this new chapter.
Contra: Operation Galuga therefore promises to be challenging enough, guaranteeing a level of difficulty worthy of the name it has borne for nearly forty years.
In anticipation of the frantic matches to come, stay ready: when the time comes, it will be battle!
Simon Larocca
Mi chiamo Simon Larocca, e sono un videogiocatore, collezionista e amante della cultura pop in tutte le sue forme. Vado al cinema ogni volta che posso, leggo da quando porto gli occhiali, quindi da sempre, e ho la passione per lo storytelling in tutte le sue forme, così dirompente da farla diventare una professione. Ma come direbbe Doc di Ritorno al Futuro, non ci sarebbe presente se non si guardasse al passato con rispetto e ammirazione, ed è il Simon bambino di più di trent’anni fa, anno più anno meno.
Simon Larocca
Mi chiamo Simon Larocca, e sono un videogiocatore, collezionista e amante della cultura pop in tutte le sue forme. Vado al cinema ogni volta che posso, leggo da quando porto gli occhiali, quindi da sempre, e ho la passione per lo storytelling in tutte le sue forme, così dirompente da farla diventare una professione. Ma come direbbe Doc di Ritorno al Futuro, non ci sarebbe presente se non si guardasse al passato con rispetto e ammirazione, ed è il Simon bambino di più di trent’anni fa, anno più anno meno.
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