Probotector

For the Operation Galuga characters, M4D-0G and SC0RP1, see Probotector (Operation Galuga).

For other uses, see Probotector (disambiguation).

Probotectors are the main protagonists in most European game versions of the Contra series. These fighting robots would eventually become their own individual characters in later sequels and reboots.

Background and information

When Konami released the NES version of the original Contra in the PAL region (Europe and Australia), they modified the game by replacing the original main characters and most of the human enemies with robotic counterparts, re-titling the game as "Probotector" (a portmanteau of "robot" and "protector"). The two new protagonists, RD008 and RC011, replaced Bill Rizer and Lance Bean, respectively. This was presumably done due to the German Federal Agency BPjM, which banned the sales of media deemed too violent for children, including "content which glorifies war", thus requiring the change to robotic characters.

In Contra 4, a Probotector appears as a secret character and received something of a canon update; Probotector units are armed recon robots specifically used in areas normally too dangerous or threatening for humans to enter, an open reference to their appearance as the protagonists of the early European Contra games. Much as was the case for Scorpion and Mad Dog in Contra 4, Probotectors canonically served alongside Bill Rizer and Lance Bean during the first Galuga Island conflict.

While not appearing directly in Contra: Rogue Corps, the image of Probotector appears twice within separate Rogue Corps motion comics:

• In the first motion comic, a poster within the city displays the face of RD008 as he appeared from the intro of Super Protector.
• In the third motion comic, a scene shows Bill Rizer training a young Kaiser with a Pistol on a desert training ground. The targets Kaiser is shooting at are multiple hovering mobile training bots designed in the images of both RD008 and RC011.

In Contra: The Board Game, RD008 and RC011 appear as support characters. They are part of preorder-only "Ally/Rookie Commando Pack".

Characters

• RD008: Player 1 in Probotector. A gray robot who also appears as an extra character in Contra 4, simply called "Probotector" in that game. In Probotector II and the cover box art for Super Probotector, his color is blue.
• RC011: Player 2 in Probotector. A blue robot who appears as an extra palette swap for RD008 in Contra 4. In Probotector II and Super Probotector, his color is red.
• CX-1: Blue combat robot in Probotector (MD); he replaces Ray Poward in that version. Leader of Probotectors. A professional warrior, and weapons specialist.
• CX-2: Red combat robot in Probotector (MD); he replaces Sheena Etranzi in that version. Well experienced in guerrilla fighting. No one can beat him in jungle battle.
• CX-3: Mechanical werewolf in Probotector (MD); he replaces Brad Fang in that version. The battle leader of the Probotectors with the strongest power.
• CX-4: Small combat robot in Probotector (MD); he replaces Browny in that version. Because he was already a robot in the original version, he uses the same sprite. A swift and flexible professional in gathering and analyzing information.
• Unnamed Commander: Missions commander in Probotector (MD); he replaces Commander Doyle in that version.

Appearances

Note: Years indicate the dates the versions that include the Probotector characters were released, not the release dates of the original versions of the games.

• Probotector (NES, 1990)
• Probotector II: Return of the Evil Forces (NES, 1992)
• Probotector (GB, 1992)
• Super Probotector: Alien Rebels (SNES, 1992)
• Probotector (MD, 1994)
• Probotector 2 (GB, 1994)
• Contra 4 (NDS, 2007)
• Contra: The Board Game (board game, 2022)

Quotes and sounds

Note: In Probotector (MD), each Probotector shares its voice clips with its respective Contra: Hard Corps human/robot counterpart.

Contra 4

• "Probotect and serve."
• Defeated

Notes

• To unlock Probotector as a playable character in Contra 4, the player is required to complete twelve challenges in "Challenge" mode.
  • It is worth mentioning that Contra 4 was never released in Europe, which would make this appearance something of an oddity, as the Probotector character would be appearing in a game where he'd have no logical reason to be.

Gallery

For Operation Galuga images, see Probotector (Operation Galuga)#Gallery.

Probotector (NES)

RD008 and RC011 artwork from the instruction booklet.

RD008

RC011

Probotector II: Return of the Evil Forces

RD008 and RC011 artwork on the back of the instruction booklet.

Probotector (GB)

RC011 from the back of the instruction booklet.

Super Probotector: Alien Rebels

RD008

RC011 with RD008.

RD008 dealing with a Gigafly.

Another shot of RC011 and RD008.

Another shot of RD008.

RD008 close-up during the introductory cutscene. A darkened version of this image is also used for the ending.

RC011 during the introductory cutscene.

Ending photo 1 seen during the credits.

Ending photo 2.

Third ending photo to feature the Probotectors.

In-game sprite of RD008.

In-game sprite of RC011.

Probotector (MD)

CX-1

CX-2

CX-3

CX-4

Unnamed Commander

CX-1 'Select Player' screen mugshot.

CX-2 'Select Player' screen mugshot.

CX-3 'Select Player' screen mugshot.

CX-4 'Select Player' screen mugshot.

CX-1 dialogue icon.

CX-2 dialogue icon.

CX-3 dialogue icon.

CX-4 dialogue icon.

CX-1's in-game sprite.

CX-2's in-game sprite.

CX-3's in-game sprite.

CX-4's in-game sprite.

CX-1 in Ending A.

CX-2 in Ending A.

CX-3 in Ending A.

CX-4 in Ending A.

CX-1's golden statue in Ending B.

CX-2's golden statue in Ending B.

CX-3's golden statue in Ending B.

CX-4's golden statue in Ending B.

CX-1 in Ending C.

CX-2 in Ending C.

CX-3 in Ending C.

CX-4 in Ending C.

CX-1 riding a Motoroid in Ending D.

CX-2 riding a Motoroid in Ending D.

CX-3 riding a Motoroid in Ending D.

CX-4 riding a Motoroid in Ending D.

CX-1 in the Secret Ending.

CX-2 in the Secret Ending.

CX-3 in the Secret Ending.

CX-4 in the Secret Ending.

CX-1 and CX-2 outside of the Big Battle base.

CX-3 and CX-4 outside of the Big Battle base.

Probotector (GB)

Life icon

Probotector 2

Intro

The second Probotector seen during the intro.

Intermission

In-game sprite

Life icon

Contra 4

Probotector unlocked in Contra 4.

Probotector (default color) sprite in Contra 4.

Blue variant.

Gold variant.

Purple variant.

Contra: Rogue Corps motion comic

The training drones from Contra: Rogue Corps motion comic #3 resembling RD008 and RC011.

RD008 training drone.

RC011 training drone.

Contra: The Board Game

RD008 Ally card.

RC011 Ally card.

Miscellaneous

Probotector preliminary artwork from the cover of Contra Anniversary Collection Limited Edition by Limited Run Games by Tom duBois.

Trivia

• The design of most Probotectors seen in the Contra series may be inspired by mechas from known manga/anime franchises, such as the VF-1 Valkyrie series in "Battroid" form from Macross/Robotech, some of the second and third generation Patlabors from Patlabor, etc. Similarities include: Overall design, two small ailerons on the back of the head, usage of machine gun like weapons, similar color schemes, etc. However, if the Probotectors were indeed based on these mechas is unconfirmed.
• In Probotector (MD) (the European version of Contra: Hard Corps), CX-2, the Probotector unit who replaced Sheena Etranzi, doesn't have female features and is referred to with male pronouns within the game's manual^[1] and in-game (for example, when apprehended in a single player game, the Alien Master says "take him"). However, even though he uses the same sprites and moveset of CX-1 (with red instead of blue), CX-2 still retains all of Sheena's voice clips.
• Browny, a miniature robot protagonist in Contra: Hard Corps, and BR-W9, also a miniature robot protagonist in Contra ReBirth, bear notorious resemblances to Probotectors, likely being a nod to them but featuring a chibi design.
  • Browny's serial number in the American Contra: Hard Corps is CX-1-DA300. In the European version of the game, all the rest of the protagonists were changed to combat robots closely following Probotector-like designs and their names were changed to different models of the CX series (Ray to CX-1, Sheena to CX-2, Fang to CX-3, and Browny to CX-4).
• In Probotector (MD), CX-2's golden statue in the Space Station ending has a unique pose that isn't shared with any other character, including their non-European counterpart.
• The European version of Contra: The Alien Wars is called Probotector 2. As such, both "Probotector" games for the Game Boy could be considered to form a separate subseries.
• In Contra 4, the playable Probotector has three alternate colors. In addition to the standard gray RD008, there's also a blue RC011, and a gold and a dark-purple color schemes.
• In Contra 4, there is an enemy called Proboterror. Fittingly enough, they are Probotector units that have been corrupted and altered by Black Viper's forces. In addition to a standard humanoid form, they can reconstitute themselves if destroyed, adopting the form of either a dog-like recon robot or an armed combat walker.
• During development of Contra 4, gold variant of Probotector was separate character called Goldenrod.
• In Contra Returns, a pair of combat robot characters were introduced, called Bull and Scar, who bear a strikingly similar design to the Probotectors (likely being reimagined/modernized versions of them), who also belong to the CX series (although in that game's alternate universe), these being CX-1-DA-1000 and CX-1-DA-2000, respectively.
• In Contra Returns, Sheena Etranzi can summon a small robot called "CX-2", the same name as the combat robot that replaced her main timeline counterpart in the European version of Contra: Hard Corps (Lucia Zero is also able to summon this robot).
• A character from the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise (also owned by Konami) named Perfect Machine King, bears a resemblance to Probotector, specifically RD008 as both characters share identical color schemes.

See also

• Probotector (disambiguation)
• Probotector (Operation Galuga) - Units M4D-0G and SC0RP1, appearing in Contra: Operation Galuga.
• Proboterror

External links

• Probotector at the Heroes Wiki

References