Hard Corps: Uprising

Arc System Works developed a Contra spin-off that became a cult classic of the PS3/X360's digital store, but stumbles a bit when extending play time. Uprising tries to deliver the ultra-hard run-'n-gun Contra experience while also incorporating upgrades which you buy with points in the game's Uprising mode, and a lot of these feel pretty essential to play effectively as the various characters. In other words, this is a run-'n-gun that involves some grinding, which is weird. With that said, there's a straightforward Arcade mode as well, but the game was clearly designed with Uprising in mind, as it's too long and a bit too insane to play through in a single sitting. ASW's iconic character designs and animations give this game a ton of style, and the DLC characters are worth getting for that reason alone, while the boss battles are as visually arresting (and fiendishly difficult) as you'd expect. Ultimately, while Hard Corps feels stuck between its old-school design and its home-console tweaks, it's an intense and rewarding co-op experience.