Overview and Gameplay
Red Falcon returns in 2636, turning Neo City into a battlefield and forcing commandos Jimbo and Sully into a six-stage alien war. Contra III: The Alien Wars is one of the SNES’s strongest run-and-gun action games, mixing side-view shooting stages with top-view missions built around strategic targets.
Most stages focus on running, jumping, climbing, vehicle sequences, heavy enemy fire, and large boss fights. The top-view stages change the format with rotating viewpoints, a strategic map, and target hunting before the player can advance.
Controls And Mechanics
- The player can carry two weapons and switch between them during battle.
- Weapons include rifle, spread gun, laser, homing gun, crush gun, fire gun, barriers, and screen-clearing Helio Bombs.
- Side-view stages use jumping, directional aiming, rapid fire, weapon switching, and bomb attacks.
- Top-view stages add field rotation, map checking, and a magnetic force field action.
- Two players can fight simultaneously in co-op, with separate or shared top-view screen behavior depending on the selected mode.
Version Notes
The USA release uses the title Contra III: The Alien Wars. The Japanese version is Contra Spirits, while the European version is Super Probotector: Alien Rebels.
Release And Credits
- USA SNES release year: 1992
- Developer: Konami Co., Ltd.
- Publisher: Konami
- Original platform: SNES / Super Famicom
