More than almost any other game from its era, Contra established its reputation for being extremely challenging, a legacy that continues to resonate today. Even iconic elements like the Konami Code owe much of their renown to the Contra series, given that many players memorized the sequence to gain extra lives for fighting against alien forces. With Contra: Operation Galuga, WayForward tackled the unique challenge of refining the original game's toughness to suit contemporary audiences without stripping away the famed difficulty. Smart enhancements have struck a pleasurable balance, although they haven't propelled Galuga into lasting greatness. This installment is a reimagining of the inaugural game, meaning you again take on the roles of Contra operatives Bill and Lance, sent to Galuga Island to investigate unusual happenings. After an overly verbose introduction in Story mode, you jump straight into the familiar run-and-gun gameplay. Longtime fans will quickly notice differences despite the game looking and feeling quite similar to its predecessor. You now have a default double jump and a dash maneuver usable both on the ground and in mid-air. These additions increase your agility in dodging enemy attacks, offer more leeway in crossing gaps, and make combat faster and more dynamic.

Despite borrowing the most iconic weapons from the first three games--the Machine Gun, Spread, Laser, Flame Thrower, Homing, and Crush weapons--your arsenal has gotten an upgrade, too. Each signifies a considerable power boost from your default gun by itself, but each can also be upgraded by stacking another weapon pick-up on top of it. Picking up another Homing power-up when you already have Homing equipped makes it a Homing Lv 2, for example. Sometimes this extends the range or breadth of the weapon, like in the case of the Spread and Flame Thrower, while other times it can change a weapon's behavior more significantly. An upgraded Laser will ricochet off targets, while the upgraded Crush changes the weapon from an explosive missile to a firearm that opens small black holes that do continuous damage. And in a welcome quality-of-life tweak, picking up a new weapon will automatically replace a blank weapon slot if you have one.

The satisfaction and potency of the weapons are notable, but in classic Contra fashion, losing them makes you more vulnerable. If you're using the life bar option, getting hit will downgrade your weapon, and dying will make you lose it entirely. This forces you to strategize in battles or face Contra's challenging fights without an enhanced arsenal.

This also feeds into Operation Galuga's other major update: a shop to buy various perks with the credits you earn during missions. You earn more credits the more risks you take, like playing on higher difficulties or turning on one-hit kills. Then you can use those credits to expand your health bar, purchase extra lives, or even start with a particular weapon--all of which you can buy for a relatively low sum. The bigger purchases, however, are absolute game-changers. I immediately saved up for the upgrade that automatically transforms any weapon you pick up into the upgraded version. With that secured, I began saving for another that would let me keep that upgraded weapon after sustaining a hit. Another, which I considered but ultimately bypassed, lets you keep your weapon even upon death. You can only equip two perks at a time, but finding a combination that suits your play style adds a light layer of character customization to what is otherwise a very straightforward action game.

Game balance feels well-designed around these perks, offering a satisfying level of challenge. Even with advantages on your side, dodging torrents of enemy gunfire while dealing with alien foes requires intense focus. Combat can be exhilarating at its peak. However, the option to select individual stages in Story mode allows you to retry stages with different perks without losing much progress. The game also provides a generous checkpoint system, meaning errors don't entirely wipe out your advancement. This results in a game that evokes the tough Contra challenges of the past without becoming overly frustrating or demanding flawless runs.

For those who relish a tough challenge, classic mechanics like one-hit eliminations and 8-direction aiming are available. An Arcade mode skips story segments and presents levels in succession for high scores, alongside increasing credit multipliers for the in-game shop. Optional Challenge stages add objectives such as surviving an area or defeating a boss within a time limit, often without taking any damage.

The plot is nonsensical but enjoyable. Drawing from exaggerated 1980s action movie tropes, it revels in playful, anachronistic absurdity. Though some story sequences are a bit lengthy, their comedic approach adds charm. The game could benefit from an even more direct satirical take. Throughout the game, you'll encounter various characters allied with the Contra cause, most of whom will eventually become unlockable either through the narrative or the shop. Each character has a special shop-bought ability, such as a brief invulnerability dash for Bill or a higher double jump for Lance. This minor variation brings some mechanical diversity to what is otherwise a lineup of similar action figures, leaving the choice of character largely down to personal preference rather than any significant strategic advantages. Visually, the game is its weakest link, with characters and backgrounds appearing excessively shiny and generic. Some stages offer more visually distinct and interesting moments, suggesting initial ideas to make the characters look like moving G.I. Joe figures. Overall, though, the lack of visual flair falls short of WayForward's usual standards, a letdown for such a historic franchise's revival. Despite its flaws, Contra: Operation Galuga captures the essence of classic Contra where it counts. With adjustments from minor tweaks like auto-equipping weapons to major features like the perks shop, it manages to feel both nostalgic and modern. While it may not become a new classic, it successfully breathes fresh life into a time-honored series.