Review of Contra: Operation Galuga by IGN

Returning to an amusement park from one’s childhood can evoke a warm sense of nostalgia, much like I felt when I dove back into Contra: Operation Galuga. This game reminded me of the coin-operated arcade phases of my youth and why I had greatly reveled in that era. However, it also disclosed how scant evolution has taken place within these realms over those intervening years. Although this revamped version of the original Contra certainly ticked the box as a satisfactory modernization, it perhaps adhered too rigidly to its forerunners by merely incorporating minor adjustments. Despite this, I harbor no regrets regarding the time spent in achieving mission completion with my comrades. Nevertheless, this specific gaming odyssey isn’t likely to linger long in my memory.

Keeping to the dependable yet potentially mundane formula, this side-scrolling shooter hosts a series of stages riddled with adversaries, followed by a boss level. Portrayed as a sequel, Operation Galuga bears more resemblance to a reboot of the original game, with similar characters and stage sequences. However, significant enhancements do help alleviate the deja vu experience, such as fully voiced characters, engaging cut scenes, and additional game stages.

One caveat, though, the narrative development isn’t quite as successful. The added story, although providing context, more often detracts from the otherwise high-voltage game due to dreary writing, flat characters, and protracted dialogues. The story could certainly benefit from quicker pacing and less excessive dialogue on plot devices.

The classic levels paired with the new stages offer a solid dose of nostalgia-fueled action. The revamp of the original levels offers some thrilling experiences with improved graphics and mechanics. The entirely new level introduces refreshing gameplay elements that keep players on edge. However, the thrill is somewhat dampened by the predictability of the gameplay. A truly enchanting game should keep you guessing, beyond its flashy title screen.

Operation Galuga maintains the majority of the traditional Contra gameplay, offering little to captivate long-time fans beyond the barrage of enemy fire. While minor tweaks like new character skills do inject a slight breath of freshness, its overall impact on gameplay is minuscule.

Elements from the developer WayForward’s previous Contra game, Contra 4, have been woven into this installment too. The gun backup system, for instance, allows one to switch weapons, offering strategic depth. Players can also upgrade weapons, adding an interesting layer to the gaming mechanics. An “overload weapon” provision has been added too, which provides short-term benefits at the cost of sacrificing a weapon.

Adding novelty, the arcade, and challenge modes from Contra 4 are also included, with the former offering a four-player co-op and the latter putting up unique challenges. While the communal thrill of multiplayer mode is appealing, the monotony of repeating the same stages reduces its lasting appeal. The Challenge Mode also offers minor enjoyment before it, too, becomes somewhat stale.

In conclusion, although Contra: Operation Galuga has its moments, it ultimately highlights the need for more significant strides in evolution for the nostalgia-laden games of this genre. Its steadfast adherence to the tried-and-true methods of its predecessors is both a strength and a weakness, echoing the sentiment that, sometimes, even the sweetest nostalgia requires progress.