Contra: Legacy of War

Description

Contra: Legacy of War, released in 1997 for the SEGA Saturn, represents an unorthodox departure from the series' classic roots. Developers at Appaloosa Interactive attempted to revive the famous franchise by adding a three-dimensional look at a time when 3D graphics were beginning to dominate the gaming industry. Unfortunately, their efforts did not lead to the desired success.

One of the biggest changes is the transition from traditional 2D action to a 3D environment. While the idea was ambitious, the execution leaves much to be desired. The graphics look unbalanced and the game suffers from poor quality textures and bland visuals that are not preserved at all. The game's camera is another weak link - there are often cluttered situations, making it difficult to orient and control the character precisely, a major problem in an action-heavy title.

The gameplay mechanics that fans of the series have become accustomed to are represented here, but their adaptation to a 3D environment is not without its problems. The game offers a variety of weapons, fast-paced action, and hordes of enemies, but the overall execution feels stiff and garishly uncompact. The gameplay itself has lost some of its original dynamism and fluidity, which is a major blow for a title that is fundamentally based on action elements.

The game's soundtrack is perhaps its strongest element, but it too has its weaknesses. The soundtrack attempts to evoke the atmosphere of an epic adventure, and the digital effects add to the drama. Unfortunately, the repetitive and low-quality sounds of some weapons and explosions can quickly tire players out.

Contra: Legacy of War tries to innovate and bring a fresh wind to the series, but instead becomes a rather sad chapter among its successful predecessors. Although the attempt to transition to 3D was an understandable move at the time, the game remained lost between the time and space of its release. For die-hard fans of the series, this title may have some nostalgic value, but as a whole it remains in the shadow of its more famous and superior predecessors.