Choplifter
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| Choplifter | |
| Missing image Choplifter.png Screenshot Choplifter | |
| Developer: | Sega / Brøderbund |
| Publisher: | Sega |
| Game designer: | Dan Gorlin |
| Release date: | 1985 |
| Genre: | Shoot 'em up |
| Game modes: | Up to 2 players, alternating turns |
| Cabinet: | Standard |
| Controls: | Joystick; 2 buttons |
| Monitor | |
| Orientation: | Horizontal |
| Type: | Raster, standard resolution (Used: 256 x 224) |
| Notes | |
| Based on Dan Gorlin's 1982 Apple II game of the same name; In the KLOV Top 100 and one of the four best games in 1985 | |
Choplifter is a 1985 arcade game by Sega. It was based on an 1982 Apple II game of the same name by Brøderbund. While many arcade games have been ported to home computers and consumer consoles, Choplifter was one of the few games to take the reverse route: first appearing on a home system and being ported to the arcade.
This game was fairly successful and popular, spawning two sequels: Choplifter II for the Nintendo Game Boy and Choplifter III for the Super Nintendo. They were not developed by Sega.
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Overview
In Choplifter, in both the Apple II version and the arcade game, the player assumes the role of a combat helicopter pilot. The player attempts to save hostages being held in prisoner of war camps in an unnamed enemy country. The player must collect the P.O.W.s, transport them safely to the nearby friendly base, all the while fighting off hostile tanks and other enemy combatants.
According to the backstory, the helicopter parts were smuggled into the country described as "mail sorting equipment."
Description
The player rescues the prisoners by first shooting their P.O.W. shacks to release them and then lands to allow the prisoners to board the sortie. A maximum of eight passengers can be carried in one trip. Since the object of each level is to rescue at least 20 P.O.W.s, the helicopter must make several trips. Usually, each trip back is more risky than the previous one since the enemy is alerted and has deployed a counter-attack.
The helicopter can be turned in three directions, one facing left, right, and forward, facing the player. The player may shoot in any of these directions and the forward-facing mode is required to fight off some enemies, such as tanks.
The player lands to pick up P.O.W.s. When the sortie is full, no more P.O.W.s will attempt to board, will wave the helicopter off and wait (hopefully) for its return. In the Apple II version, if the vehicle is not landed correctly (it is slightly tilted), P.O.W.s will die as they attempt to board the chopper.
While grounded, the helicopter may be attacked by enemy tanks, which it can shoot at only by returning to the air. As the levels progress, the enemies get harder and harder. Eventually jets and anti-aircraft fire join the fray in an attempt to defeat the rescuing 'copter.
Not surprisingly, the arcade version is much more colorful and engaging than the Apple II version. It boasts more environments (desert, sea, caves and city) as opposed to the Apple's single desert environment.
See also
External links
- The KLOV entry on Choplifter (http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=C&game_id=7333)
- MobyGame's entry on Choplifter (http://www.mobygames.com/game/sheet/gameId,8127/)