Genesis REVIEWS: Contra: Hard Corps
Contra: Hard Corps is what happens when a series well known for its arcade-style roots evolves into a full-fledged console title. This is not your simple Contra Run & Gun game; it's the basic popular formula, with some of the best production values in the Genesis library.
And that's a big reason why Hard Corps may be both the best Contra game and the best Run & Gun on the system.
As the first Contra game to have four playable characters, the game immediately announces its intention to surpass all other Contra games. Given the same art style, but bigger, the same combat, but better, you can be easily convinced that it is.
However, the biggest draw of Hard Crops is its anachronistic dedication to actually telling a story. Gone are the long-winded introductions at the beginning of the game. You know, the ones that imitate the beginning of Star Wars and simply put in all of the story up front, never to be mentioned again.
Here, there is an actual story being told, and it is revealed through scenes between levels, as well as in stage conversations with the bad guys. It's basic, but it is especially rewarding given that the game actually has multiple endings.
These endings are accessed through branching paths, depending on the decisions you make throughout the story. In this addition by itself, Hard Corps is head and shoulders above almost all other action games in its storytelling attempt.
One glaring omission, however, is that the story doesn't change at all depending on the character you choose. I think it would have been very simple to just change a few lines of dialogue to reflect the character you are controlling. Otherwise, you get the Helicopter pilot apologizing for being late to Sheena, saying: "Sorry, Bro".
"Now begins the horror"
With four characters to choose from, and four basic endings (there are two hidden endings), you are expected to play the game four times.
Two questions then are immediately raised:
Is it going to be different each time?
Is it worth playing four times?
The answer to the first question is yes. Due to both the character and ending change, you will be playing differently and in different levels (as well as shared levels between all paths). While all characters share the same classic control scheme, they are all different in both major and minor ways.
In minor ways, the characters all have different heights, making for an easier or harder time dodging bullets. Also, their jumps and slide dashes are slightly different, making different strategies preferable or useless.
Their biggest difference is in their selection of weapons. Each of the 4 characters has access to 4 unique weapons, and these drastically change the way you approach the game. For instance, Fang packs the absolute max firepower, and yet is a big target. Hence, it is worth it to take more risks to simply minimize the time you fight bosses with him, and thus reduce the chance of getting hit.
On the other hand, Browny is a small and agile target, and his homing boomerang weapon can chip away at an enemy's health while you focus on avoiding their attacks.
The answer to the second question is no. It is worth playing through Hard Corps more than four times, simply because it is so much fun, and it is nice seeing how far you can get without using save points or other modern cheat methods.
"This will be your graveyard"
Unlike the way it does with the story and character choices, Hard Corps does not change the popular Contra formula very much. This is still a hard as balls Run & Gun game where you get killed in one shot. The genre is aptly named because you are expected to hold down the gun button and never stop moving.
It is definitely a challenging game, and many initially find it an insurmountable challenge. Other than the fact that you die with one hit, it is more difficult because you lose a weapon when you die. This means that while fighting an obnoxious boss battle, you could get hit and then lose the only weapon suitable for defeating them.
Which is why, to get the best of the game, I would suggest playing it in a way that has a state save feature. Then, after getting acquainted with the game, play it without the training wheels.
Simply, being able to finish the game on the merits of your own skills is a hugely satisfying feeling.
In Hard Corps, you are fighting more bosses than actual fodder enemies, with each stage having one or two mini-bosses. These monstrosities are examples of great boss design, as well as a true test of your reflexes and pattern memorization. One boss's mode of attack is stacking play-like blocks and having them come to life in bizarre ways to attack you. Another is the result of getting hacked into a system, in a way only 90's videogames understood hacking with.
Generally, the game's bosses are the culmination of Hard Corps satisfying difficulty curve, and except for some of the final bosses, the game never feels unfair to the player.
"HA! Your existence means less than nothing to me, you FLEA!"
Taking a cue from other Konami 16-bit games, Hard Corps is once again a technical achievement on its selected console. Both graphically and in its soundtrack, this is a well-produced game.
Starting with its graphics, each and every sprite pops really well against well-crafted backgrounds. Take Fang's design, for example. He looks every bit the humanoid wolf badass the designers probably wanted him to look like.
Of course, the many bosses of the game are what showcase its graphical muscles. Their larger-than-life forms nearly fill the entire screen, and there is much to be admired in their detail.
Fortunately, the music also complements the game's excellent graphics. The soundtrack is upbeat, moves quickly, and is suitable for the action. It manages to stick in your memory for longer than you might want, with the boss jingles in particular sounding in your ears as you prepare to sleep.
One annoying part about the music is how the other sound effects manage to frequently drown it out. Since you will be constantly shooting your weapon, the firing sound itself will almost sound like an unwelcome instrument in each music track.
In Conclusion:
There is no two ways about it, Contra: Hard Corps is possibly the best game in the series, and by virtue of that, is one of the best Action games on the Genesis.
Through its addition of branching paths and multiple characters, Hard Corps complements the standard formula of the series and adds to its appeal.
Final: 9/10 (Highly recommended)
Tips:
Series:
For those reading one of my Genesis review blogs for the first time, here is the basic concept:
I already reviewed a bunch of SNES games, so, naturally, I am going to review the games of its prime competition. Does the SEGA Genesis stand a chance against the legendary SNES library?
My review series is based on the top 100 list of Retro Sanctuary
Originally, I posted most of my content on a football forum called "Goallegacy," which was the first online community I had ever joined. I found it to be the best place for a football fan (the REAL football, not handegg) to hang out on the internet, but the forum is not as active as it was years ago.Next Game:
Another great action game on the Genesis from Konami, who really had an excellent grasp of the genre in the 16-bit era. Not anymore, I would guess.
The next game in the series, #8, is Shining Force II. I really liked the first Shining Force game, and I was looking forward to this one. If it is anything like the first, then I expect another great SRPG for the Genesis.
Stay Tuned. For Previous Genesis Game Reviews:
And that's a big reason why Hard Corps may be both the best Contra game and the best Run & Gun on the system.
10: Contra: Hard Corps:-
Year: 1994.
Genre: Run & Gun.
Publisher: Konami.
Developer: Konami.
"Welcome to the virtual zone. I hope you enjoy yourself"
As the first Contra game to have four playable characters, the game immediately announces its intention to surpass all other Contra games. Given the same art style, but bigger, the same combat, but better, you can be easily convinced that it is.
However, the biggest draw of Hard Crops is its anachronistic dedication to actually telling a story. Gone are the long-winded introductions at the beginning of the game. You know, the ones that imitate the beginning of Star Wars and simply put in all of the story up front, never to be mentioned again.
Here, there is an actual story being told, and it is revealed through scenes between levels, as well as in stage conversations with the bad guys. It's basic, but it is especially rewarding given that the game actually has multiple endings.
 |
| Unlike Die Hard, not all paths involve running away from a wall of flame |
These endings are accessed through branching paths, depending on the decisions you make throughout the story. In this addition by itself, Hard Corps is head and shoulders above almost all other action games in its storytelling attempt.
One glaring omission, however, is that the story doesn't change at all depending on the character you choose. I think it would have been very simple to just change a few lines of dialogue to reflect the character you are controlling. Otherwise, you get the Helicopter pilot apologizing for being late to Sheena, saying: "Sorry, Bro".
"Now begins the horror"
With four characters to choose from, and four basic endings (there are two hidden endings), you are expected to play the game four times.
Two questions then are immediately raised:
Is it going to be different each time?
Is it worth playing four times?
The answer to the first question is yes. Due to both the character and ending change, you will be playing differently and in different levels (as well as shared levels between all paths). While all characters share the same classic control scheme, they are all different in both major and minor ways.
In minor ways, the characters all have different heights, making for an easier or harder time dodging bullets. Also, their jumps and slide dashes are slightly different, making different strategies preferable or useless.
 |
| Brownie is the smallest target out of all the characters. Also, see that Robot in the distance, it's coming for you |
Their biggest difference is in their selection of weapons. Each of the 4 characters has access to 4 unique weapons, and these drastically change the way you approach the game. For instance, Fang packs the absolute max firepower, and yet is a big target. Hence, it is worth it to take more risks to simply minimize the time you fight bosses with him, and thus reduce the chance of getting hit.
On the other hand, Browny is a small and agile target, and his homing boomerang weapon can chip away at an enemy's health while you focus on avoiding their attacks.
The answer to the second question is no. It is worth playing through Hard Corps more than four times, simply because it is so much fun, and it is nice seeing how far you can get without using save points or other modern cheat methods.
"This will be your graveyard"
Unlike the way it does with the story and character choices, Hard Corps does not change the popular Contra formula very much. This is still a hard as balls Run & Gun game where you get killed in one shot. The genre is aptly named because you are expected to hold down the gun button and never stop moving.
It is definitely a challenging game, and many initially find it an insurmountable challenge. Other than the fact that you die with one hit, it is more difficult because you lose a weapon when you die. This means that while fighting an obnoxious boss battle, you could get hit and then lose the only weapon suitable for defeating them.
Which is why, to get the best of the game, I would suggest playing it in a way that has a state save feature. Then, after getting acquainted with the game, play it without the training wheels.
 |
| It's suitable that the motorcycles in the game have NO wheels |
Simply, being able to finish the game on the merits of your own skills is a hugely satisfying feeling.
In Hard Corps, you are fighting more bosses than actual fodder enemies, with each stage having one or two mini-bosses. These monstrosities are examples of great boss design, as well as a true test of your reflexes and pattern memorization. One boss's mode of attack is stacking play-like blocks and having them come to life in bizarre ways to attack you. Another is the result of getting hacked into a system, in a way only 90's videogames understood hacking with.
Generally, the game's bosses are the culmination of Hard Corps satisfying difficulty curve, and except for some of the final bosses, the game never feels unfair to the player.
"HA! Your existence means less than nothing to me, you FLEA!"
Taking a cue from other Konami 16-bit games, Hard Corps is once again a technical achievement on its selected console. Both graphically and in its soundtrack, this is a well-produced game.
Starting with its graphics, each and every sprite pops really well against well-crafted backgrounds. Take Fang's design, for example. He looks every bit the humanoid wolf badass the designers probably wanted him to look like.
Of course, the many bosses of the game are what showcase its graphical muscles. Their larger-than-life forms nearly fill the entire screen, and there is much to be admired in their detail.
 |
| Even the game's mid-bosses manage to look really good, especially against some of the backgrounds |
Fortunately, the music also complements the game's excellent graphics. The soundtrack is upbeat, moves quickly, and is suitable for the action. It manages to stick in your memory for longer than you might want, with the boss jingles in particular sounding in your ears as you prepare to sleep.
One annoying part about the music is how the other sound effects manage to frequently drown it out. Since you will be constantly shooting your weapon, the firing sound itself will almost sound like an unwelcome instrument in each music track.
In Conclusion:
There is no two ways about it, Contra: Hard Corps is possibly the best game in the series, and by virtue of that, is one of the best Action games on the Genesis.
Through its addition of branching paths and multiple characters, Hard Corps complements the standard formula of the series and adds to its appeal.
Final: 9/10 (Highly recommended)
 |
| This is Fang, and he doesn't give a fuck |
Pros:
- Multiple characters and branching story paths
- Worth multiple playthroughs
- Fair challenge
- Brilliant graphics and a good soundtrack
Cons:
- Cheap final bosses
Tips:
- Based on my experience, I think both Fang and Browny make the game easier.
- Ray and Sheena in the other hand, are more similar to past Contra heroes.
- Almost all weapons are useful.
- Save your bombs for the final bosses, ONLY.
Series:
For those reading one of my Genesis review blogs for the first time, here is the basic concept:I already reviewed a bunch of SNES games, so, naturally, I am going to review the games of its prime competition. Does the SEGA Genesis stand a chance against the legendary SNES library?
My review series is based on the top 100 list of Retro Sanctuary
Originally, I posted most of my content on a football forum called "Goallegacy," which was the first online community I had ever joined. I found it to be the best place for a football fan (the REAL football, not handegg) to hang out on the internet, but the forum is not as active as it was years ago.
Next Game:
Another great action game on the Genesis from Konami, who really had an excellent grasp of the genre in the 16-bit era. Not anymore, I would guess.The next game in the series, #8, is Shining Force II. I really liked the first Shining Force game, and I was looking forward to this one. If it is anything like the first, then I expect another great SRPG for the Genesis.
Stay Tuned.
For Previous Genesis Game Reviews:
This blog was originally posted in Destructoid Community Blogs on May 12th, 2017. The blog was slightly edited to fit my newer review format.
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