Jupiter Probe is a vertically scrolling shooter in which the player has the task to fly over Jupiter to collect photographic data. Unfortunately, there are many alien spaceships which try to prevent this. Being hit by an enemy ship or projectile is deadly. Besides the standard shot, the player can activate ultrasonics to get rid of all enemies on the screen or shields which grant invulnerability. Of course, those useful items are limited and can be replenished by defeating a whole enemy formation. They can't be activated separately; the shields are always used up first.