CONTRA: ROGUE CORPS

Contra is back. But Rogue Corps doesn’t fall back on the series’ tried and tested 2D run ‘n’ gun gameplay. It’s a twin stick shooter with RPG elements, instead.

48%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

story, grinding

44% User Score Based on 72 reviews

Critic Score 51%Based on 21 reviews

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About

CONTRA: ROGUE CORPS is a single player and multiplayer shooter game. It was developed by Konami Digital Entertainment and was released on September 24, 2019. It received neutral reviews from both critics and players.

CONTRA is back! Two years after the Alien Wars ended, the Damned City erupts from the final battleground. From the midst of the chaos, a group of scoundrels emerge.They might not be typical heroes, but they're here to save the world… or get rich trying.Featuring action packed battles, customisable gear, gigantic bosses and explosive multiplayer action. Features Local and Online CO-OP action for up…

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44%

Audience ScoreBased on 72 reviews

gameplay7 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

The game offers a fun twin-stick shooter experience with a variety of weapons and character customization options.
Despite its flaws, many players find enjoyment in the chaotic action and over-the-top presentation.
At a discounted price, the game can provide good value for fans of the genre looking for a casual experience.

The game is plagued by technical issues, including a locked 30 FPS frame rate and poor graphics that feel outdated.
Many players feel the gameplay is repetitive and grindy, with a confusing upgrade system that detracts from the overall experience.
It strays too far from the classic Contra formula, incorporating unnecessary RPG elements and mechanics that frustrate long-time fans.

story
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
86%
7%
The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it lackluster and out of place within the Contra universe. While some appreciated its over-the-top moments and humor, others criticized it for being cringy and poorly integrated, leading to a disjointed experience that detracts from the gameplay. Overall, the narrative feels minimal and often overshadowed by repetitive missions and gameplay mechanics, leaving players wanting a more engaging and cohesive story.
- “The story was okay; it had some nice and funny moments in it, and it had a nice over-the-top feel to it.”
- “As I said, the story was okay, but there was some slapstick in the game that felt unnecessary and kind of dragged down the story a bit.”
- “Rogue Corps, I just can't take seriously and accept it as a part of the main Contra series' story.”
- “The story feels out of place in the Contra universe, and the dialogue often feels cringy, as if I'm watching a bad Netflix adaptation.”
- “But in any case, the story isn't much of a presence after the opening cutscene, a classic example of non-plot typically found in MMOs and online services.”
- “Not a bad idea in theory, but with so little to offer in quality, having no story only exacerbates all the other problems.”
gameplay
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
61%
16%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the twin-stick mechanics solid yet unexciting, and the overall experience often described as slow and repetitive. Critics have pointed out issues such as twitchy aiming, frustrating mechanics like weapon overheating, and a grindy leveling system that detracts from enjoyment. While some appreciate the customization and multiplayer aspects, the general consensus leans towards a lack of polish and engaging content, making the gameplay feel dated and tedious.
- “But the actual gameplay is actually pretty solid.”
- “I just love the pick up and go, blast away, don't die challenging gameplay.”
- “[enjoyable twin-stick shooting, fun in multiplayer, good weapon upgrading and customization gameplay loop]”
- “I really wished they removed the leveling up mechanic; it feels too grindy.”
- “The gameplay gets old real fast, and boring level design and awful camera angles don't help (especially when some stages are being reused as new missions).”
- “They took Contra and somehow tried to turn it into a loot shooter with way too complicated and cryptic stats, combined with grinding for better gear just after 30 minutes of playtime without any polish or care by the devs about the actual gameplay.”
graphics
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
52%
22%
The graphics of the game have received largely negative feedback, with many reviewers comparing them to early PS3/Xbox 360 titles and describing them as dated and generic. While some players appreciate the colorful and detailed environments, the overall consensus is that the visuals are poorly optimized, lack polish, and fail to meet modern standards, leading to a disappointing experience for fans of the series.
- “The graphics are nice to look at, definitely very colorful and well-detailed. The levels in the game are good, but most of the game’s levels are just a repeat of the same place, with environmental changes, but they were still good and nice to look at.”
- “With really cool 'realistic' graphics.”
- “Great graphics (ignore the 'not enough frames per second' cry-babies), though poorly optimized.”
- “In terms of graphics, the game looks like an early PS3/Xbox 360 game.”
- “The graphics look awful for 2019, and character/enemy/midboss designs look generic and not memorable. It also doesn't help that the midbosses are constantly recycled over and over again.”
- “As someone relatively new to PC gaming, I was really expecting a cool tribute to a classic with some updated powerful graphics, yet it seems like they rushed this game and just didn't give it the respect the Contra name deserves.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive and tedious, with many expressing a desire for the leveling mechanic to be removed entirely. The grind for character upgrades and gear is seen as a way to artificially extend playtime, leading to frustration as enemy health scales disproportionately. While some acknowledge the game’s addictive qualities, the overall sentiment leans towards the grinding being a major detractor from the enjoyment of the gameplay.
- “I really wished they removed the leveling up mechanic; it feels too grindy.”
- “They added character upgrades and currencies, so you spend days grinding it out as the game is not fun enough to keep you playing for that alone.”
- “The game encourages grinding for weapon and body upgrades, which artificially extends the play time, as the further you get, the more HP enemies will have (at times, the amounts of enemy health are ridiculous).”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
42%
33%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing it for being largely unmemorable and generic, lacking the heavy metal and electronic elements that the Contra series is known for. While some tracks are appreciated, particularly the nostalgic arrangements from previous games, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack fails to deliver a compelling or cohesive experience, leaving players disappointed compared to earlier titles in the franchise.
- “Great soundtrack.”
- “The music in the game was very good; definitely some well-imagined tracks.”
- “Good music, average graphics, good weapons, and a bucket load of fun.”
- “The music also sucks - for the most part, it consists of unmemorable and generic ambient and orchestral tracks, with some rock tracks and orchestral arrangements of old Contra tracks playing occasionally. Wasting 20 hours on grinding just to unlock the better music is definitely not worth it.”
- “There's no head-banging heavy metal and electronic music the series is known for, and there's no memorable and melodic tracks at all. Even the Contra Spirits soundtrack, which had a Hollywood orchestra feel to it, was much more melodic and memorable than what Rogue Corps has to offer.”
- “The music is terrible; only the 'mission accomplished' jingle is the old one we all know.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Players highlight the game's strong replayability, noting the variety in both story and replayable missions, as well as the engaging mechanics and extensive customization options. The combination of challenging gameplay and humorous presentation further enhances the incentive to revisit the game, whether solo or in co-op mode.
- “Seems like a lot of replay value.”
- “Both story missions and replayable missions.”
- “This is probably the only twin-stick shooter that has solid mechanics and awesome customization, upgradability, and replayability (solo and co-op) design.”
- “Both story missions and replayable missions offer limited variety, making it hard to stay engaged after the first playthrough.”
- “The tight and challenging twin-stick shooting is fun, but the lack of diverse scenarios and enemies diminishes replay value.”
- “While there is some customization, the overall replay value feels lacking after a few runs.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game is widely criticized for its poor optimization, requiring players with decent hardware, such as an i7 and RTX 2070, to lower settings to medium for smooth performance at 1080p. Despite its impressive graphics, many users report significant performance issues, indicating that the optimization is lacking.
- “There is truth in that this game is very badly optimized.”
- “Also, the fact that the game is badly optimized and runs slow even on a decent machine.”
- “Great graphics, though poorly optimized.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its over-the-top presentation and clever scenarios, with standout moments like the comically exaggerated take-down animations. Players appreciate the blend of tight gameplay and amusing elements, contributing to a lighthearted and entertaining experience.
- “The story was okay; it had some nice and funny moments in it, with a nice over-the-top feel to it.”
- “The take-down animation is especially hilarious. He drills into the enemy, it flies up, he punches it, and the camera zooms in on his face, but he is cross-eyed, so you can't take it seriously.”
- “The off-the-wall presentation is hilarious, featuring tight and challenging twin-stick shooting with clever scenarios and enemies, along with loads of customization and replay value.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews indicate that the game suffers from poor character development, leaving players feeling disconnected from the characters and their growth throughout the story.
- “The character development is lacking, making it hard to connect with anyone in the story.”
- “I found the character arcs to be underwhelming and predictable.”
- “There is little to no growth in the characters throughout the game, which is disappointing.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that while the game is generally playable, it does experience some buggy issues that can affect stability. Players have taken steps like verifying file integrity to address these problems, indicating a need for further updates or fixes.
- “There are some buggy issues, but it's still playable.”
- “I verified the integrity of the files and will be checking again, but just wanted to let you know it's acting buggy.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the emotional aspect of the game is minimal, with players prioritizing action over narrative depth. The focus is on gameplay rather than a dramatic storyline, suggesting that the emotional engagement is not a key feature of the experience.

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51%Critics’ scoreBased on 21 critic reviews

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