http://kotaku.com/5554931/contra-return … ontra-name

I mean, I'll buy it and it looks awesome, but...wow, didn't see that coming.

Konami needs to return Contra to the Japanese arcades. Loathe these digital game releases.

Cynical gaming comments below:

"Unlike the Genesis Hard Corps, where we had four characters to choose from, here we just have two -- although Konami is looking into making additional downloadable characters available."

A sign of laziness already?

"Arc System Works, that of BlazBlue and Guilty Gear fame, is developing Hard Corps"

A company that has never made a run'n'gun game before. 

" -- which explains the new anime art style. Although it's a slight departure for the series I rather like it and it still undeniably looks like Contra."

How? Because two characters are holding guns? The screenshot has colors that are absurdly bright for a Contra game.

"Contra games are typically brutally difficult affairs where one bullet puts you in the grave. Hard Corps sticks to this tradition with its Arcade Mode, but also introduces a new Rising Mode. Rising lets you take three hits before losing a life, making for a considerably more forgiving game."

If you can get hit more than once it's not Contra (and yes I know the JPN version of Hard Corps had a lifebar). I loved playing Contra as a kid and don't understand why companies are dumbing the game down for kids/non-gamers now. Congrats on ruining games for kids.

Not impressed. It's still hard to tell if Konami is learning to not tarnish the Contra brandname.

edit: These comments are just so negative. It's like these companies are making me not even want to play videogames. f--- that. I mean just imagine if this company released this game a year after Hard Corps came out and started saying this bullshit about how Hard Corps had 4 playable characters, but we could possibly add two more in an expansion pack for this spiritual successor so you can have 4; that for all you gamers out there who enjoyed Hard Corps we've added a new mode called Rising Mode allowing you to get shot multiple times before dying, nevermind getting a reward out of a challenging game experience; this game is sooo like Contra because Contra is all about shooting things in prettified environments with clear bright blue skies.

Well the PSP GG had a Final Fight type mode on it....

They still need to put the first Contra out on Wii VC; they have Super C (Contra II), but not the first Contra.

I remember renting Super C on the NES during the last years of its life span, and remember being disappointed that it wasn't the first Contra, which a friend had showed me at his house earlier.

Have to admit, I never even played Contra: Shattered Soldier, or Neo Contra.

Still want to check out that Contra Rebirth, or whatever it is on WiiWare.

This? I'll probably end up giving it a spin, too, if only so I can be critical of it.

Another thing: Does this company not see how ludicrous it looks to have advertise Rising Mode in a a game called Hard Corps (as in it's hardcore)?

They have no idea how to market a game. This is how you market a game:

"Kickin' Cyborg Butt...

That's what it's all about dude. Jack into this game of genetic engineering gone bad. Real bad. It's five years after the mother of all wars ended--and things still aren't right. Your job is to fix it.

The ever-popular Contra series makes its Sega™ Genesis™ debut with a pulse-pounding new story line. At 16 megs, HARD CORPS pushes the technology to bring you over ten gut-wrenching levels with huge boss characters, great graphics and dynamic sound. Find high-powered weapons such as the homing gun, crush gun, needle laser or mine setter. Do you think you can handle it? Trust me, you can't.

You still here? Okay, then get ready for the fight of your life. Pick one of the four heroes and begin your search across many dark levels of doom. The ending changes, depending on the paths you choose--but every path crosses boss characters that will blow you away. Literally."

From the back of Contra: Hard Corps box.

So I guess that means you're not scoring this one.

I guess it can work both ways...Shattered Soldier just got on my nerves because of the one-hit kills (I never quite got into any kind of zone on that game, unlike the rest of the good Contras), so I don't know if Rising Mode will break this one right away for us hardcore types. At least it gives the option to play with one-hit kills. They are horrible for a game like Metal Slug though, which has fairly unresponsive controls, which is why I just can't fall in love with that series. Rising Mode for that series would be a good thing.

I actually thought Gunstar Heroes more when I saw the screenshorts.

I guess, if you're being technical, it's not a REAL Contra game. I generally have faith in Arc System works for making killer 2D games (although I'm most definitely NOT a Blazblue fan -characters and gameplay related, but the game LOOKS great and is fun for casual play- and their Guilty Gear experience away from the main games has been crap at best) and Konami in general has done little to grab my attention since the 16-bit era (Suikoden aside), so I'm looking forward to this.

Playing the Contra or STG is a lot like playing a fighting game when you are low on health (or high damage in Smash)--the satisfying intensity, the overwhelming pressure of an imminent death, and that sweet feeling of beating death (domination).

This game just makes me want to play Contra games. haha.

"I guess it can work both ways...Shattered Soldier just got on my nerves because of the one-hit kills (I never quite got into any kind of zone on that game, unlike the rest of the good Contras)"

This doesn't make sense. You're getting annoyed by one-hit kills in a Contra game? Do you mean you aren't that good and die a lot and get frustrated?

", so I don't know if Rising Mode will break this one right away for us hardcore types. At least it gives the option to play with one-hit kills."

This is something no hardcore type wants to read. This is where you let a game be ruined with compliance or get mad and fight. The point isn't that it gives us an option to play an easy mode, the point is that the company is selling out to losers (people who aren't good at games) and focusing on detractors rather than strengths to satisfying games (games with difficulty).

"They are horrible for a game like Metal Slug though, which has fairly unresponsive controls, which is why I just can't fall in love with that series. Rising Mode for that series would be a good thing."

I completely disagree. Getting shot and getting knocked backwards in Metal Slug Advance never fit well with the series: it didn't look right and made you feel less badass. Not sure how you think the controls are unresponsive.

"I actually thought Gunstar Heroes more when I saw the screenshorts."

Yea.

"the game LOOKS great and is fun for casual play-"

The words "casual play" should never be uttered for these "hardcore type" run'n'gun games. Do you want just something to do (just killing time) or something worth doing? Is casual good enough for you? Is that your standard for gaming? 

"and their Guilty Gear experience away from the main games has been crap at best)"

Which adds to the skepticism.

"and Konami in general has done little to grab my attention since the 16-bit era (Suikoden aside), so I'm looking forward to this."

And why now? You're not gonna get your 16-Bit satisfaction kicks from this from everything indicated so far.

I thought perhaps you were simply overzealous, but when you say things like

I gotta say, comes across a bit like a troll.

I'm not going to debate the merits of "hardcores" or "casuals"--because frankly I don't care that much--but I will say you've developed an awfully negative prejudice over a single screenshot and a few paragraphs of sparse secondhand information.

lol, I can 1CC Contra 1 (NES) easily, so that is "casual" to me. My definition of "casual" is probably different from the norm. SuperC's, III and IV hand me my ass on a silver platter (but I still love playing them). Something about Shattered Soldier never felt right....maybe was the frequency of boss battles or the speed of the game (I tend to like the floatiness of the earlier games). I plead guilty that I need to play the original Hard Corps more. I was more of an SNES dude.

Are you seriously going to tell me the control in Metal Slug is anywhere near as responsive, control-wise, as classic Contra games. For that kind of run-n-gun game, it needs to be.

Remember Strider 2 and it had unlimited continues? People serious about the game can simply opt not to use them (and arguably have a more rewarding experience, provided the base levels are well-designed enough). Same case here. In Metal Slug's case, I don't feel motivated to get better at them.

Maybe Arc should really make this game "hardcore" and require the use of a turn button, like Guilty Gear Isuka. hehe...

You've played through Contra 4 though, right?  Verdict?

I'm willing to give them a shot. Inti Creates only had a crappy Japan-only racing game to their credit when they were handed the keys to a new Megaman spinoff, and though I was rather harsh on the first game, it's been wonderful since (except for the fact they haven't made ZX3 yet). So I'm not going to take "Arc has never done a run-n-gun before" as substantive proof they can't. We'll see.

yeah, between this and Contra 4 they clearly have no idea what to do with the property

forced to advertise at gunpoint! My god the horror.

Eh, I'm not especially excited at this game but I'm still gonna get it. I love Run N' Guns but this one doesn't really do much for me. If they wanted to make a sequel to Contra Hard Corps why didn't they just do it? I'm not all about this spiritual sequel crap. I don't want Perfect Dark when I can have Golden Eye 2 or any other number of things (although things like Odin Sphere do have its place)

Do I like Arc Sys? Yes
Can they make the next Contra? Yes
Do I like the anime crap? No
Is this Contra Hard Corps 2? No
Excited? Hell no

I do know one thing, if a game goes back to basics and loses all the cool stuff they built up I will go crazy.

Super Mario only wants to reference the first game
If I hear any more Jungle remixes in Contra I will go nuts.
KoF going back to '94 style characters in BS

Game companies have a hard time listening to fans and giving them something worthy of their cash.

We want an awesome sequel to Symphony. Born is Harmony of Dissonance (a wonderful game but) watered down compared to the original with no real old flair. Instead it makes you nostalgic for the smooth animation and crisp instrumentation of the PS1.

When we ask new Contra and they give us Neo Contra, giving us the less than stellar top down gameplay from Super C and Contra 3 this infuriates me. When we ask new DS Metroid and we get Metroid Prime DS this is a travesty.

I know the argument will come that companies need to protect their interests and that evolution or even revolution is good, evolving and taking 5 steps back hardly qualifies as good.

CastleVania Adventure Rebirth, everyone clamored for the tracks from the original to be remixed, we got a hodge podge of songs strewn together from completely unrelated CVs (though I like the CVAR OST)

I'm not even sure if I'm on topic any more.

Lets take the Contra title out, co-develop with someone who just seems random as hell to develop with at this point in time. Downgrade from 4 characters to 2 and nickel and dime for expansions. I agree with easy mode but for christ sakes the game is called Hard Corps. If you think the difficulty is off putting than don't advertise it period.

The only saving grace of this could be as possible Ishiwatari soundtrack.

I remain cautiously optimistic.

Yes. But I guarantee you didn't master the game by playing it casually (it wasn't a casual game or experience). In fact, I guarantee you weren't even drawn to the game b/c you could casually shoot some aliens like you were playing some shitty cellphone game to pass the time. The thought of Contra being advertised for a casual gaming experience is pretty hilarious.

"My definition of "casual" is probably different from the norm. SuperC's, III and IV hand me my ass on a silver platter (but I still love playing them). Something about Shattered Soldier never felt right....maybe was the frequency of boss battles or the speed of the game (I tend to like the floatiness of the earlier games). I plead guilty that I need to play the original Hard Corps more. I was more of an SNES dude."

I am probably the only one here who has beaten Hard Corps?? I consider 3 to be easy until the last damn boss on Very Hard.

"Are you seriously going to tell me the control in Metal Slug is anywhere near as responsive, control-wise, as classic Contra games. For that kind of run-n-gun game, it needs to be."

Maybe you can't turn around super fast, but I've never had a problem with the controls in Metal Slug X and Metal Slug 3. It is an interesting complaint that could be expounded on.

"Remember Strider 2 and it had unlimited continues? People serious about the game can simply opt not to use them (and arguably have a more rewarding experience, provided the base levels are well-designed enough)."

It was also in Ikaruga (GC). It's very anti-arcade games (you get game over, you leave the arcade cabinet). I think Cave or some other STG company was striking back against credit feeding for console gamers. Infinite lives have no business being in an STG.

"Same case here. In Metal Slug's case, I don't feel motivated to get better at them."

Well I don't know what to tell you. I guess you're just not into Metal Slug!?

"Maybe Arc should really make this game "hardcore" and require the use of a turn button, like Guilty Gear Isuka. hehe..."

While I never played Isuka, I don't see why this game would need a turn button. Contra: Hard Corps only had 3 buttons and managed to have lock-in place firing and weapon switching (something I wish Gunstar Heroes would have done)

Perhaps if they released more information I could develop some optimism.

Konami has essentially started phasing out the Contra brand by releasing a MAIN SERIES ENTRY onto a HANDHELD. I want to play Contra on a big tv with a friend on a next-gen console. Some pathetic handheld version will never hold a candle to a console version. For games like Pokemon (turn-based) portables are fine, but there are certain genres that should never be bound (suffer tremendously b/c processing power, size, etc.) to a small handheld screen (which is hilarious when companies like Cave release Ketsui for DS).

"forced to advertise at gunpoint! My god the horror."

This doesn't make any sense. Let me make it clear: I am saying they are bad advertisers. Now if you are alluding that I am forcing people to advertise in certain ways, I am not.

Nope. These games (Metal Slug Advance, Contra 4, Super Gunstar Heroes) make me regret what could have been if companies treated their products with the respect they deserve: a console release. I am rather good at predicting shittiness of games. Contra 4 gives me signs of being at best an above average and forgettable game (not developed by founding Contra makers, but some randomass American company). There's a reason you don't see people saying handheld games are better than their console games: handheld games don't benefit from having a big screen (better presentation), great processing power, more time & effort put into them, etc.

And yes there are certain games that I have no desire to play (like RE5) because as Shinji Mikami also explained, the amount of disappointment after playing these games would be tremendous blow to oneself. I have a set group of people that I respect in the video game community (as do most other people) and I have seen nothing to indicate that I am really missing out by not playing Contra4. If you could offer up a review for the game that would tell me how the game is designed as well as Contra, Contra3, Hard Corps, or Shattered Soldier and that the downgrade to a handheld game is overcome, do so! If you think a petty response of "you haven't played it" will suffice, I will just quote factual detractors from that review I linked and compare it to all the above games I listed. (Let's note that I am a big Contra fan, so it's not like I have some retarded bias against the series. You should see that there is a deeper problem going on and ask yourself why a Contra fan would not want to play Contra4--it is not what I consider a Contra game; a Contra game in name only.)

Well CotM came before that one...

"Game companies have a hard time listening to fans and giving them something worthy of their cash."

From the insomnia.ac article On "Value" for "Money":
"It is at that point that the issue of "value for money" disappears to be replaced by that of "value for time", even for the feebleminded (for the intelligent person it had always been thus), for when all games cost nothing the only question left to ask is whether any of them are worth anything. This is the timeless, the eternal question -- it is the only question worth answering, and it is that which every review that wants to remain relevant after it has fallen off the frontpage must ask -- and answer. And why shouldn't all reviews be written with this goal in mind? Well I say, if only gamers and game reviewers weren't so foolish, they doubtless would be."

After that you wrote:

"The only saving grace of this could be as possible Ishiwatari soundtrack."

If you were just being silly then you can ignore the following. Some old insomnia post:

Bradford wrote:
"Perhaps my use of sarcasm clouded my point, which I thought was obvious. Around these parts, folks judge how good a game is based on THE GAME."

Vert1 wrote:
"I know this. I have read all of the articles on this website. The one where icy talks about how this guy must really hates games because he thinks the music of the game (Castlevania) is the best part comes to mind. I have pointed out a new example of this fallacy with the liking of a game based on someone else being able to play it."

even as a banned user, you're on thin ice credibility-wise

What does credibility have to do with anything?

Yeah thats true CotM came out first but the KCEK was in charge of that one. KCET are the developers of SotN and they had the pleasure of making Harmony. No matter anyway you cut it Circle or Harmony the expectation was still the next CONSOLE Castleoid.

As far as the cash comment goes, what I meant from that was many developers don't listen to fans so when we have to compromise our expectations and buy their offering anyways its a bit of a kick in the pants. The time was worth playing and the money was worth spending but why? There was a little taste of what you actually wanted in the game. You want to support developers so they can make that sequel you have been clamoring for.

If I buy Valkyria Chronicles 2 and many other people follow suit it will in fact cement a "Oh people like this lets make VC3 maybe a console experience too" Its a little bit of a stretch but at least if you buy it you tell Sega with your money that a franchise is still worth developing. VC2 is disappointing because it is on PSP but just like any other sequel that has jumped to handhelds it still is fun in its own right.

I don't baulk main series heading towards handhelds. I baulk when it does go to handhelds how much its watered down and stupid design choices, such as the emulation of Contra 1 Multiplay.

Uhmmm Vert, I don't see the correlation between my two quotes. One says companies don't listen to fans. The other says the best thing that could happen is that Ishiwatari writes music for this.

Are you saying that using Ishiwatari for the ost is a direct indication that they are listening to fans because if thats your implication I don't think its true.

Is that exchange between you and Bradford directed towards me?

If so believe that the definition of a game is everything thats in it. The sum of all its parts. Sometimes the music can captivate you to push you forward. If it sucks then it will factor into your overall enjoyment of the game because the music is apart of the game. Same thing with art direction. I dare you to play Contra to Exed Exes music.

The thing is you can really try to enjoy the music on a stand alone level. I can buy the disc and just listen and rate that on its own merits (though some tracks are better provided context). If you play a game without music something feels lost. Try playing KoF '97 and you'll see what I mean.

I don't think I'm being silly sir.

The name is really bad and the graphics are more Metal Slug than Contra. I wish they had gone with Shattered Soldier 2.5D polygonal style instead.

Still waiting to see trailer and hear the music, hoping it will be Fujimori.

I didn't know that. I enjoy playing these Metroidvania games, but they are starting to feel empty. You certainly don't feel like you are on an epic adventure like in Castlevania 3, an NES game that despite the hardware limitation gives you a pleasure of traversing huge levels. I guess it has to do with the constant "switching" of screens which cuts up the feeling of the grand scale of a level.

Again. You are using defeatist attitude. You're also sending mixed messages. You say the franchise is worth developing, but then also say it's worth destroying (and that making a worse game is acceptable to you).

You don't baulk because you don't care about standing up for the expectation of a company with high standards. You are willing to accept a developer destroy franchises (Gunstar, Contra, Metal Slug) that have thrived because they were born from arcades, not handhelds. Handheld games will always be watered down compared to a console/arcade game.

Music can affect the likability of a game. But you were saying it would be the "saving grace". Do you not see how this is not possible? If the music is what is keeping you from turning the game off, you are not enjoying the game--you're not enjoying the game's rules--you are enjoying a SOUNDTRACK.

Maybe directly quoting the part of an article I was referring to will help.

From ON NEW GAMES JOURNALISM:

And yes, music does fills up that empty silence just like it creates a lively atmosphere for a party. For instance if you played Resident Evil to Pink Sweets OST, the game would lose it's scary atmosphere. But no amount of great music will save a shitty designed game or an average one. The only thing you'll be able to save is your time when you hit the power button (to shutoff the console).

edit: Actually the game could be rather shitty and be "saved" by great music--the music could distract you enough from the shittiness of the game. However, this would only be extremely temporary because very soon (hopefully) you'd figure out that the game you are playing sucks (and go play something else) and just buy the soundtrack, which funny enough you could put on and listen while playing that other worthwhile game to!

I'm just glad that they're still making good old fashioned run 'n gun games. I've been a fan of these types of games since I grew up with the two Contra games on the NES, Gunstar Heroes on the Genesis, and the Metal Slug series in the arcades.

As for my expectations of this game, as long as the action is not interrupted by several, extended storyline segments, I'm pretty much sold.

Now, if only I could get a true sequel to Gunstar Heroes, another Shock Troopers, and a second Gunners Heaven, then I would be pretty satisfied. Actually, there's one other title and/or series I know I'm missing for my wishlist, but I can't remember the name of it for the life of me.

Well the idea with these games that eventually as handhelds get more advanced the experience becomes console like. I won't say that they can replace the arcade. I have faith that eventually through time that they will put a whole experience on a handheld that is just as good as the console. Metal Slug didn't do it with Advance nor XX/7. I will say that Contra 4 and the GBA Gunstar Heroes are getting much closer to hitting the mark. Yes there are mixed messages. I don't believe that developers should be rewarded for making shit but the Japanese market is a very fragile thing in the states. There are two possible things that usually happen when a game doesn't sell well. 1. They discontinue the franchise and nothing more is said
2. They try a different approach and try to improve their model. If I don't buy a game it says a message to the publishers that no one wants the game for one reason or another. They may not make another in the series or take any more risks bringing that game over. If the new Legends of Heroes comes out over here and the load times are shoddy and the translations are kind of junky and we don't buy it Xseed can say "Oh geez, we messed up, we better improve", or "This is not profitable, discontinued"

I enjoyed the handheld games for what they were. In this I supported the developer and put my stock into a better sequel. Improvements are happening all the time. With the last Castleoid Konami is getting deadly close to putting a full scale console 2D game on a handheld.

Yeah I suppose with the music thing that good music does not a great game make. Thats ok with me. Plenty of people enjoy NieR in soundtrack only. If the Cowboy Bebop movie with Keanu Reeves as Spike comes out and Yoko Kanno scores it then everything will be fine. The movie will have sucked but we just got new music from The Seatbelts.

This game looks decent just not what I am expecting. It could be good or it could be bad but not purchasing means less of a gamble for a Contra to make it as a PSN game then I am all for supporting. For my part I hope the game is awesome.

tl;dr

All I can say is that this is maybe the most weird and unexpected crossover I've come across. I'll wait till the reviews come out to decide whether it's a worthwhile one.

Game looks pretty cool to me.  If they keep it at $10 or less, I'll buy.  If they try to rip us off like with Rocket Knight, forget it.

So, anyone picked up the just-released XBLA version?  I'll have impressions up in a bit, but I just had to comment on the music.  Daisuke Ishiwatari's on board, and from what I've heard, he's belted out one shredtastic score.  Most of the pieces are newly composed, but he's done up some pretty bitchin' arrangements of the classic Title, Jungle, Base Boss, and Stage Clear themes.  Check 'em out:

Title & Jungle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcLweQLhpMs&hd=1

Base Boss & Stage Clear:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWUpfAzDGLU&hd=1

Sooooo gooooooooood...

Played it for 15 mins last night, can't wait to play it sum-more...

p.s. Angela - rookie question, but how are you uploading those vids with a simple backdrop?  Using something like Adobe Premiere?

Well, I'm not Angela, but I can tell you that you can do that using Windows Movie Maker...I do that regularly.

Is there a PSN release date yet? This is so bought.

not yet, i'm waiting myself

hopefully soon!

Adobe's one way, certainly, but yeah, as Bernhardt said, Windows Movie Maker can do it as well.  Movie Maker's probably the easiest way to go about it.

I put the demo through its paces and I liked it enough that I plan to buy it when it (a) comes to PSN and (b) drops to $10 or less.  I don't like the anime art style (doesn't feel like Contra), your character's default movement speed is way too slow (thank goodness for the dash), and the default gun is too weak, but otherwise it's pretty fun and I generally enjoyed the demo.  That said, I miss the over-the-top absurd story elements found in Neo Contra and Contra ReBirth (both of which are a lot better than this).

Hard Corps always featured anime art, although it may not have translated well to the in-game sprites:

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7403 … jpmanu.jpg
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/7403 … jpmanu.jpg
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/7403 … jpmanu.jpg
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/7403 … jpmanu.jpg

That's anime. Uprising is animu.

Yeah, I was referring to the in-game look specifically.

Hope you don't mind, Pellasos, but I'm gonna bump this topic with your recent post from this thread.

Wild ride, ain't it?  Brutally challenging, and I've admittedly only gotten to see the majority of the game thanks to my inhumanly experienced co-op partner.  The game is ridiculously lengthy for a Contra title, which is nice, if a bit disconcerting and fatigue-inducing for even a series vet such as myself.  It's also a tad too boss rush heavy for my tastes, but some of these set pieces are crazy awesome.  (Dat Capital Railway stage..... o_O)

And I never thought I'd see stealth elements in a Contra title.

yes, but i think the rising mode is pretty fair. you play as far as you get and make cash in the process, which grants you access to better abilities and weapons. i think it can be beaten by the majority of people that way, as long as they're committed enough to do so.

i don't know what to think about the small stealth section yet. it's obviously a metal gear reference and you're not forced to play stealthy. it's hard to be bothered by that. i noticed some castlevania at the end and i'm sure you can find more if you're into konami games.

what do you think about the soundtrack? the re-arranged boss track near the end got me pumped up! it's hard for me criticize this game.