Contra: Rogue Corps Reviews

Run and gun: a word whose etymology clearly begins with the Contra lineage some three decades ago. One-hit kills, twirling somersaulting jumps, and the all-powerful Spread Gun have remained constant throughout the Contra series even as the formula changes from 2D to 3D and back again. Players have had to wait for nearly a decade since the last Hard Corps title was developed by Arc System Works and even longer for titles actually developed by Konami proper. Having to go on for two console generations without a real Contra has been maddening, but Konami has answered the player’s damning cries with a complete reboot of the series with Contra: Rogue Corps.

As die-hard Contra fans have probably already picked up or sworn off Contra: Rogue Corps, the only people I could see this game being good for now are die-hard groups of twin-stick shooter fans who want to play online and aren't playing on Nintendo Switch. That's quite niche to say the least. Contra: Rogue Corps puts the whole series in a position as weird as its own concept and execution, and I'm afraid that this will kill Contra off for good so we'll never see that 2D revival. Oh well, there's always Blazing Chrome.

Contra: Rogue Corps may not get high marks for reinvigorating the Contra series, nor does it innovate or do anything exceptionally well. But a game that you enjoy playing doesn't have to, and I found myself enjoying this raucous shooter more than I thought I would. It may have its own fair share of problems, but its low price and low barrier entry make it a serviceable and potentially hilarious time to be had solo or with your friends. Just drop the Contra from the title if it bothers you so much and give it a try.

It’s a shame because sometimes, even when I’m fighting the game, I’m enjoying myself. Contra: Rogue Corps needed more time in the oven, and I’m not sure the whole “segmented ways to play” concept is going to go over well with everyone. But when it’s firing on all cylinders, there’s some silly shoot ’em up fun going on.

The worst Contra game ever made and an object lesson in how not to revive a classic franchise, especially as there are multiple unofficial homages that are far superior.

For a Contra fan, this game is the antithesis of what Contra is supposed to be. Playing Rogue Corps, I at last understood what Metal Gear fans must have felt when they played Metal Gear Survive last year.

I, like many others, watched with befuddlement as a brand new Contra was revealed during a Nintendo Direct. Sure, Konami has been back on the radar with games like Super Bomberman R and its line of Anniversary Collection sets, but it’s still weird to see Contra of all things popping back up. With nearly a decade passing since the last game in the series, a lot has happened in gaming. So what does it mean to release a new Contra in 2019? The answer this time appears to be loot, multiplayer, and a healthy dose of post-ironic, crass humor. This is Contra: Rogue Corps, and I’m totally here for it.

Contra Rogue Corps is a mess of a game, and while that doesn't mean there aren't fun bits, you have to really dig to find them.

It's been over 8 years since Hard Corps: Uprising released but Contra is back and crazier than ever. Is that necessarily a good thing?

If you’re looking for something to play with friends and kill some time, Contra: Rogue Corps may be worth a look once it goes on sale. For such a beloved franchise, though, this really isn’t the best way to reintroduce Contra after a near-decade hiatus.

Visually, Rogue Corps is rough around the edges. Character models are quite intricately detailed, which contrasts with their eerie and off-putting faces. There are only a few types of fiends in the game, a lot of which look quite similar to one another. The designs themselves are great though, with the floating baby-heads standing out as the weirdest and most interesting to look at. Cutscenes are done in a motion-comic format, and they look quite nice, and they fit the pulpy feel of Rogue Corps quite well.

Another opportunity to revive one of gaming’s most iconic franchises goes down as more of a disappointing whimper. If Konami hadn’t slapped the Contra name on Rogue Corps no one would’ve guessed it was supposed to be part of the series, but since it’s there it will serve only to disappoint long-term fans. It lacks the franchise’s identifiable gameplay, fumbles the tone and atmosphere, and simply isn’t a good enough twin-stick shooter to stand on its own. If you’re looking for something more like the classic Contra games of old, you should check out the Contra Anniversary Collection or indie gem Blazing Chrome instead.

When Contra: Rogue Corps was first unveiled at E3 2019, I felt like I was the only person in the entire LACC who actually enjoyed both the reveal and the demo at my disposal. By no means did I think it was amazing or jaw-dropping, but I had fun with it. It was the revival of a long dormant series with a compilation of classic titles and a brand new twin-stick shooter game for modern systems. I was actually looking forward to the final release of Rogue Corps to see if it had more classic Contr...

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There’s room for improvement, but Contra: Rogue Corps is very enjoyable for the most part. It doesn’t have the look or feel of a triple-A title which might put some off, but it’s a game that isn’t afraid of trying new things. What’s most important is that its twin-stick shooter action is engaging, and a huge amount of longevity is provided by a large number of missions and deep character development. It’s those who love the loot-based shenanigans found in titles such as Diablo and Borderlands that will get the most out of Contra: Rogue Corps. That’s not something I expected to write about a Contra game, but there it is.