Late to the party with this game, didn´t read the thread so far.
I am a massive contra fan and shmup gamer and this game is a severe letdown. Basically, they nailed the looks but the game itself is nowhere near Contra quality wise. there are many things that are just not done well.
The fact that you do a dodgeroll when this command is meant to let you fall through ledges is really annoying, the dodgeroll doesn´t even make much sense in this game. the jumping feels not good at all because you don´t roll when you jump like in a contra game, the popcorn enemies take too many hits and sometimes get you even when you are firing on all cylinders.
Furthermore, there is no flow to the shooting, the game stops you too often to change the area or introduce one of the mediocre mini bosses, it just doesn´t feel like "yeah, action!" it feels more like "go on, why do i have to wait again?". The bosses are disappointing too, they don´t have enough attacks, the best one was the one on the train where the sun goes down in the background.
The whole Space Harrier like stage fits none in this game and is boring as hell.
The motorbike levels are no fun at all, the fifth stage is pure filler in the snow environment. The last stage is meant to be some kind of bossrush but the impact is diminished because on normal it saves after every boss. The final boss was a snoozefest.
For a good player the game is too easy on normal but you have to play normal to unlock hardcore. The two characters you unlock are the antithesis to a run and gun, who wants a melee character in such a game? feels wasted.
i was really looking forward to this game but it just doesn´t feel good in many areas. i might be in a minority but i thought Hard Corps Uprising is leagues better than this game.
6,5/10 because music and visuals are really well done.
