

Despite showing all of them in the opening movie, only two of the five are playable from the outset. Where we have to complain is in how Konami handled the playable characters in the game.

HARD CORPS UPRISING OPENING TRIAL
Yes, it even works in the trial version of the game. Enter it during the loading screen for the first stage, and you'll hear an alternate music track play. It's here, but it doesn't grant you any extra lives. Older players are likely wondering about the inclusion of the classic Konami code. Some of the more advanced moves aren't easy and require precise timing, but for expert players, they add an additional level of control that is appreciated. You can even pull off special moves, such as reflecting bullets. You can dash to quickly move out of danger. You can move and fire in eight directions, fire opposite your direction of travel as well as aim and fire while stationary.
HARD CORPS UPRISING OPENING FULL
One nice addition to Hard Corps: Uprising is the full complement of moves that have been made available to the player. If you want to beat arcade mode, you still have to do it the old-fashioned way. Note that upgrades only apply to rising mode. Upgrades are performance-related, such as always defaulting to level 2 of an upgraded weapon rather than starting at level 1, so they indirectly make the game easier. In rising mode, you earn points based on your performance, and those points can then be used to buy character upgrades in the shop. It's a necessity for those who want to complete arcade mode.Īlthough arcade mode is the main draw, if you're having trouble cutting your way through the hordes, there is a secondary option: rising mode. Learning where and how each boss attacks, as well as when they leave themselves exposed, is part of the challenge of the game. This is something that you can easily turn to your advantage. All have a weak spot, though, and learning it can make an otherwise impossible opponent seem like nothing more than a minor speed bump.īoss patterns are consistent every time you play. While low-level goons can be dispatched with a simple shot, more complex enemies sometimes require a bit of thought. Learning the enemy patterns is key to survival, both during the standard levels and when facing off against the bosses. The gun in your pack is safe unless you run out of lives. This is because any upgrades to your active weapon are lost when your character suffers damage. However, if you are constantly swapping weapon types, you'll always have the most basic upgrade.Īnother useful tactic with the weapon swap is to quickly change away from your favored weapon right before you get hit or die. Choosing which upgrades to stick with is important, as you can combine multiple upgrades of the same type to get a more powerful weapon. You can carry up to two different weapons at a time, which allows you to swap at will. Examples include a flamethrower, a grenade shot, homing laser, spread shot and upgraded machine gun. Each one upgrades your default weapon by swapping it out with another type. An advantage can be gained by collecting floating power-ups. Enemies come fast and furious, so survival is dependent on constant shooting. Gameplay is pulled straight out of the Contra playbook, with players either going it alone or co-op with a friend. At a mere eight stages, it may sound short, but rest assured, most casual gamers will likely spend the first few hours of play just trying to see the end of the first stage. If the grueling difficulty hasn't put you off, then you're exactly the type of gamer for which Hard Corps: Uprising was designed. Unless you have nerves of steel and an accurate trigger finger, you're going to die … a lot. The spiritual successor to Konami's long-standing Contra franchise, Hard Corps: Uprising dispenses with the pleasantries right from the start and throws you into the action. It's old school all the way, with no concept of "easy mode" for beginning gamers. There's a good reason that Hard Corps: Uprising has the word "hard" in its name.
