Overload — contra

expends a special weapon to generate a Shield. — Bill expends a Flame Weapon special weapon to generate a Shield.

“	In extreme circumstances, press [OVERLOAD] to Overload your active Special Weapon and trigger an impressive Attack or Support effect. The Weapon will be destroyed, but the trade off may be worth it.	„
	~ Contra: Operation Galuga - How to Play

The Overload System is a gameplay mechanic in Contra: Operation Galuga. By sacrificing surplus weapons, it allows the player to unleash explosive abilities determined by the weapon type.

Description

By sacrificing a weapon, an explosive special weapon exclusive technique can be unleashed.^[1] This can be done by holding the [OVERLOAD] key or button for around one second.

If performing an Overload on an upgraded (Level 2) weapon, it will only downgrade the weapon to base level as opposed to destroying it.

As confirmed by Tomm Hulett in the recent Operation Galuga Twitch stream, an Overload can be triggered prematurely: while preparing to sacrifice the currently active Special Weapon for an Overload, pick up another Weapon Power-Up (this may be the same Special Weapon, or a different one).

When the Overload Heal perk is active, taking damage while charging an Overload will also prematurely trigger it, protecting the player from damage. This also applies in 1-hit-kill mode and allows the player to avoid dying when taking damage as long as they are charging an Overload at the moment they take damage.

Overloads are divided into Attack type and Support type, with the former focusing on damaging enemies, and the latter providing defensive or other beneficial effects to players. As confirmed by Tomm Hulett in the recent Operation Galuga Twitch stream, the Standard and Alternate versions of each Special Weapon have the opposite type of Overload (example: the Barrage is an Attack Type Overload, while the Vortex is a Support Type Overload).

Data

**Overload variants**
Weapon	Overload description	Var. (type)
	Barrier - Creates a field that protects you from damage.	Standard (Support)
	Cascade - Triggers a stream of cascading bullets for a limited time.	Alternate (Attack)
	Salvo - Launches a storm of ricocheting bullets.	Standard (Attack)
	Counter - Absorbs enemy attacks for a set time, then releases the gathered energy.	Alternate (Support)
	Shield - Forms a large shield that will block enemy attacks.	Standard (Support)
	Guardian - Summons a cosmic beast that hunts enemies.	Alternate (Attack)
	Drones - Prototype drones provide support for a brief time.	Standard (Attack)
	Portals - Manifests portals that convert your attacks into several blistering lasers.	Alternate (Support)
	Barrage - Releases a flurry of targeted rockets.	Standard (Attack)
	Vortex - Opens a vortex in the sky which absorbs all enemy attacks.	Alternate (Support)
	Hyper - Player moves impossibly fast, slowing perception of the surrounding world.	Standard (Support)
	Stream - Fires a super-powered laser blast.	Alternate (Attack)

**Overloads per character**
Character							Notes
Bill Rizer	Barrier	Salvo	Shield	Drones	Barrage	Hyper	-
Lance Bean	Barrier	Salvo	Shield	Drones	Barrage	Hyper	-
Ariana	Barrier	Salvo	Shield	Drones	Vortex	Hyper	Uses Alt. Weapon
Lucia	Barrier	Counter	Shield	Drones	Barrage	Hyper	Uses Alt. Weapon
Stanley Ironside	Cascade	Salvo	Shield	Drones	Barrage	Stream	Uses Alt. Weapons
(M4D-0G)	Barrier	Salvo	Shield	Drones	Barrage	Hyper	-
Probotector
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Warning - Character spoilers. Click to continue.
Sheena Etranzi	Cascade	Salvo	Guardian	Drones	Barrage	Stream	Uses Alt. Weapons
Browny	Barrier	Counter	Shield	Portals	Vortex	Hyper	Uses Alt. Weapons
Brad Fang	Cascade	Counter	Guardian	Portals	Vortex	Stream	Uses Alt. Weapons