Hard Corps: Uprising

Hard Corps: Uprising is a video game developed by Arc System Works. It is part of the Contra series and is a prequel to Contra: Hard Corps. Kenji Yamamoto, the producer, has said that the intention is to make the Hard Corps series into a brand new franchise.[2] The player will play the role of Colonel Bahamut, along with other main characters. Konami is looking into adding additional characters via DLC. The game released on Xbox Live Arcade on February 16, 2011, and on the PlayStation Network on March 15, 2011.[3]
Contents
1 Plot
1.1 Characters
2 Gameplay
3 Music
4 Reception
5 References
[edit]Plot

In 2613, the world is now ruled by an empire known as the Commonwealth under the reign of Tiberius. Neighboring nations have suffered under the Commonwealth's oppression and Resistance Forces rise across the land. However, so many Resistance Fighters have fallen to the overwhelming might of the empire, that their strength is now severely diminished. A group of elite soldiers rise through the ranks of the Resistance and band together to execute a desperate plan. The leader of this group is the war hero Bahamut.
[edit]Characters
Bahamut - Once a soldier of the Commonwealth army, he turned on his comrades after witnessing an imperial squad execute innocent people. He shares his name with the antagonist from Contra: Hard Corps, but the producers have said it could also be a different Bahamut.[2]
Krystal - A woman with seemingly no previous combat experience. However, after her hometown is attacked by imperial forces, she decides to join Bahamut.
Harley Daniels - A bike-riding soldier sporting an extreme pompadour hairstyle.
Sayuri - A samurai who wears a kimono and sugegasa.
Leviathan - A member of the Commonwealth, Death Squad and soldier of the Empire. He has a burning hatred for Bahamut, his former comrade.
[edit]Gameplay

Uprising features two main game modes, Rising and Arcade. In Rising Mode, players can collect points throughout levels which are then used to purchase various upgrades and customizations for weapons, armor and character abilities. Rising Mode also features a health bar, similar to the Japanese version of Contra: Hard Corps, allowing the player to take more than one hit before losing a life. Arcade Mode is a harder game mode in which the power-up shops are removed.
Many new moves have been added. The character can dash, dash in mid-air, double-jump and deflect enemy projectiles by bouncing them back. Additional moves can also be purchased in Rising Mode.
Weapons include the standard rifle, the machine gun, the spread shot, the crush gun (shoots arcing grenades), the heat gun (shoots large blasts of fire) and the chain laser (homes in on enemy targets). As in Contra III: The Alien Wars, the player can carry two weapons and switch between them at any time. By collecting the same weapon several times the player will improve its firing rate and power. Other weapon upgrades are available in Rising Mode as well.
[edit]Music

The game's soundtrack is composed by Daisuke Ishiwatari, who is well known in composing musical scores in Guilty Gear, BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger and also BlazBlue: Continuum Shift.
[edit]Reception

Herman Exum of Popzara expressed mixed feelings about Arc System Works' anime-style visual overhaul, praising the character artwork while criticizing the background details. "It's a shame this level of graphic detail doesn't always extend to the backgrounds as many of the levels range from passable to bland, with a distinct lack of personality that is also, unfortunately, a staple of what they do." Still, he recommended the game, especially to those fans worried too much might be lost in Konami's new interpretation of the series, saying "if your devotion to Contra is strong and faithful, yet willing enough to accept the new direction of the franchise, you’ll probably realize how change could be a good thing for this archetypal, yet aging lineage." [4]