Contra: Rogue Corps Reviews
Rogue Corps is one of the least polished and most disappointing titles of the year, and that's even with the low expectations that preceded its release.
The Contra series lands on the Nintendo Switch under the name of Contra Rogue Corps. If by itself this should be a reason to celebrate, a closer look reveals an opportunity that missed all its objectives. The Contra series is mostly appreciated for its fun, non-stop and frantic action and gameplay, but Rogue Corps brings a gameplay tarnished by lack of precision and frustration, as well as a limited performance where its audiovisual component is concerned.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
It's hard to put into words all the issues Contra: Rogue Corps has, largely because it isn't objectively awful, it's just painfully unimaginative. It seems to think the name and a couple of jokes are enough to sell it and honestly, it's probably enough to garner interesting, though there really isn't anything special about it. Everything is so plain, boring and simple that no amount of charm or quirks will make shooting some pink blob that flies at you interesting. Though, if you love top-down shooters and just want to see what it's like, maybe check it out during a sale.
Contra Hard Corps is the worst Contra episode up to date, and a boring and messy twin stick shooter by itself: if this is the future of the franchise, we might be playing the Contra Anniversary Collection over and over.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Contra: Rogue Corps tries to maintain the essence of Contra while changing the gameplay mechanics into something that doesn’t remotely resemble classic Contra.
This game definitely will let you down if you used to be a fan of Contra series.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Contra: Rogue Corps is a game that is so bad, I can't recommend anyone buy it for any price
For a Contra fan, this game is the antithesis of what Contra is supposed to be. Playing Rogue Corps, I at last understood what Metal Gear fans must have felt when they played Metal Gear Survive last year.
There’s room for improvement, but Contra: Rogue Corps is very enjoyable for the most part.
It's rough around the edges, specifically in the ridiculous faux-bad-ass story and presentation coupled with the restrictions on local multiplayer. The actual shooting has enough there that could make it a fun multiplayer game, but with so much of it hinging on the online play, I can't draw a total conclusion. I hope the weapon customization and upgrading can gel well with online multiplayer so that way Rogue Corps can transcend its issues and be a boisterous and enjoyable action game.
A current-gen rendition of Contra with top-down, twin-stick shooter mechanics sounds like a great idea. But Contra: Rouge Corps’ shoddy execution proves that a project such as this one is better left in more capable hands.
Contra Rogue Corps is a mess of a game, and while that doesn't mean there aren't fun bits, you have to really dig to find them.
Contra: Rogue Corps is not a complete failure. Misguided? Yes. Awful? Absolutely not.
If Contra: Rogue Corps were known by any other name, it wouldn't be so bad. The idea of a twin-stick looter shooter is intriguing, and the shooting can be decent even if the level flow isn't exciting. However, that reliance on the franchise name comes with certain expectations. The overheating guns, restricted co-op, and missing weapon sets run counter to what fans have come to expect from the series that's been around for over 30 years. If you aren't too discerning, this may be worth a look if it's in the bargain bin. If fans of the series pick up Rogue Corps, they will be disappointed.
Kudos to Konami for not abandoning Rogue Corps or its players, but it’s still not quite the game Contra’s return deserved.
Of course, not everyone will enjoy Contra: Rogue Corps but I certainly did.
Contra: Rogue Corps is a fun but flawed twin-stick shooter that feels more than a bit rushed. Its visuals are mixed and it reuses its levels in a frustrating manner, but the core gameplay and customization can be quite fun from time to time.
There are some glimmers of inspiration here. The stupid macho tone and the comic-style cutscenes were particular portions that I enjoyed. Having them wrapped around such boring and repetitive gameplay and environments feels like a waste.
Contra: Rogue Corps is an unexpected way to revive a beloved franchise. It’s sure to be divisive among fans, but it has plenty of reasons for you to give it a chance. The dynamic camera combined with solid gameplay makes for an overall enjoyable experience. I had a great time with it and it sure beats another Contra slot machine.
Here you get what feels like a successor to Neo Contra, but one that tries to innovate in such a poor way that it feels like it forgot the basics, and it needs a lot of polishing up in order to really be memorable. I really tried hoping that this would still be a hidden gem in the end, but unfortunately even I couldn’t get into it despite an update being released, as that update did almost nothing to improve the core experience.