Konami has dropped some new info (they call it “intel,” but that’s too corny for me) on WayForward’s Contra: Operation Galuga in the form of the trailer. The main draw of this new slab of gameplay footage is a focus on all the characters joining Lance and Bill.
Bill Rizer and Lance whats-his-face were expected. Joining them are the previously announced Lucia and Ariana. Lucia has a grappling hook, but I’m not sure about Ariana. Her shots bounce in the trailer, so maybe that’s her special ability. Then there’s Stanley Ironside, who wears a big suit of armor and can hover. Finally, there’s the hero of the PAL regions: Probotector. Though technically already a canon character, the robot was birthed as a way of bypassing Germany’s censorship laws. The first few Contra games were reskinned to be all robots.
We can glean a few other things from the footage, as well. What stands out to me is the analog aiming, which implies that you aim with the right-stick. This isn’t too uncommon, as even Gunbrella had it as an option. It’s just one that I have never been able to get used to, so I’m hoping the eight-way aiming of the original versions carries over as an alternative. If only so I can use an arcade stick.
What’s not shown in the trailer is the fact that there is a perk shop where you can purchase things like weapon drops and character abilities. You use in-game currency, which the press release stresses are not obtained through microtransactions. Phew.
Contra: Operation Galuga is a reimagining or reboot of the first Contra game. While it retells the story of the original and contains some similar scenery and bosses, it’s been completely redone to be a completely new experience. I’m digging everything in the trailers so far, but run-and-gun shooters really require you to get your hands on them before you can really tell if they’re hit or miss.
Speaking of missing, in case you missed it, I recently did an interview with the game’s director, Tomm Hulett.
No new release information is mentioned. Contra: Operation Galuga is coming to Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC sometime in early 2024. A physical version will come afterward.
