Hard Corps: Uprising(successor to Contra HC)- XBLA

[evil_ash_xero]

My main problem is that you are too slow and too underpowered, until you level yourself up in Rising mode. It's kind of weird. Once you get "rapid fire", "speed king", and a number of the other moves, then it feels like the game it's supposed to be. It's a weird way of putting it together. Makes arcade mode pretty much useless, since you're stuck with that crappy default speed, and the other things I mentioned.

You see what I was getting at in our PM exchange now right? (I was only playing arcade that week )

Oh yeah. If I had only been playing THAT version, I would have said probably all the same things you did. I didn't even bother with that version 'til way later, because of the things you pointed out. And you were right.

[DocHauser]

Decent article from the Guardian last week featuring an interview with Arc System Works. It mostly talks about Guilty Gear and BlazBlue, but I thought people might be interested in it anyway:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/ga ... ame-design

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

I would be more dedicated to this game had the loading times not been so damned long... Sheesh.

[Skykid]

Decent article from the Guardian last week featuring an interview with Arc System Works. It mostly talks about Guilty Gear and BlazBlue, but I thought people might be interested in it anyway:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/ga ... ame-design

Lol, article could have had credibility if it weren't for those amendments listed at the foot of the page.

[doctorx0079]

If I love Ghosts 'n' Goblins and Super Ghouls 'n' Ghosts to death, would I like this game? Because it sounds like I would. Is it worth it to try and one-life this game like I one-lifed Ghosts 'n' Goblins?

[Skykid]

If I love Ghosts 'n' Goblins and Super Ghouls 'n' Ghosts to death, would I like this game? Because it sounds like I would. Is it worth it to try and one-life this game like I one-lifed Ghosts 'n' Goblins?

If you can one-life Ghost's n' Goblins, you could probably just about one-life this.

Maybe.

Can't think of anything more painful though, think of all the games you'd be missing out on for the next three years?

[doctorx0079]

It did take me an inordinate amount of time, and that was only the easier Japan version. Davil has 1LC'ed the harder US version.

[DocHauser]

Decent article from the Guardian last week featuring an interview with Arc System Works. It mostly talks about Guilty Gear and BlazBlue, but I thought people might be interested in it anyway:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/ga ... ame-design

Lol, article could have had credibility if it weren't for those amendments listed at the foot of the page.

Heh. That seems to be pretty routine for The Guardian these days, especially online. They publish stuff first then worry about the corrections later.

[iconoclast]

If I love Ghosts 'n' Goblins and Super Ghouls 'n' Ghosts to death, would I like this game? Because it sounds like I would. Is it worth it to try and one-life this game like I one-lifed Ghosts 'n' Goblins?

If you can one-life Ghost's n' Goblins, you could probably just about one-life this.

Maybe.

Can't think of anything more painful though, think of all the games you'd be missing out on for the next three years?

I 1LC'd Hard Corps Uprising after playing for 35-40 hours. It's a hard game, but I think some of you guys are overrating the difficulty just a bit here...

[Ghegs]

I 1LC'd Hard Corps Uprising after playing for 35-40 hours. It's a hard game, but I think some of you guys are overrating the difficulty just a bit here...

Arcade mode? If so, very impressive and gratz.

Yet another DLC character was released for the game today: Leviathan, the guy you meet and fight against on a few occasions during the game. Being the shmuck I am I went and bought it. He's...kinda weird. In Arcade mode he dies in one hit, can have only one weapon, has an arcing grenade attack that's has decent power, but less so than Sayuri's slashes. He can do a Mega Man -style groundslide and a Richer-like backflip. The game doesn't change at all even though you're now playing the bad guy, he even meets himself in second stage and just comments that the other one is a doppelgänger. Not worth the 200 MS points, I'd say.

[iconoclast]

Arcade mode? If so, very impressive and gratz.

Yeah, I did it on Arcade mode with Sayuri. I spent most of my time learning the stages with Bahamut, and I came fairly close to clearing it with him, but eventually I just said screw it and bought Sayuri. Best $2.50 I've ever spent.

[Ghegs]

I realized early on myself that if I wanted to keep my sanity while seriously trying to clear the game I'd either have to A) play Sayuri or B) learn to play a character completely without weapon pickups. Losing that max. level machinegun is going to happen sooner or later and at that point falling back to peashooter tactics is a necessity. There's also C), which is the same as B) but I'd use a turbo controller to get a moderatly useful peashooter and just use that for the whole game.

[antares]

I hope Todayisforgotten doesn't mind if I put his link here:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p ... 34E475A170

Watch it people - epic stuff!

And then stop bitching about this great game

[Ghegs]

Good stuff TodayIsForgotten, very impressive run. How many hours have you clocked into the game?

I hadn't realised the Laser was so powerful, it's almost a skip-a-level/boss -button. Sadly it highlights the huge difference between starting and max. firepowers that I mentioned in an earlier post. Also when watching the video I noticed how much fluff the game has, many times a stage just repeats (or extends needlessly) its setpieces with barely any modifications to it. Makes me want to scream "GAME! I've already proven to you I can do this, lemme go forward!". Like in Stage 7 there are no less than three instances where you have to climb a vertical shaft with platforms and enemies.

This isn't meant to take away from the accomplishment TodayIsForgotten has done here, just two deaths in a game this harsh and unforgiving is nothing short of epic. Kudos.

[Skykid]

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p ... 34E475A170

WOW!

That was an applause worthy run, I absolutely LOVED watching that. The drama of the last stage when you hit pause and then decided to go on, only for that laser to fall out of reach - I actually facepalmed there (knowing how frustrating not getting your hands on that weapon would be) but glad you saw it through. On the last boss I was thinking "how the heck is he going to do this with the spread gun?!" only for the laser to turn up just in time.

Terrific skill, you mastered it. I actually feel as though several of my points are completely vindicated by that run: there really are only two decent weapons in the game. I knew the laser was by far the most powerful and a real boss killer, which made losing it always so infuriating. And the other thing (and I know it's a speed run) but you proved how unbelievably superfluous so many objects are. I actually lol'd in disbelief at how you handled stage 2 - just ignore everything in your path! I actually think if you take into account the game's length and completely ignore score, playing the way you played is probably the most fun way to do it, although I would never have the patience to learn this particular game so thoroughly.

I have to say, in all honesty that, In my opinion, personally, I feel as though, for me, watching your run was more fun than actually playing the game.

Anyway, genuinely enjoyed that, great work.

[TodayIsForgotten]

I hope Todayisforgotten doesn't mind if I put his link here:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p ... 34E475A170

Watch it people - epic stuff!

And then stop bitching about this great game

Oh RR!! Nah, thats cool. I never tried doing a speedrun before and was really happy with it up to a point. Minus my failures I wanted to share it with others who like that type of stuff.

Good stuff TodayIsForgotten, very impressive run. How many hours have you clocked into the game?

I hadn't realised the Laser was so powerful, it's almost a skip-a-level/boss -button. Sadly it highlights the huge difference between starting and max. firepowers that I mentioned in an earlier post. Also when watching the video I noticed how much fluff the game has, many times a stage just repeats (or extends needlessly) its setpieces with barely any modifications to it. Makes me want to scream "GAME! I've already proven to you I can do this, lemme go forward!". Like in Stage 7 there are no less than three instances where you have to climb a vertical shaft with platforms and enemies.

This isn't meant to take away from the accomplishment TodayIsForgotten has done here, just two deaths in a game this harsh and unforgiving is nothing short of epic. Kudos.

Thank you very much. I have clocked in 123 hours. I had about 30 hours when i beat the game without dying. I must have spent 70 hours in coop. The rest, working on this speed run. It took me roughly 4 hours to figure out the best routes of each level and it took me way more learning the shortcomings off this game.

What I mean by that is you will find there is quite a bit of randomness with level layout. Whether it be an extra guy in an area, or a rocket being shot earlier than usual or those toads/frogs may jump and hit you, regardless of the previous 100 runs not having those issues. An example of this is on the last stage when I got laser'd. If you stop the video before the laser you'll notice i am shooting on an angle. That should have been interpreted as ducking. I also believe i fell off a platform on 7 and not by choice. There are times where HC does not interpret input correctly and will have you double dashing for no reason or firing in the incorrect direction or not ducking. That laser hardly ever shoots off screen but i was anticipating it... only my brethren controls failed me.

You're absolutely right, Ghegs. Max laser is pretty much TKO in this game. The Raygun as well but its such a close-proximity weapon. I almost thought of doing a nopower up speed run but i would literally get so bored on the bosses as it really does take forever.

I totally agree that levels do extend and even having 3 boss fights per level can be frustrating, especially with unskippable cut-scenes. That really ruins the flow of the game.

No worries on trying to take away the accomplishment. It wasnt a great run in my eyes. 1-7.5, yes. That really was a no death run and thus why i feel it is a failure and the pause on level 8. I may do a no death one but i dont know. The game took so much out of me with what i mentioned above.

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p ... 34E475A170

WOW!

That was an applause worthy run, I absolutely LOVED watching that. The drama of the last stage when you hit pause and then decided to go on, only for that laser to fall out of reach - I actually facepalmed there (knowing how frustrating not getting your hands on that weapon would be) but glad you saw it through. On the last boss I was thinking "how the heck is he going to do this with the spread gun?!" only for the laser to turn up just in time.

Terrific skill, you mastered it. I actually feel as though several of my points are completely vindicated by that run: there really are only two decent weapons in the game. I knew the laser was by far the most powerful and a real boss killer, which made losing it always so infuriating. And the other thing (and I know it's a speed run) but you proved how unbelievably superfluous so many objects are. I actually lol'd in disbelief at how you handled stage 2 - just ignore everything in your path! I actually think if you take into account the game's length and completely ignore score, playing the way you played is probably the most fun way to do it, although I would never have the patience to learn this particular game so thoroughly.

I have to say, in all honesty that, In my opinion, personally, I feel as though, for me, watching your run was more fun than actually playing the game.

Anyway, genuinely enjoyed that, great work.

Thank you, very much. Dude. The drama on 8 was gut wrenching. First, on stage 7, the end boss who is holding a hostage as a shield. I practiced that area so much. He dropped the private every time in my pre-runs. This one? Of course, he throws him and im not paying attention.

On level 8, i ducked at that first laser as mentioned earlier. That pissed me off, since I died. At that point, I was playing on fumes. I was gutted. I wound up either jumping a fraction too late or holding A for too long when i jumped into the electric field. I dummy proofed that area to make sure there was no way she could jump into the electric. I guess, once again, I was wrong with how this game works in the long run.

I love the spin you put on it with me pausing. There was a lot of thought of ending it being a perfectionist. I was like man, this is bullshit. I actually did not scream obscenities. I know it looks like that would be perfect time for it. I was so drained from hours of silly deaths, hours of new randomness found - that, that, finally was the last straw.

The whole superfluous actually happened by chance. It all started after you beat the first section boss on level 1. When you have to jump the gap (physically) from your vehicle. I did a double jump and dash then laser and poof powerup right into my lap. It went all downhill from there when i thought about using B-button. That was also the other thing. It started occurring to me that how the game was designed maybe that was their intention? A speed run. As i mentioned i've never done one before so maybe it was all coincidence.

You also nailed your last thought on the head. Speed running was definitely more fun than going through the game at your own pace. The only setbacks were dying by stupidity (shoot alligators and then jump into water by accident) and having to redo the easy levels which then become hard since you're forging ahead in thought.

Again, many thanks and this is the reason why I put it up. That someone would enjoy it and maybe even more so than I had anticipated. I hardly put my videos up to show, hey look at me. Some will think that regardless. The real reason is the comments and enjoyment others get out of it, great or small. It's just nice to read. The only downfall is its encouraging me to reconsider the no-death speed run...ugh.

[cj iwakura]

So is this harder than, uh, Hard Corps? I highly doubt it, but I figure it's possible.


I'm sure the music is excellent, at least.

[Skykid]

So is this harder than, uh, Hard Corps? I highly doubt it, but I figure it's possible.

Man, it's much harder than Hard Corps.

Thank you very much. I have clocked in 123 hours.

AAAAARRGH!

You also nailed your last thought on the head. Speed running was definitely more fun than going through the game at your own pace.

I kind of figured I had that right (I played it enough to realise I wasn't much enjoying the natural pace of the game) but it's good to hear you say it.
The things I love about your run is that you don't use Sayuri, you ignore all the bullshit superfluous nonsense (like stand in front of this plant, shoot it loads, avoid the cloud, stop, pick off the sniper... yawn) and make some of it look so goddamn sexy, like the flipping off the bike on stage 1 and grabbing the power up before hitting the ground. That was way cool.

But as I said, there's no way on earth I feel strongly enough about the general restrictions of arcade mode to ever want to put time in to learn the game as you have. 130 hours, fuck that. I'll be lucky if I can bag 130 minutes of gaming in an entire week.

But please, leave this run up, it actually validates my owning the game just to be able to watch the rulebook getting torn up, and in such style. Truly hard corps man.

[TodayIsForgotten]

So is this harder than, uh, Hard Corps? I highly doubt it, but I figure it's possible.


I'm sure the music is excellent, at least.

If you are into hard rock and tinges of heavy metal the sound track is really quite stellar.

Skykid - haha love it. I refuse to buy DLC. I know a crapton of people who play only for achievements and while I do that, as well. I will not buy some over-powered, cheap as fuck character to a) get an achievement and b) beat the game. Default characters are plenty good.

I"m not proud of the 120 hours but (call it OCD) I cannot stop something I want to do in real life or virtual until I get what my mind has set out for me to do. It really sucks.

No intentions on taking down the video. Its all good (:

[antares]

Hey TIF, it's really nice to know someone like you even if it's only 'virtual'. You have great skills and still never brag about it, that makes you a world class player in my eyes!

I also watched your Bahamut no death run and I liked it as much as your Krystal speed run. Though it wasn't as fast and you made many mistakes but it shows you are still only human

I'm still working on my Bahamut 1CC. Made it to the last boss yesterday but had only one life left. But I'm sure I will do it in the next days also thanks to the strategies I saw in your runs

[Ganelon]

For all the diehard Contra fans, which version of Uprising is better and why?

[Klatrymadon]

Well done, Iconoclast! I'm looking forward to getting back to Arcade mode; after clearing Rising I took a break and soon forgot about it. I'm not sure I agree that people are overstating the challenge, though; no individual section is particularly tough once you've seen it a few times, but 40 hours is an awfully long time to spend learning a Contra game. Most of the others only take a bit of light practice to 1CC (even the supposedly terrifying ones like Contra III and Hard Corps) - the only one that comes close to demanding this kind of time investment is Shattered Soldier, and I think this game's less friendly than that. I'd urge people to give it a fair crack of the whip - it's a rewarding experience once you do - but I can't blame anybody for being frightened off.

[TodayIsForgotten]

Hey TIF, it's really nice to know someone like you even if it's only 'virtual'. You have great skills and still never brag about it, that makes you a world class player in my eyes!

I also watched your Bahamut no death run and I liked it as much as your Krystal speed run. Though it wasn't as fast and you made many mistakes but it shows you are still only human

I'm still working on my Bahamut 1CC. Made it to the last boss yesterday but had only one life left. But I'm sure I will do it in the next days also thanks to the strategies I saw in your runs

Really appreciate those kind words even if a bit of an over-statement (: I would beg to differ on my skills. They could always be better but I am not truly as dedicated to gaming as I used to be. That and being a perfectionist - things can always be better.

Yeah the bahamut run was with turbo (not that there is much difference) and just to put it up. As you said, it would show that you don't have to be robotic or memorize everything and be flawless to beat a game without dying. On the flip: I was completely unhappy with it. I had way more fun making the speed run, even though it aged me by 5 years.

I know you'll get it the 1cc and no death if you choose to. You're too good not to. Glad you picked up some strats but again I know you'd have done it without them.

For all the diehard Contra fans, which version of Hard Corps is better and why?

fixed.

I'm not diehard, but i would say that the original Hard Corps was better. From what i remember, it has that original contra feel and the bosses were pretty cool. Seemed like more of a challenge as far as memorization.

I'm not sure I agree that people are overstating the challenge, though; no individual section is particularly tough once you've seen it a few times, but 40 hours is an awfully long time to spend learning a Contra game.

I am not positive this was geared towards my 35 hours. To clarify (if the case) it took me roughly 4-6 hours to familiarize myself with the levels and another 20+ of stupid decisions/deaths to finally get a clean run.

[Ganelon]

Nah, I meant whether the 360 or just-released PS3 version of Uprising is better, since only a diehard fan would've bought both.

[Klatrymadon]

Not at all, TIF - Iconoclast said he spent roughly 35-40 hours with it as well.

It's not that I find this an unusual amount of time for a game to eat up, or anything (it isn't, and I think I'll be making the same investment), but it's an age compared to everything else in the series. (I can definitely see silly deaths adding a lot of time to that, though. I kinda take the first few levels for granted now, and keep making clumsy mistakes and losing weapons as a result. I've probably racked up a couple of hours just from restarting games after stuff like that. It's maddening.)

[TodayIsForgotten]

Oh wow. I've heard some frame rate issues for PS3 but that was only 1 case. I'm sure they are identical, otherwise.

Klatry - You summed it up, perfectly. Once you know the levels you either a) start to rush or b) are looking ahead and both scenarios on top of others will cripple a run. At least for me this is what happens. Then I start thinking about it and my concentration is no longer as strong as it once was and then nerves and then....

[Skykid]

I'm not sure I agree that people are overstating the challenge, though; no individual section is particularly tough once you've seen it a few times, but 40 hours is an awfully long time to spend learning a Contra game. Most of the others only take a bit of light practice to 1CC (even the supposedly terrifying ones like Contra III and Hard Corps) - the only one that comes close to demanding this kind of time investment is Shattered Soldier, and I think this game's less friendly than that. I'd urge people to give it a fair crack of the whip - it's a rewarding experience once you do - but I can't blame anybody for being frightened off.

A very fair appraisal.

[Zaarock]

I'm not sure I agree that people are overstating the challenge, though; no individual section is particularly tough once you've seen it a few times, but 40 hours is an awfully long time to spend learning a Contra game. Most of the others only take a bit of light practice to 1CC (even the supposedly terrifying ones like Contra III and Hard Corps) - the only one that comes close to demanding this kind of time investment is Shattered Soldier, and I think this game's less friendly than that. I'd urge people to give it a fair crack of the whip - it's a rewarding experience once you do - but I can't blame anybody for being frightened off.

There are 24 1ups in the game though, making for a total of 27 lives. a 1CC definitely takes much much less time than getting a no-death run because of that.

I'd say people are overstating the difficulty of the 1cc at least, the difficulty seems very reasonable to me once I've learned to get most of the extra lives and it doesn't take all that much effort to get them down. Having so many is pretty stupid but it lowers the difficulty for sure.

[Skykid]

I'm not sure I agree that people are overstating the challenge, though; no individual section is particularly tough once you've seen it a few times, but 40 hours is an awfully long time to spend learning a Contra game. Most of the others only take a bit of light practice to 1CC (even the supposedly terrifying ones like Contra III and Hard Corps) - the only one that comes close to demanding this kind of time investment is Shattered Soldier, and I think this game's less friendly than that. I'd urge people to give it a fair crack of the whip - it's a rewarding experience once you do - but I can't blame anybody for being frightened off.

There are 24 1ups in the game though, making for a total of 27 lives. a 1CC definitely takes much much less time than getting a no-death run because of that.

I'd say people are overstating the difficulty of the 1cc at least, the difficulty seems very reasonable to me once I've learned to get most of the extra lives and it doesn't take all that much effort to get them down. Having so many is pretty stupid but it lowers the difficulty for sure.

Perhaps, yes, I can agree that chucking a shit load of 1ups at you is going to make it an easier game to travel. Less frustrating? Only when you have every spot of jungle, temple and train tunnel under your belt.
The thing is, is this 1up shower a concessionary element to an unreasonably tricky game? By the simple fact that 24 of the blighters are on offer, I would say so, and that disappoints me.

This is one of the reasons I got my gaming rocks off to TIF's fine run. He don't need no extra lives man, and that's giving the game what for.

[TodayIsForgotten]

I'm not sure I agree that people are overstating the challenge, though; no individual section is particularly tough once you've seen it a few times, but 40 hours is an awfully long time to spend learning a Contra game. Most of the others only take a bit of light practice to 1CC (even the supposedly terrifying ones like Contra III and Hard Corps) - the only one that comes close to demanding this kind of time investment is Shattered Soldier, and I think this game's less friendly than that. I'd urge people to give it a fair crack of the whip - it's a rewarding experience once you do - but I can't blame anybody for being frightened off.

There are 24 1ups in the game though, making for a total of 27 lives. a 1CC definitely takes much much less time than getting a no-death run because of that.

I'd say people are overstating the difficulty of the 1cc at least, the difficulty seems very reasonable to me once I've learned to get most of the extra lives and it doesn't take all that much effort to get them down. Having so many is pretty stupid but it lowers the difficulty for sure.

Fair point. Obviously, No one can do anything about Arc's choice to place 24 1ups throughout the game and thus lowering the 1cc to a bare minimum. I think those who are saying its hard aren't focusing on collecting 20 1ups and maybe just a few or none.

Had it been like most shoot em ups or run and guns where you get maybe 1 or 2 and no more than a handful of lives...that is how i view the game for making it interesting and most importantly fun(challenging). If i wanted a game that gave me 15 lives + my 2 in stock over 3 levels I would have played sudoku.

Then again those who play only for achievements would love that. You can basically mess up as much as you want. Get the digital pop-up and move on to the next achievement. I can't recall who mentioned this sentiment a couple weeks ago, but, I too hate modern gaming. (: