Hard Corps: Uprising

It's not going to be for everyone, the punishing difficulty you'll encounter by just hopping into Arcade mode can certainly be off-putting, but if you end up spending time with the Rising mode, you'll definitely find a lot to love.

Hard, "old school" and rewarding. Hard Corps honors the genre, while it adds new ideas where they are needed.

The hardcore fans that don't want any handouts can stick to the arcade mode. You start off with set abilities and limited health and lives. At least players can learn the stages and patterns in Rising Mode beforehand. Even then, it's tough to imagine anyone but the absolute best making it all the way through arcade. I guess that's why Konami put the word "hard" in the title.

It's definitely classic Contra, but at the same time feels new and exciting.

If you are someone who wants a game that will challenge their old-school gaming skills, as cliched as that sounds, then Hard Corps: Uprising is definitely for you. It's a game that is initially punishing, but ultimately satisfying.

Hard Corps: Uprising is bar none one of the best side scrolling shooters of this generation. It's slick, intense, and a lot of fun.

Hard Corps is the spiritual sequel of the classic Contra game. The gameplay is oldschool because you have to walk from left to right and shoot everything that comes on your path. With upgrades you can make your character better and better and the game can be still pretty challenging.

Griping aside, Hard Corps: Uprising is a game that delivers exactly what it promises. It isn't going to be for everyone, but for those who appreciate the challenge of old-school gaming, it's a must-buy. For the rest who are going to whine that "it's too hard," go play Black Ops. This game is exclusively for the hardcore.

Uprising is for gamers who seriously enjoy punishing games.

Looking for a crazy difficult game? Hard Cops: Uprising is your best choice! This Contra remake is an awesome example of the old school madness, where players have few lives to beat the hell. A great design and an high production value are great extras to create a fantastic experience.

It still feels like Contra, but with something more. Every action lover will enjoy it, even if sometimes it's hard as hell.

While the gameplay might be a bit too hardcore for gamers that are easily frustrated, the upgrades in Rising mode will eventually give you the edge you need to beat every level. Just know that you will die a lot your first time through. If you're a fan of side-scrolling shooters like Contra and Metal Slug, definitely check this game out.

A solid challenge. [Issue#204, p.97]

There is a very specific kind of player for whom Hard Corps: Uprising is going to be better than crack. These are the people that keep Cave employed, who lined up for Gradius V, and who have characters from Metal Slug tattooed on their unmentionables. It's an arcade game for serious shooter fans, and only for serious shooter fans.

This is for the punishment-addicted only. [May 2011, p.84]

This Contra-style shooter is packed with pleasure and punishment.

The overall feeling we got from Uprising is one of a game not quite up to the standard of the very best Contra games.

Uprising may not break any new ground in a genre that is arguably an endangered species, but it does a good job of breathing life into the dying breed. It's a reminder that an artist's eye, when met by a designer's understanding of modern tastes, can revitalise a struggling brand and make the old feel new again.

Hard Corps: Uprising really justifies its name "hard". It has a lot of variety in its situations and very direct action, but everything is conditioned by its almost exasperating difficulty level, which makes this game only recommended for the most seasoned players.

The worst part about Uprising is the lack of balancing. The weapons you'll get and the difficulty don't add up, making it extremely difficult to finish the game. For those that like a challenge, Hard Corps: Uprising just might be the thing they're looking for.

Deeply frustrating lack of checkpoints holds it back from retro greatness. [June 2011, p.103]