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[AndyMoogle]

first time I loaded up stage 1 the other day it did feel close to a minute, now though it's like 20 seconds so no idea if there is any caching going on. On a slim 360.

Yeah now that I'm looking around it seems to be a pretty common problem. For me it has always been around 20 seconds though, so I doubt the game caches anything.

I'm also on a 360 S.

 

[Dr Zhivago]

I think the issue with a twin-stick configuration in Contra (or Hard Corps) is that you don't want to have complete 360 degree aiming. Part of what makes these games so good is that because you can only aim in 8 directions you are constantly having to put yourself in harm's way to get shots off. Conversely, if you used dual sticks but kept the 8-way aiming, I just don't think using an analog stick with a circular gate for digital control is going to be precise enough for a game as demanding as this one. I already screw up enough because of the 360s crap d-pad. I guess it wouldn't have hurt to have made that an option for people who wanted it.

The original arcade Contra had more than 8-way firing, plus you can play this game on the analogue stick anyway.
My issue is that they've added the strafe & stationary controls, so they feel the game needs the extra firing options. Twin-stick just seems a better way of doing it.

 

[xbhaskarx]

I have a Slim (only a month old, no other issues) and loading takes like 2-3 minutes!

It is incredibly painful and it's limiting how much I play this game.

 

[Kandrick]

I actually checked the loadings and they take around 13-27seconds for me. 27 being the longest loading i had so far, on a old 360 and 60gb HDD.

 

[AndyMoogle]

The original arcade Contra had more than 8-way firing, plus you can play this game on the analogue stick anyway.
My issue is that they've added the strafe & stationary controls, so they feel the game needs the extra firing options. Twin-stick just seems a better way of doing it.

Stationary controls was in both Contra 3 and 4. I definitely prefer strafing and stationary over twin stick.

 

[GitarooMan]

I get about 30-40 seconds on my older fat Xbox. Anyway, I've got a lot of work ahead of me to get decent at this, I've lost so many skills. Cool game though.

 

[Rattles]

Don't you hate it when you lose all incentive to play other games because there's one out that's all you want to play but can't .... Come on ps3 version!

 

[Teknoman]

Looks like some of us need to start putting out Hard Corps playthrough videos. The game really does look nice in motion, and it plays pretty fast if you use the dash properly.

 

[riceandbeans]

I'm so bad at games like this, but I can't deny this game is a lot of fun. I'll grab it when it goes on sale.

 

[Rocwell]

Game looked awesome to me from the QL, I will definitely give it a shot when it comes to the PSN side. Anyone with an arcade stick try playing it that way? How does it compare to playing on a gamepad? I dislike the choice for having DLC characters on the side though, since they only give you 2 to start with, it just feels like they're withholding content to get more money out of you.

Spoiler

One thing that QL did for me though is remind me that I want another Xenogears. The 2d anime sprites on 3d backgrounds plus the desert scenery... it will never happen though

 

[Tain]

The original arcade Contra had more than 8-way firing, plus you can play this game on the analogue stick anyway.

No arcade variant of the original Contra had analog aiming.

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

Game looked awesome to me from the QL, I will definitely give it a shot when it comes to the PSN side. Anyone with an arcade stick try playing it that way? How does it compare to playing on a gamepad? I dislike the choice for having DLC characters on the side though, since they only give you 2 to start with, it just feels like they're withholding content to get more money out of you.

What am I chopped liver?

Yes. I'm using the arcade stick and it's awesome! You can completely remap the buttons.

DLC characters - I never played the Genesis game, Western marketing made it look bad (that box art) and at that time I was full swing into SF2 madness, but to me Contra has always been Red Guy and Blue Guy.

I guess it could be perceived as swindling, the other way of looking at it is it's an awesome Contra game for $20 brand new. Still a steal.

B Ranked first level in Rising mode. Not the greatest, but I wanted to test a speed run and my memorization. Damn this game is awesome.

Graphics are awesome. Ignoring some of the 3D models it all works really well together like in animation how the backgrounds are painted, but the cels look different, but you just accept it. Nothing really sticks out like a sore thumb like the backgrounds in MvC2 for instance and other early attempts to mix low resolution sprites with 3D backgrounds.

 

[Rocwell]

What am I chopped liver?

Kinda, I had you on ignore from when you would constantly troll the sfiv threads :lol

Thanks for the reply though, good info with the custom button configs

 

[JaxJag]

Don't you hate it when you lose all incentive to play other games because there's one out that's all you want to play but can't .... Come on ps3 version!

Yeah, it's sure nice owning multiple consoles and not having any "alliances".

 

[Rattles]

Yeah, it's sure nice owning multiple consoles and not having any "alliances".

Yea, sure is nice having mummy and daddy pay for everything.

 

[Augemitbutter]

Yeah, it's sure nice owning multiple consoles and not having any "alliances".

ridiculous.

 

[Kimosabae]

Yeah, it's sure nice owning multiple consoles and not having any "alliances".

Where does his post imply "allegiance"? Maybe he only owns a PS3? Maybe he has more drive space with that option? Maybe he likes the DS controller better?

*shrugs*

 

[PepsimanVsJoe]

Isn't there a playground or maybe an oil pit where you guys can take this nonsense?

 

[Teknoman]

Yeah, save the aggressive attacking for the enemy.

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

Kinda, I had you on ignore from when you would constantly troll the sfiv threads :lol

Thanks for the reply though, good info with the custom button configs

Well I don't blame you.

I need to go take care of some business this afternoon, but I'm going to come home and take a crack at stage 2. This level is gorgeous!

Snipers aren't as bad as the complainers in reviews made them out to be. You get plenty of fair warning, and the only problem is is you get distracted by enemies swarming you and miss the crosshair over your character or if you pull my famous move and jump into the bullet. D'oh!

 

[Teknoman]

Man...no wonder they give you an achievement for beating the first stage That was crazy.

Minor gripe: I still think the Lotus Wyrm should've had a louder roar in the intro.

 

[Community Forum]

I suck at this game. It's going to last me forever!

 

[Teknoman]

Stage 2 is some Shattered Soldier level stuff.

 

[klee123]

Yeah, it's sure nice owning multiple consoles and not having any "alliances".

You see the same shit when it's vice versa. Just live with it. Maybe he only owns a PS3? Has it ever occurred to you that some people actually prefer one console over another? Amazing I know!

 

[Teknoman]

Oh and TTOB, we should make a XBL metatag for online co-op, since it looks like you can only invite friends.

Btw, is it against gaf rules to post gamerips if a soundtrack for the game is most likely never going to be released?

Oh yeah, accidentally found out what the konami code does for one part of the game:

Spoiler

version of Contra composed by Daisuke Ishiwatari (to activate, you enter the Konami code on the first screen of "now loading" of stage 1)

Dunno if it does anything for any other stages, but that could be the reason for the "long" load times

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

W-what is a Metatag? D:

How do you avoid the bullet strafe of boss in stage 2

Spoiler

once it splits into two ships?

:O

I will also update OP tomorrow with character profiles from game.

 

[quinntendopower]

this is the definition of a perfect download game. i love everything about it. feels awesome with the arcade stick too, wow!

the only thing that really bothers me is the broken scoring system. why does it seem every awesome action game with a scoring system ends up getting broken somehow? (bayonetta P*)

with such a strong title in the series, it can only surely go down from here.

i got a legit 33 million in arcade which felt pretty good, only to see scores in the hundreds of millions from crocodile and crane farming for 30 minutes. oh well

 

[Teknoman]

W-what is a Metatag? D:

How do you avoid the bullet strafe of boss in stage 2

Spoiler

once it splits into two ships?

:O

I will also update OP tomorrow with character profiles from game.

Well I just started using the word metatag recently, but most people at gaf just call those group XBL tags metatags.

Its just making a free XBL tag as a go to friends list for specific games. That way, people could check that tag's friend list, and invite people from there.

I could try and set one up if you want. Not sure how many people are going to end up picking it up (you'd think there would be more Contra fans on GAF ).

 

[XenoRaven]

What the heck is this Ambush/Ambush Shot action and how do I use it?

 

[Kafel]

posted ?

At the loading screen before Mission 1, enter the classic code Konami Code before loading ends to hear the original Contra music in the level: UP, UP, DOWN, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, B, A, B, A. You should hear a voice confirming the entry.

Spoiler

Cheat: Konami Code (Classic Contra Music!)

 

[Dr Zhivago]

No arcade variant of the original Contra had analog aiming.

Not analogue, but more than 8 directions. Try it!


Also,

Spoiler

WTF ESCORT MISSION

 

[DrFunk]

I know it was an Arc System Works game, the player characters have 5 palette swaps

it'sa buy for me!

 

[Tylahedras]

Putitonadiscdammit!

 

[VariantX]

Not analogue, but more than 8 directions. Try it!


Also,

Spoiler

WTF ESCORT MISSION

yeah, i remember this about the original contra arcade and it weirded me out at first because i played the nes version before the arcade version. For example, if you were aiming forward and decided to point your gun up-forward, it wouldnt just immediately have you aim in that direction. The arc of where your bullets would leave your gun would have a small lag on it for a very short time and you could have bullets come out inbetween the forward and up-forward positions. Think of the heavy machine gun from metal slug, thats basically how it works but with every gun in contra 1.

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

Putitonadiscdammit!

Evolvedammit.

The reason PSN/XBLA and whatever Nintendo's Wii thing is exist is so games like this can find an outlet.

If you don't support them, you'll have nobody to blame but yourself when these types of games no longer get made. Unless you love Nolan North voiced semi-interactive machinima masquerading as video games. :\

 

[Teknoman]

Well Contra is getting a 3DS release of some sort, so theres that. Dunno how they'll work out the 3d unless they do it Arc style again.

 

[Amalthea]

Well Contra is getting a 3DS release of some sort, so theres that. Dunno how they'll work out the 3d unless they do it Arc style again.

I wish Wayforward would be behind that one but rumors point at Mercury Steam.

 

[iconoclast]

The folks at GameFAQs have compiled a list of all of the 1ups you can find in the game. There are 24 total right now, I'm not sure if it's 100% complete but that should make 1cc'ing arcade mode a lot easier. http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/997471-hard-corps-uprising/58178799

I think I'm going to pick up Sayuri. Is she worth using in Arcade mode? I know she's insanely overpowered when you max her out in Rising, but I can't find any videos of her in Arcade.

Awesome game though. Much better than Contra 4.

 

[Augemitbutter]

Well Contra is getting a 3DS release of some sort, so theres that. Dunno how they'll work out the 3d unless they do it Arc style again.

first time i hear about that. looks like HC is well received by experienced gamers, hopefully they won't ruin the next one.

 

[Onion_Relish]

So heres a question:

How are the achievements for this game? I saw one that was DONT DIE AT ALL IN ARCADE MODE, which sounds balls hard. I'm going to get the game regardless of whether or not i can get the trophies., but has anyone here got them yet?

 

[kobashi100]

I can now get to 2nd level boss in Arcade mode.

The 2nd level is just crazy, trying to avoid the snipers while killing everything else is damn difficult. I end up giving away lives on this level.

I am switching between arcade and rising mode at the moment. I like Rising mode even though your getting the assists to help you.

 

[iconoclast]

So heres a question:

How are the achievements for this game? I saw one that was DONT DIE AT ALL IN ARCADE MODE, which sounds balls hard. I'm going to get the game regardless of whether or not i can get the trophies., but has anyone here got them yet?

It's a pretty hard game to 200/200. The Rising mode achievements are fairly easy, but the Arcade mode achievements seem pretty challenging. I'm guessing you can get most of them while using continues, but the ones for having 20 lives in stock and no-missing the entire game seem to be the hardest.

 

[RadarScope1]

Yea, sure is nice having mummy and daddy pay for everything.

Ridiculous, junior. Maybe he has a job?

 

[Teknoman]

first time i hear about that. looks like HC is well received by experienced gamers, hopefully they won't ruin the next one.

I remember seeing it under working titles when they showed the company support slides.

So heres a question:

How are the achievements for this game? I saw one that was DONT DIE AT ALL IN ARCADE MODE, which sounds balls hard. I'm going to get the game regardless of whether or not i can get the trophies., but has anyone here got them yet?

It shouldnt be hard once you learn the patterns. You have a life meter now. Then again, I cant beat level 2 yet

Also the Guilty Gear'ifed original Contra theme is nice...wonder if putting in the code for other stages unlocks things.

 

[Ken Masters]

PS3 version better come out this week, can't wait for this bad boy

 

[Teknoman]

Alright, gonna make a tag for co-op action.

 

[Papercuts]

Took me a few tries to beat level 2, but now I can blow through it easily. Really liked level 3, cool stuff.

 

[Tain]

ballers avoiding rising mode say yeaaah

This game is really long for something that wants to be an arcade game, though. I don't have much of a desire to 1CC something that takes forrrrever each playthrough and has miniature cutscenes and shit, but at the same time, I don't like that they give you more continues as time passes, Ikaruga style. :/

why can't all action games from here on out just be made for japanese arcades

 

[Teknoman]

Well since Hard Corps, miniature cutscenes are fairly standard for Contra. Its usually better with co-op though.


On that note:

GAF Hard Corps tag

Add the tag, and use the "view friends" options to invite other people for co-op.

 

[Tain]

Hard Corps had 'em, yeah, but everything was faster in that game, cutscenes included.