Contra: Hard Corps was the 4th game in the long-running Contra series. The second and third iterations of Contra were released on the NES and Super NES respectively. Contra: Hard Corps, released in 1994, is a 2D side-scrolling run and gun type game very much like the previous entries in the series but there are a few key differences.
First, Contra: Hard Corps was not released on a Nintendo system. Instead, it was released on the Sega Genesis. This iteration of Contra also got rid of the overhead stages and let you choose from four different characters. Also, the controls were adjusted to better fit the Genesis three-button controller. Other than these changes, players of previous Contra games should find the game play very familiar.
I never found the story to matter much in these games but such as it is, Contra: Hard Corps is set five years after Contra III. A terrorist group has stolen an alien artifact recovered during that game in order to make weapons. A new group, known as the Hard Corps are sent to confront the terrorists and retrieve the artifact.
Contra: Hard Corps was overall a very good game. Fans of the Contra series or this type of game in general should enjoy it with one caveat. It is a very difficult game. Some people may enjoy the challenge but others may find it frustrating. It surprised me to learn that the difficulty of this game was actually toned down for the Japanese release. Usually when that happens it is the other way around.
While Contra III was recently re-rereleased as one of the games on the Super NES Classic Edition, I do not believe Contra: Hard Corps has been re-released on any system. This is one you will either have to emulate or for which you will have to find an original cartridge. Complete copies can get pretty expensive on eBay but you can find loose carts reasonably priced if you are patient.
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