doesn’t have the look or feel of a triple-A title which might put some off, but it’s a game that isn’t afraid of trying new things.

CONTRA: Rogue Corps, despite being a decent and fun game, is a long way from putting the legendary Contra saga back where it belongs.

Contra: Rogue Corps is not a complete failure. Misguided? Yes. Awful? Absolutely not. The control issues are remedied by loading up the options and adjusting stick sensitivity. Why they didn't put them at max sensitivity from the get go? It's the same reason this has a cold opening and giving no chance to change settings until after the first stage leaves a horrible taste impression with how unresponsive it is. The only true misses are the lack of a continuous soundtrack that doesn't sound like a Metal Gear Solid rip-off. Why wasn't this at 60FPS on Xbox One X? A solid game, with some absolutely baffling design decisions.

The return of this beloved series is marred by repetitive gameplay, imprecise controls and weak graphics.

Contra: Rogue Corps is a game a lot of people would consider Konami to make. After seemingly wanting to exit the business even with a string of classic IP, this game feels like it was made for the sake of releasing a new Contra in 2019. It has good ideas hampered with poor implementation. It is not fun to play and that is its biggest crime. I wanted to love Rogue Corps. I tried to love Rogue Corps. I simply cannot find any fun to be had with the latest in this beloved franchise.

Rogue Corps has some good ideas, but the execution is very, very flawed. Poor level design, repetitive and more input lag than this genre can handle. However, it can be fun with friends. If you’re playing alone, though, stay away from it.

While the Contra name is renowned, especially amongst older gamers, this modern take on the franchise is simply not fit for that legacy. With dull, repetitive combat, bland and uninspiring visuals and some out of touch design decisions, I’d recommend any one looking for some fun arcade action to look elsewhere.