During today’s Nintendo Direct, the newest addition to the famed Contra series, Contra: Operation Galuga, was announced and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s a modern take of the hit run-‘n’-gun series by Konami. You can check out the announcement trailer above and more details below.
Contra: Operation Galuga returns to the series’ classic roots as a thorough reimagining of the original NES/arcade Contra game from the 1980s. Iconic weapons and environments meet new stages, new enemies and bosses, new play mechanics, an updated power-up system, and modern graphics and sound.
Fan-favorite elite Contra commandos Bill Rizer and Lance Bean are redeployed into battle against the Red Falcon terrorist group, which has turned the once-peaceful Galuga Island into an all-out warzone where the fate of mankind hangs in the balance.
Up to two players can team up for co-op combat in Story Mode, and up to four players can join forces in Arcade Mode, as they run, jump, and shoot their way through various stages, including the jungle, the waterfall, and a hovercycle ride through an enemy base. Iconic weapons such as the spread shot, laser, and homing missiles return — now with the ability to stack two weapons of the same type for increased firepower — plus surplus weapons can be sacrificed to unleash awesome Overload abilities. The intense action will be enjoyed by Contra veterans and newcomers alike, thanks to three difficulty settings plus a variety of additional challenge options.
Indie developer WayForward were certainly up to the task in bringing this title to life. They definitely have the chops given their previous works such as Contra 4 (2007) and the Contra-inspired Spidersaurs (2019). I grew up as a kid playing the original Contra on the NES and still come back to it from time to time. Judging from the trailer, this has the makings of another classic. I can’t wait!
Contra: Operation Galuga is expected to launch digital early 2024, with a physical launch by Limited Run Games planned at a later date. This game will be available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Steam, and PlayStation 4 & 5. More details are expected as we get closer to launch next year.
Are you excited for this new Contra game? Please let us know what you think in the comments below. Thanks for reading and happy gaming!
