Helicopter Shooters

This thread is devoted to shooters where your primary ship is a helicopter. I have mostly just included arcade-ish action games. Sims and mission-based stuff like Desert Strike, AH-3 Thunder Strike, Zeewolf, etc. have been omitted for the most part but it's hard to decide what to include since so many helicopter themed games have other elements besides shooting.

Cobra Gunship(Meadows, Arcade, 1976)
This is most likely the oldest helicopter shooter. The flyer in this link refers to your "plane" but I'm pretty sure a Cobra Gunship is a type of chopper.
http://www.coinop.org/ImageViewer.as...f-fe155043b976

Heli Shooter(Sega, Arcade, 1978)
I assume from the name that this fits the category but I can't find much info on it. It could possibly refer to shooting helicopters instead of controlling one like with Nintendo's Helifire.

Super Cobra(Konami, Arcade, 1981)
This was similar to Scramble except with a helicopter instead of a spaceship.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...uper_Cobra.png

Chopper Command(Activision, 2600, 1982)
A Defender-ish shooter, pretty cool stuff.
http://www.thelogbook.com/phosphor/a...mg/chopper.jpg

Chopper(Sumlock, Vic 20, 1982)
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/uly777/chopper_vic20.gif

Choplifter(Broderbund, Apple II, 1982)
This shoot and rescue game became a huge hit on several computer formats.
http://files99.kolayweb.com/apple/choplift.gif

Sega remade the game for the arcades in 1985. They ported it to the SG-1000 and Master System.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...Choplifter.png

Jaleco's NES version was similar to Sega's.

Choplifter II was released for Game Boy and Choplifter III was released for SNES and Game Boy in 1994. Beam developed the SNES game. I'm not sure about the GB versions.

Chopper X-1(R&R, Spectrum, 1983)
A horizontal shooter.
ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/si...ash0300090.jpg

Chopper Rescue(Blaby Computer Games, Spectrum, 1983)
This was another shoot and rescue game. It didn't rip off Choplifter but it wasn't much fun either.

Super Chopper(Software Projects, Spectrum, 1984)

Cobra Command(Data East, Arcade, 1984)
This Laser Disc FMV shooter was later ported to Sega CD.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...ra_Command.jpg

Raid on Bungeling Bay(Broderbund, C64, 1984)
This game might be too mission-based to include with the regular shooters but I don't remember. Raid was Will Wright's(of Sim City and The Sims fame) first game. It was ported to the NES and MSX.
http://www.purose.net/befis/game/raidonb/c36.GIF

Liberation(Data East, Arcade, 1984)
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...1058982282.jpg

Airwolf(Elite, Spectrum, 1984)
A game based on the Airwolf TV show. It was ported to other computers and had a sequel in 1987.
http://uvl.supereva.it/pics/airwolf_zx.gif

Blue Thunder(Elite, Spectrum, 1984)
This was another copter shooter made by the same guy as Airwolf. It too was ported to other computers. I think this was also based on a TV show.
http://crashonline.org.uk/03/images/bluethn2.gif

Helichopper(Firebird, Spectrum/Amstrad, 1985)
http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/040/sftwre16.gif

Chopper(Activision, C64, 1985)
http://www.c64gg.com/Images/C/Chopper_ACT.ss.gif

Chopper(Thorn EMI/Severn, C64, 1985)
http://www.c64gg.com/Images/C/Chopper_TECS.ss.gif

Chopper Squad(Interceptor, Amstrad, 1985)

Tiger Heli(Taito/Toaplan, Arcade, 1985)
This was excellent for its time and still great today. It was ported to the NES.
http://www.toaplan.com/tigerheli/tigerheli_game.gif

Helicoptero 2000(Monser, Amstrad, 1985)

Helikopter Jagd(Ocean/Quelle Soft, C64, 1986)
http://www.c64gg.com/Images/H/Helikopter_Jagd.ss.gif

Action Force(Virgin/Gang of Five, C64, 1987)
I vaguely remember this one. It was okay but quite difficult.
http://www.c64gg.com/Images/A/Action_Force.ss.gif

Heli Drop(Top Ten/LOZ, C64, 1987)
http://www.c64gg.com/Images/H/Heli_Drop_ingame.gif

Ajax(Konami, Arcade, 1987)
One of Konami's most underrated shooters. It was ported to X68000.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/screens/A/xAjax.png

Thunder Blade(Sega, Arcade, 1987)
An excellent mix of vertical and 3d levels. Sega ported it to the SMS, NEC ported it to PC Engine, and U.S. Gold/Tiertex ported it to computers.
http://www.nemoprod.net/emu/arcade/f...thundblade.jpg

Sega made a sequel for Genesis in 1989 called Super Thunder Blade.

Thunderchopper(ActionSoft, C64, 1987)

Twin Cobra(Taito/Toaplan, Arcade, 1987)
This great shooter was a sequel of sorts to Tiger Heli. It ported to Genesis, PC Engine and Playstation. I haven't played its arcade/Saturn sequel but the comments in xS' Twin Cobra thread aren't positive.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...Twin_Cobra.png

Battle Chopper(Irem, Arcade, 1987)
Also known as Mr. Heli, this shooter was ported to PC Engine by Irem and by Probe to computers.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...le_Chopper.png

Hellfire AKA Hellfire Attack(Martech/Akaido Arcade Systems, C64/Spectrum/Amiga/ST, 1988)
http://www.c64gg.com/Images/H/Hellfire.ss.gif

Apache3(Data East/Tatsumi, Arcade, 1988)
This was one of my most played arcade games back then. It was similar to the 3d levels in Thunder Blade. It's probably my favorite helicopter shooter but I would have to play it again to make sure.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/.../wApache_3.jpg

Cobra Command(Data East, 1988)
It's kind of odd that Data East released a second CC game with the same name. Unlike the FMV game, this one is a horizontal shooter.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...and_(1988).png

Twin Eagle(Seta, Arcade, 1988)
A vertical shooter. It had a sequel in 1994 that was much better.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...Twin_Eagle.png

Silk Worm(Tecmo, Arcade, 1988)
You can either control a helicopter or a jeep in this game. Tecmo ported it to NES and The Sales Curve did the computer ports.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...xSilk_Worm.png

Metal Hawk(Namco, Arcade, 1988)
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...1051375329.jpg

Chopper I(SNK, Arcade, 1988)
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...wChopper_I.png

Cross Fire(Kyugo, Genesis, 1991)
In Japan this was based on the Airwolf license.
http://www.vgmuseum.com/pics3/crossfire.html

SWIV(SCi/Storm/Random Access, Amiga/ST, 1991)

Mega SWIV was released for the European Mega Drive in 1994.
http://www.ciudadfutura.com/emuarcade/megaswiv.gif

SWIV 3D was released for PC in 1996.

D-Force(Asmik, SNES, 1991)

Air Rescue(Sega, Arcade, 1991)
I always wanted to try this System 32 game but never found it in any arcades. From what I gather, it's a 3d Choplifter-ish game.

Sega made a second Air Rescue game the following year for the European Master System. This one was 2d. http://www.vgmuseum.com/images/sms/01/airrescue.html

Cobra Gunship(Elysium Digital, Mac, 1997)
This is not related to the old arcade game.
http://www.gamedb.com/games/00638/screen2_00638.jpg

Zero Gunner(Psikyo, Arcade, 1997)
This was on Model 2 hardware.
http://images.webmagic.com/klov.com/...1050914510.jpg

Its Naomi-based sequel got a Dreamcast port. I don't like it as much as many TNL'ers do but I still liked it and it looks incredible through VGA.

Knife Edge: Nose Gunner(Kemco, N64, 1998)
A rail shooter of some kind. I haven't played it yet.
http://www.n64europe.com/graphics/knife2.bmp

What are your favourite chopper shooters?

You might want to know that Action Force is actually a GI Joe-licensed shooter (Action Force = GI Joe's name in Europe).

i read the title and immediately thought of thunder blade. i love that game, especially the afterburner-esque stages. unless nostalgia is clouding my judgement, the missle/bomb is still one of my favorite weapons in an action game.

the newest version of final burn emulates it almost perfectly, but i haven't gotten around to testing it, due to my lack of a good analog arcade stick..

oh, and here's your obligitory "nice thread," neo.)

Rescue Raiders was another great classic chopper game, it came out around the same time Choplifter did.

I guess my favorites would be Ajax, Silkworm, and Tiger Heli.

We need a Thunder Blade sequel!!!!!

I always thought Action Force had ripped off G.I. Joe. That's interesting.

Thanks, epmode. I should check out Final Burn again. Last time I tried it Thunder Blade was still missing backgrounds.

As usual very impressive.

A few others:

Avenger- PCE CD vertical shooter, decent but not great.

Tiger Heli 2- Arcade, Saturn, PSone, by Takumi of Mars Matrix fame, a solid shooter but I'm not a fan of it.

*-neo

Doh, you beat me to it. I was gonna mention Avenger. I even made some quick screenies. Like you said, it's an okay game (2.5/5), but Kyukyoku Tiger definitely kicks its ass. It does, however, have a pretty cool intro sequence (I didn't get any screens of that, though).

http://home.midmaine.com/~ataris/avenger.gif

Blood Money?

The NES port of Tiger Heli really stunk.

Twin Cobra is my favorite. I think that Ketsui will also be chopper based.

Quote:

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Tiger Heli 2- Arcade, Saturn, PSone, by Takumi of Mars Matrix fame, a solid shooter but I'm not a fan of it.

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You mean K Tiger 2?

O man! Tiger heli is by far on my top 10 shooters of all time list. Here are a few more.


-Desert War: Jaleco '95
A great game. I loved the hostage elements and the level progression. This game was on my top 30 shmup list a while back. Very inspiring.
http://roms.mame.dk/png/desertwr.png

-Thunder Dragon: NMK/Techmo '91
This is an ok game. Not your average copter firepower.
http://roms.mame.dk/png/tdragon.pnghttp://www.rainemu.com/html/games/tdragon01.png

-Thunder Dragon II: NMK '93
I thought this game was a copter game, but I think I might have been wrong after seeing the screen shot. I am now doubting my memory.
http://roms.mame.dk/png/tdragon2.png

-Grid Seeker: Taito '92
OK game with chopter in it.
http://roms.mame.dk/png/gseeker.png

-Gekirindan: Taito '95
Currently one of my top 15 shmups. This also features a Futureistic Heli.
http://roms.mame.dk/png/gekirido.png

---- Pachi: Cave
They have heli's in this game as well.


-Kyukyoku Tiger 2: Takumi/Taito '95
I know that this was mentionted before, but I liked this game. It got a Saturn port.
http://roms.mame.dk/png/ktiger2.png

-Ketsui: Cave
I have not personally played this game. Here is a mini review with video and SS http://www.insertcredit.com/reviews/ketsui/index.html

I personally like Heli shmups alot. I did not include Jungle Strike for Genesis because it was not worth more than mentioning.

Batrider also has a heli... so does it count?

EDIT: Man I knew I would forget some I feel stupid!

Prehistoric Isle 2: Yumekobo '99
Great fun, but unfortnatly shallow with poor gfx. Hang on you silly hostages!
http://roms.mame.dk/png/preisle2.png


AirWolf (aka Sky Wolf): Kyugo '87
Based of a TV series. Irritating Gameplay.
http://roms.mame.dk/png/airwolf.png


Gyrodyne: Taito '84
Ok game, but many better ones.
http://roms.mame.dk/png/gyrodine.png


Rescue: Stern '83
Did not age well at all. Irritating.
http://roms.mame.dk/png/rescue.png


S.S. Mission: Comad '92
Meh... not bad, but not good.
http://roms.mame.dk/png/ssmissin.png

Strategy X: Konami '81
http://roms.mame.dk/png/stratgyx.png

I will probably remember more later.
I recently helped with a Mr. Heli Review if any one wants more info/SS on that game. And here is a Review on Blood Money another Chopter shmup.

Good thread BTW! I know that I have forgotten some games here.

EDIT:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xS

Batrider also has a heli... so does it count?

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Batrider has somany ships, I would not. But ones that have a Heli as a 1 out of 3 ships I would count that (Like Gekridian_.

Thanks for the additions. I'm surprised I forgot so many. I have played most of them but Desert War is new to me. That looks really cool.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

Thanks for the additions. I'm surprised I forgot so many. I have played most of them but Desert War is new to me. That looks really cool.

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Thanks for starting the thred, I did not realise how mush I liked Heli Shmups. I highly recomend that you hunt down Desert War on mame or something. Great game. Like I said top 30 shmups for me. Too many elements to name, it is great fun. Reminds me at times of Jackyl for NES meets Grid Seeker or something.

Helicopter shooting is the best kind, but they're all crap compared to Zero Gunner 2. Even the ones I haven't played.

What about.. Ketsui?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Valgar

What about.. Ketsui?

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I linked to that at the bottem of my first post.

M.A.S.H.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Valgar

What about.. Ketsui?

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Well, there goes my contribution to this thread.

DDP's B-Type chopper is just about the coolest thing ever. DOJ's biggest mistake was to not bring it back, I think.

One cool feature in Grid Seeker is that you can make bombs out of enemy bullets. If you absorb 8 pink bullets using your GRID device (the two pod things by your plane) then you gain another bomb. When you use a bomb, the computer has a Street Fighter II style call-out for what type you're using (i.e. "Gigavolt Laser"). The BGM for stage 6 really kicks ass.

What! No love for Thunderhawk and I'm not talking about Thunderhawk 2.

http://www.classgen.co.uk/cat806.jpg



Also known as Thunderstrike, in the US.


http://www.workingdesigns.com/museum...rike-front.jpg




And how about the Strike series (Desert, Soviet, Jungle...)?

I don't think you shoot in M*A*S*H, which is why I left it out. I assume you're talking about the 2600 game.

Like I said, I left out mission-based stuff like Thunderstrike and Desert Strike, although I really enjoyed those games. I was thinking of including stuff like that in the thread but there's no way I can keep track of every helicopter sim out there so I limited it to arcade-ish games.

Sorry, Neozeedeater, I guess I should have read the first line. WHoops. Great read BTW.

No problem. I wish more Sega CD games used the scaling and rotation features like Thunderstrike did. Games like it and Batman Returns were great experiences that cartridge Genesis games couldn't pull off.

Cafeman doesn't come around here much anymore, but you might remember him from GameGo or DimmensionSega boards.
More noteworthy is the fact that he programmed and published his own hellicopter game.
Lame thing is, I never got around to buying a copy from him :sweat:

I'm sure the game rulez though, as it's on the coolest system ever!


Koffi: Yellow Kopter

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kenshin Himura

One cool feature in Grid Seeker is that you can make bombs out of enemy bullets. If you absorb 8 pink bullets using your GRID device (the two pod things by your plane) then you gain another bomb. When you use a bomb, the computer has a Street Fighter II style call-out for what type you're using (i.e. "Gigavolt Laser"). The BGM for stage 6 really kicks ass.

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Nifty. I tried out Grid Seeker using Raine, but then I remembered that this PC has a hard time running Taito F3 games smoothly, so I usually don't bother with them. The little that I played kicked a lot of ass, I thought. Did this one get a home port?