My OperaRW: Super Probector: Alien Wars / Contra III (SNES)
By AntonCaptainSeagull. Wednesday, August 1, 2007 12:25:57 AM
Every Monday Nintendo adds a few more games to their U.S. list of Virtual Console games. Every Friday Nintendo adds a few more games to their Euro list of Virtual Console games.These games are downloadable from the Wii Shop Channel. The games come from a list consisting of the original Nintendo Entertainment System, the Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Turbo Graphix, and the Nintendo 64.
Every Tuesday N+ provides you with one "Retro Wiiview" of one game off one of the lists. The Retro Wiiview is designed to introduce young or new players to some of the "classics" that made gaming what it is today, while also providing a reminder to those who have already played these games, how much fun they really had. This way, whenever you want to download a new VC title, you can have at least one place to turn to see if it was good before you spend those Wii-Points.
This weeks' game: Super Probotector: Alien Rebels / Contra III
Game Price: 800 Wii points
ESRB Rating: E10+
It’s time for revenge. Let’s attack aggressively.
Before I go any further, I will be referring to this game as Super Probotector. I am aware that it was released as Contra III: The Alien Wars in the US, but to me this game will always be Super Probotector. The only difference between the two games is that the playable characters in the PAL version were changed from rock-hard human soldiers to rock-hard robot protectors. The rest of the game remains unchanged. I have included screenshots of both versions, however.
Two guns? Yes, I am indeed rock-hard
Playing Super Probotector on the SNES is one of my happiest gaming memories. I spent many hours playing the NES original, and when this game was released for its big brother, I didn’t hesitate in getting it. I expected so much from this game, due mainly in part to my adoration of the NES game. I was not disappointed; fantastic graphics, amazing arcade action, breathtaking boss battles, and a co-op gameplay experience that has not yet been surpassed.
There probably is a story to the game, but if there is, I’ve forgotten it. It doesn’t really matter. You have only one objective: to reach the end of the level alive, and defeat the boss at the end that’s in your way. If that’s not tough enough, if you get hit by an enemy, you lose a live. There’s no health in this game, and one shot kills. You can pick up extra lives along the way, but they are in short supply. There are limited continues too, and if you don’t complete the game before you lose your last live, you’ll have to start from the beginning. In light of this, it may be comforting to know that there are only six stages to this game.
Even in the future they have crap cars
If this seems low, don’t let that put you off, and if you’re expecting every level to be the same, you will be pleasantly surprised. It’s a side-scrolling shoot-‘em-up at heart, but Konami decided to flex their muscles, and throw a couple of Mode 7 top-down sections in to the mix. This adds a little variety as you make your journey through different terrains to reach the alien hive and destroy the brain. The first level has you progressing through a war-torn city, picking off snipers from rooftops, dodging attacks from crazy dogs, driving tanks, and destroying giant enemy tortoises. In one of the more impressive moments of the game, you have to clamber your way to safety, having been caught in the middle of a napalm assault.
Quick, someone's coming... Strike a pose!
The second stage is the first Mode 7 level, and you are instructed to destroy all the sentries hiding in gun turrets in order to progress. The level ends with the Probotectors facing a mechanical jumping spider. I won’t go into detail about the rest of the levels, but they involve scaling buildings whilst trying to avoid being speared by a climbing robot, a speeder bike chase that Lucas would be proud of, and chasing a spaceship flying through the sky by jumping from missile to missile as it launches a salvo of death at you. It’s a crazy, adrenaline fuelled game that keeps your heart pumping from start to finish. The knowledge that a mistimed jump, or an ill-timed duck could result in your death just adds to the experience.
Tip: follow the arrow, avoiding the alien who wants to eat your legs
No shoot-‘em-up would be complete without a decent arsenal. The weapons that are available are the standard machine gun, a “spray” gun which shoots out a shower of bullets, a flamethrower, a laser (slow but powerful), and homing missiles. An improvement from previous iterations of the Probotector series is the ability to carry two weapons at a time. You can select which of these you wield at the touch of a button, but if you die the gun in your hand reverts back to the standard gun. This leads to a small tactical dilemma: do you use the better weapons to help you through the level or save them for the boss. If you don’t die, it’s a bit of a moot point, but when it’s easy to lose a life in this game, it’s worth thinking about. Also available are smart bombs, which obliterate everything on screen, or deals a decent amount of damage on the bosses.
Hmm... Can you guess where the weak spot is?
The bosses are some of the most memorable that I’ve versed in any game. A screenshot of the above-mentioned giant tortoise should have you reminiscing immediately if you’ve played this game. As will the giant robot who tries to seal your fate, by locking you in a room with time-bombs. It was (and still is) so satisfying when that door decapitates him. They are hard to beat, but as with all bosses they will have a weakness (usually given away by a less-than-obvious glowing red section of their body). The trick is finding the weakness without losing too many of those precious lives.
Morning breath: the ultimate weapon.
For me, however, the best aspect of this game is the co-operative mode. Trying to reach the end of this game is fun, but it’s more fun with a friend. You lives are spilt between you, so if your partner uses all of their lives, they can start taking yours. It pays to work together, and soon you’ll be barking out commands to each other, making your way through the battlefield with military precision. If you don’t feel like doing that, you can always try to ensure that you grab the best weapons, or attempt to engineer the screen so that player 2 gets trapped and suffers a grisly fate; hours of fun, and some fantastic memories.
That's the way to travel.
This game is entertaining from start to finish. Working your way through the 6 stages is a rewarding, and thoroughly enjoyable experience. If you’re a fan of non-stop, frantic action, then you will not regret downloading this game. I’m awarding Super Probotector: Alien Rebels a commendable N+ 8/10
Cost: 800 Wii points
Rating: E10+
Article: Seaempty
Publisher: Seagull
(42%)
