Highlights

  • Vampire Survivors gained popularity for its addictive gameplay, pixel art, and nods to classic IPs.
  • The game is crossing over with Contra in the upcoming Operation Guns DLC, adding new characters, weapons, stages, and music.
  • The Contra collaboration is seen as a perfect fit, merging past and present action/bullet hell elements for fans to enjoy.

Indie title Vampire Survivors from 2022 was a smash hit, with its intense and addicting "reverse bullet hell" roguelike gameplay and design elements along with detailed, vibrant pixel art that pays homage to some of gaming's most well-known classics. Vampire Survivors swiftly became something of a phenomenon, perhaps made more impressive due to it being envisioned and developed in large part by solo designer, Luca Galante, later supported by a small team. Vampire Survivors' base game contains many nods and references to popular gaming IPs such as Castlevania and others, and this aspect has only accelerated as it expanded in the wake of its popularity.

Vampire Survivors has received three major DLCs in addition to various smaller updates since its release, with the latest one, Emergency Meeting, being an Among Us crossover. Recently, on April 10, it was revealed at the inaugural Triple-I Initiative showcase and announced on Twitter that Vampire Survivors is crossing over with Contra. Konami's seminal Contra franchise is one of the first gaming series to introduce and incorporate the very idea of a bullet hell, although in its more traditional original incarnations, players had to contend with enemies as the source of the never-ending projectiles and other obstacles, as they battled through seemingly endless waves of hostile soldiers, robots, and aliens. Contra collaborating with Vampire Survivors seems like a match made in heaven, and the upcoming Operation Guns DLC aims to marry the two properties by adding numerous Contra aspects to its fast-paced action.

Vampire Survivors is also set to come to the PS4 and PS5 "later this summer," and Operation Guns will be available on both platforms as well when it does.

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All New Features Revealed for Vampire Survivors' Operation Guns Contra DLC, So Far

Vampire Survivors Shows Off All New Inclusions for its Upcoming Operation Guns Contra Crossover DLC

As detailed on the official Vampire Survivors Twitter account, the Operation Guns DLC will introduce the following to Vampire Survivors:

  • 11 new characters, among them recognizable ones such as heroes Lance Bean and Bill Rizer, Lucia, and Sheena Etranzi
  • 22 new weapons and evolutions, including some of Contra's most iconic ones, like the spreader gun and flamethrower
  • 2 new stages based on previous Contra locations-- 1 larger regular one and 1 bonus/challenge arena
  • 6 new music tracks remixing classic Contra tunes with Vampire Survivors' score

On top of all these, there have also been stated to be additional tweaks and twists to existing aspects. Some of these other notable change-ups will affect the difficulty via adjustments to damage output, with certain weapons having this parameter slightly lowered to recreate the tough-as-nails feel of the Contra series, though fans can still make use of the various arcana and other upgrades to counteract this to a degree. Equipment like grenades and (even faster) rapid-firing armaments along with some weapons being able to only fire in Contra's familiar 8-angle arc are confirmed too. There will possibly be further secrets and unlockables for fans to discover as well.

Vampire Survivors' Operation Guns Contra DLC Is the Perfect Fit for Both Series

For both Contra fans and those previously unfamiliar but absorbed by Vampire Survivors' fluid and flashy gameplay loop, the former being integrated into the latter is a fantastic match. The two complement each other incredibly well, and represent a great combination of the best from the past and present in the action/bullet hell genre. With all the above and likely a few more surprises for fans to discover in it, Vampire Survivors' latest crossover with Contra is shaping up to be a perfect fit, and gamers can look forward to checking it out when Vampire Survivors' Operation Guns DLC releases May 9, 2024, for $2.49 on Android, iOS, Steam, Switch, and Xbox.