Introduction

Welcome back, fellow gamers, to the wild world of Contra: Rogue Corps, where nostalgia meets chaos and mandatory hair-pulling. Released in 2019, this installment of the legendary Contra series dares to mix side-scrolling mayhem with a rogues’ gallery of characters so absurd you’d think an intern with a penchant for caffeine and bad puns was behind the wheel. Well, buckle up; let’s take a stroll down Damned City and see what horrors await!

Gameplay

Players get to step into the combat boots of one of four characters: Kaiser (who appears to have borrowed parts from a malfunctioning vending machine), Ms. Harakiri (who’s mastered the art of stealth right behind a giant alien parasite), The Gentleman (because who doesn't love a classy alien bug?), and Hungry Beast (a scientific panda that could teach even Einstein a thing or two about awesomeness). Each character comes equipped with unique abilities and a selection of customizable guns that fire enough bullets to make Rambo proud. It's an epic display of colors, explosions, and occasional existential crises as you blast your way through waves of psychically damaged fiends in a mission to save what remains of sanity in Damned City. The game's mechanics allow for on-the-fly weapon configurations, rewarding strategic mindlessness, where you’re likely to drown under a pile of chaos with a dash of humor.

Graphics

The graphics of Contra: Rogue Corps can be described as, well, 'functional'. Characters look like they’ve just rolled out of a 90’s anime series where color saturation is the primary artistic direction. Environments are vibrant but muddled, casting the shadows of a once-proud series into the depths of ‘meh.’ In contrast, the craziness of gameplay makes up for some of this graphical inconsistency—though you might find yourself clutching your controller in frustration while navigating through what feels like a kaleidoscope of carnage. Speaking of frustration, loading times might just be the cherry on top of this confusion cake, especially if you're someone who values instant gratification alongside your 80’s action flick vibes.

Conclusion

Contra: Rogue Corps may not reclaim the crown of its predecessors, but it’s got its quirky charm, ridiculous characters, and enough action to keep your thumbs sore while your brain contemplates the choices that led you here in the first place. It’s the kind of game you can solo or dive into with friends (because why not share the madness?). Would you recommend it? Only if your friends are sentimental enough to wish to remember the good ol’ days of Contra while laughing your way through the chaos. Despite the series taking a slight detour into silly town, it remains a gripping, if chaotic, ride that’s worth experiencing for PC punks and console warriors alike. Just be prepared: sanity is not included in the package.

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