Contra: Hard Corps
Sega Genesis/Master System
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| Yes. I'm playing the Japanese version. |
This game is not a masterpiece nor is it completely trash. It is a solid 8/10 game that has left a great impression on me. It's one of my favourite games to this day.
Before I talk about this game, I need to tell you a little about the 'Contra' series as a whole.
‘Contra’ was a side-scroller shooter on the NES made by the company Konami. It was one of the most recognisable titles on the console and was made famous because of its simple premise and difficulty.
‘Contra Hard Corps’ was released for the Sega Genesis in 1994 and was the first game in the ‘Contra’ series to be released on a Sega console.
‘Contra Hard Corps’ is an explosion-filled, adrenaline-charged, action-packed game with many, many features. It’s the first ‘Contra’ game to feature 4 unique characters to pick from, each with their own weapons and play-styles. And unlike the previous games, it features branching paths in its storyline, and many boss fights that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The game is split in stages, each containing minor enemies, mini-bosses, and the main boss. Focus while you dodge projectiles and shooting enemies on your way to the end. Every boss and enemy have their own unique patterns and behaviours that you will eventually figure out as you play.
The player picks one of the four characters: Ray, Sheena, Brownie and Fang, each with their own unique weapons.
Ray has the most standard set of weapons. Sheena's gear is a slight deviation to Ray's, offering a different playstyle. Brownie is the easiest character to play, with homing weapons and and a hover ability. Fang does not have any homing weapons, unlike other characters, however, he possesses the most powerful arsenal among the team.
Pick a character a start playing!
For first-time players, I would recommend playing the Japanese version first. The Japanese version has three life-bars, while in the Western versions you die upon damage. Sure, you don't have any idea what they're saying but that doesn't matter much if you keep dying and lose all your lives in the first few stages. Get used to the controls and enemies in the Japanese version and challenge yourself with the Western version when you're ready.
One of the levels feature a boss in a forward-facing level where your player-character is moving towards you in high speed. The skyline of the city in the background and the clouds make this boss fight particularly memorable. Even the character sprites show them facing and moving forward. Just to show you the dedication to details the producers put in.
This is the first boss you face and it has a two stage mechanic: shoot you with its gun and jumps around the place. if you damage it enough it will go into the second phase: CUTTING DOWN AN APARTMENT BY ASSERTING ITS DOMINANCE.
People in the 90s sure are creative with these boss designs.
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| The only acceptable way to start your game: Explosions |
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| Every enemy in the game explodes. Awesome. |
Setting
The story takes place in sci-fi future Earth(?), few years after the events of the third game. The main events revolve around an alien cell (by my speculation, probably from the third game as well.) which certain individuals wish to obtain so they may use it to destroy the world. You are one of the four members of the Contra team sent to stop these people from achieving their goals.
'Hard Corps' is a very clear-cut side-scroller shooter with plenty of features to play with. The game sometimes play around with perspectives to make the environment feel more dynamic. The Sega Genesis has a much faster processor, allowing for much faster game flow and more effects on the screen at once. |
| The first choice you make in the game and it will affect the ending. Just so you know. |
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Hanging on to a sci-fi jet plane while being chased by a
torpedo-launching tank that shoots torpedoes that has a jet-pack
soldier inside. Get your head around that.
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Gameplay
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| A blue robot that's late for his train. |
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| Two Player, Twice the explosion. |
The game is split in stages, each containing minor enemies, mini-bosses, and the main boss. Focus while you dodge projectiles and shooting enemies on your way to the end. Every boss and enemy have their own unique patterns and behaviours that you will eventually figure out as you play.
The player picks one of the four characters: Ray, Sheena, Brownie and Fang, each with their own unique weapons.
Ray has the most standard set of weapons. Sheena's gear is a slight deviation to Ray's, offering a different playstyle. Brownie is the easiest character to play, with homing weapons and and a hover ability. Fang does not have any homing weapons, unlike other characters, however, he possesses the most powerful arsenal among the team.
Pick a character a start playing!
For first-time players, I would recommend playing the Japanese version first. The Japanese version has three life-bars, while in the Western versions you die upon damage. Sure, you don't have any idea what they're saying but that doesn't matter much if you keep dying and lose all your lives in the first few stages. Get used to the controls and enemies in the Japanese version and challenge yourself with the Western version when you're ready.
Bosses
Every boss in the game have their own patterns and attacks that you need to remember and get accustomed to. Their designs are also pretty wild in terms of concept.
 |
| The first level to feature the screen not moving
sideways. Nice break from the side-scrolling
trope.
|
One of the levels feature a boss in a forward-facing level where your player-character is moving towards you in high speed. The skyline of the city in the background and the clouds make this boss fight particularly memorable. Even the character sprites show them facing and moving forward. Just to show you the dedication to details the producers put in.
 |
| This robot is asserting its dominance to you. Prove your worth by shooting it. Mercilessly. |
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| This guy can be found on the original cover of the game case. Still terrifying to look at. |
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| Wanna see him up close? |
 |
| Here you go. |
This is the first boss you face and it has a two stage mechanic: shoot you with its gun and jumps around the place. if you damage it enough it will go into the second phase: CUTTING DOWN AN APARTMENT BY ASSERTING ITS DOMINANCE.
People in the 90s sure are creative with these boss designs.
Every boss has a 'sweet-spot' where you need to shoot if you want to damage it. It will be clear if you had hit the boss if flashes different colours. These are the most classic ways to indicate damage in video games in the past and it works really well. However, if you have epilepsy or is sensitive to flashing lights, I would not recommend playing this game.
Most of the bosses have multiple stages where they'll attack you with different attacks, with different speeds, etc. to throw you off. But if you memorized their attack patterns then it's smooth ride from then on.
This is a game I first played when I was around 8 or 9 and because of how memorable the bosses are that after so many years I can still recall their attack patterns. The bosses designs are all unique and can always leave an impression on you of which actually helps with remembering their moves and attacks.
Even if it's a boss that takes less than few seconds to defeat, you'll still remember them long after you finish the game.
There's great replay value for the game as you can choose different characters and choose different endings to experiment with new approaches. Great if you're bored with what you already know and want to try something new.
If you want a quick game to play, feel a rush of adrenaline or just have plain old fun, this game is a great pick. Although you do have to download some kind of emulator to play it and find the game's ROM file online somewhere. But once you get it sorted, fun awaits!Most of the bosses have multiple stages where they'll attack you with different attacks, with different speeds, etc. to throw you off. But if you memorized their attack patterns then it's smooth ride from then on.
This is a game I first played when I was around 8 or 9 and because of how memorable the bosses are that after so many years I can still recall their attack patterns. The bosses designs are all unique and can always leave an impression on you of which actually helps with remembering their moves and attacks.
Even if it's a boss that takes less than few seconds to defeat, you'll still remember them long after you finish the game.
There's great replay value for the game as you can choose different characters and choose different endings to experiment with new approaches. Great if you're bored with what you already know and want to try something new.
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