Hard Corps Uprising is the best Contra game. The Arc System Works graphics, coupled with the gameplay mechanics is a winning formula. They should have jumped on that at the time and immediately made a sequel. Operation Galuga is a good return to the Contra franchise and worthwhile, but it falls short of Hard Corps Uprising.
I couldn't agree more! Hard Corps Uprising is definitely a standout in the Contra series and it's a shame they didn't make a sequel to it. Contra releases have been heavily spaced over the last 15 years which is unfortunate because I feel like they had some real momentum with Uprising. Uprising released in 2011 and then 8 years later in 2019 we got Rogue Corps which didn't go over well and then we of course got Operation Galuga in 2024. Not counting the Anniversary Collection, we've received 1 Contra game per console-generation which is a shame.
Run it through a 4K upscaler like the Retrotink 4K. There's other high-end options, too. Emotion Engine gives this game it's signature look. Unreal Engine wouldn't look as gritty and timeless. I also recommend Contra 4 on Nintendo DS and Blazing Chrome on last gen, Switch, and PC.
I agree, the music is absolutely killer! That's why I'd love to see the same heave metal premise applied to some of the more classic songs from Contra. I think Konami and WayForward could learn a lot from Shattered Soldier, it's just a matter of if they will or not. 🤔
So I have a RetroTink5X that I don't use very often and less than a year after I bought the 5X, the RetroTink4K came out. It's mighty tempting to pick up but I just can't seem to pull the trigger on it. Those are great recommendations. I've got a physical copy of both Blazing Chrome and Contra 4 on my DS. Blazing Chrome is a real love letter to Contra.
Shattered Soldier is much better than the recent Contra games. I liked the direction it took and was much fun to play for sure. Im fortunate to still own this game.
That's awesome that you still have Shattered Soldier! It's always great to hold onto those classic games. I'm hopeful the next Contra will take some direction from what made Shattered Soldier such a great Contra game!
Full 4K upscale is possible using component cables + Retrotink 4K. The quality is insane. Still have my copy of SS + the soundtrack CD. This one was the debut of Lucia and she looks best in this game. There's also a secret 'doggie' joke ending but it requires a perfect run. I almost got it, but jobbed on the last boss. On another attempt, my partner jobbed on him 😬👎. Anyway, this is my favorite Contra and Lucia looks too sick on the soundtrack CD. My 2nd favorite Contra game is Contra 4 on the Nintendo DS. I 100%'d that one. Do that one next 🙏. I think you'll really enjoy it. The challenge mode and unlockables are great.
I'm sure one of these days I'll pick up a RetroTink 4K. When I first saw it on display my jaw literally dropped. I just checked eBay to see how much I could sell my RetroTink5X for to upgrade to the RetroTink4K and it actually sells for quite a bit despite the new RetroTink 4K being on the market... Interesting, I didn't know there was an alternate ending if you get a perfect run, that's awesome! I love Contra 4 on DS and still have my physical copy from when it was first released. I wonder if we will ever get a different way to experience Contra 4 on modern consoles. 🤔
@thundersteve85gaming - I'm keeping my Retrotink 5X and using it for my side AV setup. It's only a 1080P TV so 5X is overkill. Great for RGB/SCART on older consoles 👍. .... and yes, we DO need a practical means of enjoying Contra 4. How about Contra Anniversary Collection II, including Shattered Soldier? 👊😎👍
That's a good point for keeping the RetroTink 5X, I didn't even think of that. Glad you mentioned that! Yes, I'd love to see a Contra Anniversary Collection II that includes SS, Neo Contra, Hard Corps Uprising, Contra 4 on DS, and the WiiWare's Contra Rebirth!
Pretty cool set up you got there with the TV and Projector. I mostly do gaming on my 65 inch LG Oled tv but also have a 100 in screen that pulls down in front of that with a BenQ ht2550 Projector. Ive been meaning to upgrade the projector to a newer LED one but havent pulled the trigger yet.
Thank you Sir! I gotta say that playing on a gaming projector with surround sound is quite immersive. Sounds like you know exactly what I'm talking about since you have a projector yourself! I've bought and returned so many projectors over the years by BenQ, Optoma, Epson and Samsung and the BenQX3100i that I have now is leaps and bounds better than the rest. It's the only projector I've used that has 100% accurate colors IMO. If your interested in buying a projector, you should check out my review of the BenQX3100I here: ruclips.net/video/kvTHc65Q8H4/видео.html It's a long video but I added chapters so you can bounce around and look at different test footage I took with my 4K/60FPS camera. I'm sure you know but it can be challenging to truly capture the picture and scope of a projector in video form but it might help give you an idea of how great of a projector it is!
Good review of the game, been a blast listening to this review. I think playing the game on 16:9 stretched ratio (like you did) is pretty cursed but you do you. Would love to see this and Neo Contra coming on modern platforms but I guess Konami execs thinks this style of Contra (where it mostly a boss rush game) is dated and prefers to what the fans wanted (a classic run and gun action) like OG.
Thank you Sir, I appreciate it! I'll try it then on my 20' Toshiba Flat Screen CRT using my RetroTink 5X in 4:3 mode and see how it looks! I would love to see us get Contra Anniversary Collection 2 with the bad PS1 games, both SS and Neo Contra, Contra Rebirth that was released as a WiiWare title, Hard Corps Uprising and figure out a way to include Contra 4 for the DS. I would certainly pick that up. It's tough to anticipate what Konami will ever do these days. They have legendary IP that deserves better.
No disrespect but the image is stretched. It’s a 4:3 ratio game. Also contra requires little to no lag…so using the pound cable is going to lead to frustration. Any retrotink will rectify this problem or a crtv. Cool stuff regardless.’
Thanks man! I hear ya on the image. I had this game preordered back in the day at Best Buy and originally played it on a CRT. I wanted to make the image as large as possible on my 150' screen using my surround sound to see what it would be like. I actually didn't notice any input lag despite using the pound cables which is pretty surprising! 🤣
I liked Shattered Soldier better than Neo Contra of the PS2 era games. I liked the visual theme of SS being more serious. Neo Contra was goofy, I lost any immersion meeting Plant Contra and Dog Contra. my main criticism with SS was kind of like a boss rush with a little platforming in between. But I liked the score system that encouraged you to get better to unlock further levels for the true ending.
I agree with you! Neo Contra has a completely different vibe compared to SS which is why I have genuine concern anytime a good Contra game comes out, it seems like the follow-up always has a different tone and theme. I don't understand why they don't just continue to build off of what works. 🤷♂️ I agree, a boss rush mode would have added to the replay value and encouraged everyone to go for the true ending.
It wasn't my preferred setup. I couldn't locate my PS2 Component Cables that I wanted to use with my RetroTink 5X. I hate to have to do it but I might have to hit up eBay for some good cables.
This was my first contra. Despite actually growing up with a genesis. I went back and played the Snes and Hard corps games since. All , play Fantastic.
That's awesome that you liked Contra so much that you decided to go back and play the SNES and Genesis Contra's. I agree with you that they still play great today!
SS has some good designs but it’s not very fun to play. There are a lot of forced animations that stops action all the time and game encourages you to use hold attack of flame whip and it makes my finger hurt. I have completed majority of contras without single death but I haven’t passed 6th level on SS, it’s not that fun to replay this game.
eh these cutscenes are not as bad as some of the most dead air-y moments in Hard Corps (wait for giant cyclops boss walking, jumping and rising? or the freakin jungle boss) also you're not obligated to use flame whip at all times you can still kill bosses with machinegun
I think I found myself using the standard machine gun and the charged version of the grenade launcher to fire the homing missiles. I did use the flame whip to ward off the Gigafly's but outside of that I only used it in unique scenarios.
Absolutely, the Contra soundtrack is perfect for pumping iron! 💪 The high-energy tracks do really get the adrenaline going. Glad to hear it’s still a favorite for your workouts in 2024, you are a real one!
love the setup, what kind of audio setup do you have? such a fun immersive experience to watch on a large screen with dynamic audio. Was good to see Ps2 images blown up can still keep integrity. Seems these older Contra games have a more unique sense in their deliverables compared to most modern games. Modern games to me have a sense of copy/paste graphics whereas these older ps2 or pervious generational tiles seem to have more soul and uniqueness between titles - could just be my opinion though. lovely review.
Thanks Michael J, hope you are doing well! I originally had an Onkyo 7.1 surround sound setup but my Onkyo shorted out. I replaced it with a Sony 7.1 receiver. The 7 speakers and sub are all Onkyo. My Sony receiver is pretty old but I'm going to let it run as long as it can. I looked up my model and found a video on it. ruclips.net/video/c1z7FVTCJWk/видео.html It really takes immersion to a whole new level when you have the screen size plus the surround sound audio. Playing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, with it's amazing soundtrack was pretty magical. Yeah, kind of makes me want to revisit some more PS2 games! I agree with you 100%. The older games had a lot more personality between each title whereas now it does feel like a copy/paste job where the art style gives off a more sterile look. I hope that the next Contra's art style is improved and takes some queues from past titles like Shattered Soldier. Thank you, Michael, I appreciate the feedback and support!
I do too, I've played the arcade version using a joystick and buttons and prefer the NES D-pad all day. Plus the NES version of Contra had more content. Win-Win.
Shattered Soldier is one hell of a good time that is sure to kick your ass until you perfectly clear each stage.
It really is and I love the punishment it dishes out!
One of the best Contra games out there besides Contra III and Hard Corps. I was obsessed with this game back when it came out.
Hard Corps Uprising is the best Contra game. The Arc System Works graphics, coupled with the gameplay mechanics is a winning formula. They should have jumped on that at the time and immediately made a sequel. Operation Galuga is a good return to the Contra franchise and worthwhile, but it falls short of Hard Corps Uprising.
Ah, the nostalgia hits hard with these games. Contra III and Hard Corps are some of my all-time favorites. Contra 4 on DS is extremely good too.
I couldn't agree more! Hard Corps Uprising is definitely a standout in the Contra series and it's a shame they didn't make a sequel to it. Contra releases have been heavily spaced over the last 15 years which is unfortunate because I feel like they had some real momentum with Uprising. Uprising released in 2011 and then 8 years later in 2019 we got Rogue Corps which didn't go over well and then we of course got Operation Galuga in 2024. Not counting the Anniversary Collection, we've received 1 Contra game per console-generation which is a shame.
@@Great_Watt totally agree about Hard Corps Uprising..
Man, Hard Corps is the real deal.
I had no idea Geraldo Rivera was into games!
Ohhh yeah! You could always find me playing Nintendo before each taping of my show, The Geraldo Rivera Show!
I would love a remake of this Contra. I feel that it has not aged well, but still my favorite Contra (the music is for me the best of the series).
Run it through a 4K upscaler like the Retrotink 4K. There's other high-end options, too. Emotion Engine gives this game it's signature look. Unreal Engine wouldn't look as gritty and timeless. I also recommend Contra 4 on Nintendo DS and Blazing Chrome on last gen, Switch, and PC.
I agree, the music is absolutely killer! That's why I'd love to see the same heave metal premise applied to some of the more classic songs from Contra. I think Konami and WayForward could learn a lot from Shattered Soldier, it's just a matter of if they will or not. 🤔
So I have a RetroTink5X that I don't use very often and less than a year after I bought the 5X, the RetroTink4K came out. It's mighty tempting to pick up but I just can't seem to pull the trigger on it. Those are great recommendations. I've got a physical copy of both Blazing Chrome and Contra 4 on my DS. Blazing Chrome is a real love letter to Contra.
@@thunderstashgaming Valfaris is another nice r&g. Highly recommended.
Nice, I actually have a physical copy of Valfaris that I picked up a couple of years ago thinking that it would be a good R&G game!
Shattered Soldier is much better than the recent Contra games. I liked the direction it took and was much fun to play for sure. Im fortunate to still own this game.
That's awesome that you still have Shattered Soldier! It's always great to hold onto those classic games. I'm hopeful the next Contra will take some direction from what made Shattered Soldier such a great Contra game!
Full 4K upscale is possible using component cables + Retrotink 4K. The quality is insane. Still have my copy of SS + the soundtrack CD. This one was the debut of Lucia and she looks best in this game. There's also a secret 'doggie' joke ending but it requires a perfect run. I almost got it, but jobbed on the last boss. On another attempt, my partner jobbed on him 😬👎. Anyway, this is my favorite Contra and Lucia looks too sick on the soundtrack CD. My 2nd favorite Contra game is Contra 4 on the Nintendo DS. I 100%'d that one. Do that one next 🙏. I think you'll really enjoy it. The challenge mode and unlockables are great.
I'm sure one of these days I'll pick up a RetroTink 4K. When I first saw it on display my jaw literally dropped. I just checked eBay to see how much I could sell my RetroTink5X for to upgrade to the RetroTink4K and it actually sells for quite a bit despite the new RetroTink 4K being on the market... Interesting, I didn't know there was an alternate ending if you get a perfect run, that's awesome! I love Contra 4 on DS and still have my physical copy from when it was first released. I wonder if we will ever get a different way to experience Contra 4 on modern consoles. 🤔
@thundersteve85gaming - I'm keeping my Retrotink 5X and using it for my side AV setup. It's only a 1080P TV so 5X is overkill. Great for RGB/SCART on older consoles 👍.
.... and yes, we DO need a practical means of enjoying Contra 4. How about Contra Anniversary Collection II, including Shattered Soldier? 👊😎👍
That's a good point for keeping the RetroTink 5X, I didn't even think of that. Glad you mentioned that!
Yes, I'd love to see a Contra Anniversary Collection II that includes SS, Neo Contra, Hard Corps Uprising, Contra 4 on DS, and the WiiWare's Contra Rebirth!
Pretty cool set up you got there with the TV and Projector. I mostly do gaming on my 65 inch LG Oled tv but also have a 100 in screen that pulls down in front of that with a BenQ ht2550 Projector. Ive been meaning to upgrade the projector to a newer LED one but havent pulled the trigger yet.
Thank you Sir! I gotta say that playing on a gaming projector with surround sound is quite immersive. Sounds like you know exactly what I'm talking about since you have a projector yourself! I've bought and returned so many projectors over the years by BenQ, Optoma, Epson and Samsung and the BenQX3100i that I have now is leaps and bounds better than the rest. It's the only projector I've used that has 100% accurate colors IMO. If your interested in buying a projector, you should check out my review of the BenQX3100I here: ruclips.net/video/kvTHc65Q8H4/видео.html It's a long video but I added chapters so you can bounce around and look at different test footage I took with my 4K/60FPS camera. I'm sure you know but it can be challenging to truly capture the picture and scope of a projector in video form but it might help give you an idea of how great of a projector it is!
Good review of the game, been a blast listening to this review. I think playing the game on 16:9 stretched ratio (like you did) is pretty cursed but you do you.
Would love to see this and Neo Contra coming on modern platforms but I guess Konami execs thinks this style of Contra (where it mostly a boss rush game) is dated and prefers to what the fans wanted (a classic run and gun action) like OG.
Thank you Sir, I appreciate it! I'll try it then on my 20' Toshiba Flat Screen CRT using my RetroTink 5X in 4:3 mode and see how it looks!
I would love to see us get Contra Anniversary Collection 2 with the bad PS1 games, both SS and Neo Contra, Contra Rebirth that was released as a WiiWare title, Hard Corps Uprising and figure out a way to include Contra 4 for the DS. I would certainly pick that up. It's tough to anticipate what Konami will ever do these days. They have legendary IP that deserves better.
No disrespect but the image is stretched. It’s a 4:3 ratio game. Also contra requires little to no lag…so using the pound cable is going to lead to frustration. Any retrotink will rectify this problem or a crtv. Cool stuff regardless.’
Thanks man! I hear ya on the image. I had this game preordered back in the day at Best Buy and originally played it on a CRT. I wanted to make the image as large as possible on my 150' screen using my surround sound to see what it would be like. I actually didn't notice any input lag despite using the pound cables which is pretty surprising! 🤣
I liked Shattered Soldier better than Neo Contra of the PS2 era games. I liked the visual theme of SS being more serious. Neo Contra was goofy, I lost any immersion meeting Plant Contra and Dog Contra. my main criticism with SS was kind of like a boss rush with a little platforming in between. But I liked the score system that encouraged you to get better to unlock further levels for the true ending.
I agree with you! Neo Contra has a completely different vibe compared to SS which is why I have genuine concern anytime a good Contra game comes out, it seems like the follow-up always has a different tone and theme. I don't understand why they don't just continue to build off of what works. 🤷♂️ I agree, a boss rush mode would have added to the replay value and encouraged everyone to go for the true ending.
U lost me at the Pound cable setup lol.
It wasn't my preferred setup. I couldn't locate my PS2 Component Cables that I wanted to use with my RetroTink 5X. I hate to have to do it but I might have to hit up eBay for some good cables.
This was my first contra.
Despite actually growing up with a genesis. I went back and played the Snes and Hard corps games since.
All , play Fantastic.
That's awesome that you liked Contra so much that you decided to go back and play the SNES and Genesis Contra's. I agree with you that they still play great today!
SS has some good designs but it’s not very fun to play. There are a lot of forced animations that stops action all the time and game encourages you to use hold attack of flame whip and it makes my finger hurt. I have completed majority of contras without single death but I haven’t passed 6th level on SS, it’s not that fun to replay this game.
eh these cutscenes are not as bad as some of the most dead air-y moments in Hard Corps (wait for giant cyclops boss walking, jumping and rising? or the freakin jungle boss) also you're not obligated to use flame whip at all times you can still kill bosses with machinegun
I think I found myself using the standard machine gun and the charged version of the grenade launcher to fire the homing missiles. I did use the flame whip to ward off the Gigafly's but outside of that I only used it in unique scenarios.
This setup looks really good at your parents' house!
Jokes aside, cool setup!
Is it the decorations? If it is, let me know and I will let the Wife know because she decorated the Family Room and thank you!
Still one of my favorite soundtracks to work out with.
Absolutely, the Contra soundtrack is perfect for pumping iron! 💪 The high-energy tracks do really get the adrenaline going. Glad to hear it’s still a favorite for your workouts in 2024, you are a real one!
love the setup, what kind of audio setup do you have?
such a fun immersive experience to watch on a large screen with dynamic audio. Was good to see Ps2 images blown up can still keep integrity.
Seems these older Contra games have a more unique sense in their deliverables compared to most modern games. Modern games to me have a sense of copy/paste graphics whereas these older ps2 or pervious generational tiles seem to have more soul and uniqueness between titles - could just be my opinion though. lovely review.
Thanks Michael J, hope you are doing well! I originally had an Onkyo 7.1 surround sound setup but my Onkyo shorted out. I replaced it with a Sony 7.1 receiver. The 7 speakers and sub are all Onkyo. My Sony receiver is pretty old but I'm going to let it run as long as it can. I looked up my model and found a video on it. ruclips.net/video/c1z7FVTCJWk/видео.html
It really takes immersion to a whole new level when you have the screen size plus the surround sound audio. Playing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, with it's amazing soundtrack was pretty magical. Yeah, kind of makes me want to revisit some more PS2 games!
I agree with you 100%. The older games had a lot more personality between each title whereas now it does feel like a copy/paste job where the art style gives off a more sterile look. I hope that the next Contra's art style is improved and takes some queues from past titles like Shattered Soldier. Thank you, Michael, I appreciate the feedback and support!
contra hard corps ftw, bye
Contra Hard Corps is one of the greatest!
Nice moustache dude, i dig it
Thanks Dude! 🤝
The best Contra was the NES Contra version of the arcade game.
The original Contra is an amazing game. I think it's certainly the most iconic, and nostalgic and I'd rank it in the S-Tier for Contra games.
@@thunderstashgaming yeah I’d agree on that. I rank it higher than the arcade version of the same game.
I do too, I've played the arcade version using a joystick and buttons and prefer the NES D-pad all day. Plus the NES version of Contra had more content. Win-Win.