Super Probotector: Alien Rebels (1992). Play online

Summary

Super Probotector: Alien Rebels is the PAL‑region version of Contra III: The Alien Wars, swapping the original commandos for quirky robot soldiers. The title keeps the fast‑paced run‑and‑gun core – four side‑scroll stages and two Mode 7 overhead sequences – but adds a playful mechanical twist to every enemy and environment.

Players juggle a pair of upgradeable machine guns, tossing in homing missiles, torpedoes, flamethrower flames or a spread shot while a limited supply of bombs and a temporary shield keep the action alive. The iconic spinning jump lets you fire upward in an aerial somersault, and both single‑player and two‑player co‑op modes keep the chaos continuous.

Directed by Nobuya Nakazato, the game leans into wilder humor, a cinematic soundtrack and clever raster‑scroll tricks that push the SNES’s pixel limits, though the PAL frame‑rate runs a touch slower than its NTSC counterpart.

Critics praised the visuals, sound and seamless Mode 7 usage, cementing its reputation as one of the era’s finest SNES experiences. It’s survived on virtual consoles, the SNES Classic, and the Contra: Anniversary Collection, keeping its robot‑filled frenzy alive for new generations.

Storyline

In Super Probotector: Alien Rebels, the player battles an alien invasion that has taken hold of Earth. The campaign spans six distinct stages, each packed with hostile extraterrestrials and challenging terrain. In the original version you control the iconic commandos Bill Rizer and Lance Bean as they push back the invaders. For PAL releases, regional content rules forced a swap: the heroes become robotic Probotectors named RD‑008 and RC‑011, but the core mission stays the same—defend the planet from the alien threat.