Home /
NES

Choplifter

NES

NES

In Choplifter, the player assumes the role of a combat helicopter pilot. The player attempts to save hostages being held in prisoner of war camps in territory ruled by the evil Bungeling Empire. The player must collect the hostages and transport them safely to the nearby friendly base, all the wh...

Download

0/5 Votes: 0

Report

Developer
TOSE

Released on
1986

Size
1–2 Players

Version
NES

Requirements
Nintendo Entertainment System

Downloads
Shooter

Publisher
Jaleco

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

Wikipedia
View article →

Report this app

Images

Description

In Choplifter, the player assumes the role of a combat helicopter pilot. The player attempts to save hostages being held in prisoner of war camps in territory ruled by the evil Bungeling Empire. The player must collect the hostages and transport them safely to the nearby friendly base, all the while fighting off hostile tanks and other enemy combatants. According to the back story, the helicopter parts were smuggled into the country described as “mail sorting equipment.”

In 1986, ports of the arcade version back to home versions were developed for the Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Master System. These versions include some game play and scoring changes of their own, but use the environments, music, and approximate score play of the arcade remake.

Choplifter

Overview & History

Originally conceptualized by Dan Gorlin and debuted in 1982 for the Apple II, Choplifter was later ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) by Jaleco in 1986. This side-scrolling action title puts you in the pilot seat of an advanced prototype helicopter. The storyline tasks you with infiltrating hostile territory across three distinct environments—a desert, a maritime ocean base, and a heavily guarded enemy fortress—to rescue captive hostages held inside military prisoner-of-war camps. Your ultimate mission is to airlift these hostages to safety at your home helipad before hostile forces completely overwhelm your chopper.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard shoot-'em-ups, Choplifter demands delicate spatial awareness and precision flying. Your helicopter is equipped with a forward-firing machine gun to decimate incoming ground tanks, anti-aircraft turrets, and airborne fighter jets. However, firepower alone won't secure victory; you must carefully maneuver your craft to land gently outside hostile barracks. Up to 16 hostages will cautiously board your cargo hold, but space is strictly limited. If your helicopter takes too much enemy damage, or if you accidentally crush hostages upon landing, they perish, drastically reducing your final extraction score. Furthermore, enemy jets actively hunt your chopper, forcing you to constantly balance offensive sweeping maneuvers with defensive retreats.

Keyboard Controls

Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move and tilt the helicopter (Left/Right to fly, Up/Down to alter altitude and face left/right)
Action Keys: Attack / Jump (Press the A button to fire your machine gun; press the B button to tilt the helicopter body for precision landing and hostage loading)
Enter: Start / Pause