Choplifter! (USA)
Choplifter! (USA) on A7800
Choplifter! on the Atari 7800 is a 1988 port of the classic 1982 Apple II original by Dan Gorlin, published by Atari Corporation. This is a horizontally scrolling shooter where you pilot a helicopter, and it's one of the better-looking versions of the game for a home console. The Atari 7800 release came a few years after the arcade remake by Sega, so it benefits from a more colorful, detailed presentation than earlier 8-bit ports.
Your job in Choplifter! is to fly a rescue helicopter over enemy territory, land to pick up hostages, and fly them back to base. The core loop involves flying left and right over a scrolling landscape, dodging enemy tanks, jets, and boats, and shooting them with your guns. You have to carefully manage altitude and speed to land safely near the hostages without crashing or getting destroyed. Each level ends when you've rescued a certain number of hostages, and the difficulty escalates with more aggressive enemies.
This Atari 7800 version is worth trying if you want a clean, solid port of a landmark early rescue game. It's not as flashy as the arcade version, but it's faithful and controls well. For fans of retro shooters or anyone curious about the birth of the helicopter game genre, Choplifter! on the 7800 is a neat piece of history - simple, challenging, and honest in its design.
How to Play Choplifter! (USA) Online
Section 2 - Getting Started
When you start Choplifter! on the Atari 7800, you see a simple title screen. Press Enter to begin. The game puts you in control of a helicopter hovering over the left side of the screen. Your first task is to fly right, keeping an eye out for ground soldiers - those are the hostages you need to rescue. They appear as small figures waving on the ground, often near buildings or open areas.
The core loop is simple: fly toward a group of hostages, slow down and descend carefully, land on the ground near them, and they'll automatically board your helicopter. Then lift off and fly back to the landing zone at the far left edge of the screen. You get points for each rescued hostage and lose a life if your chopper is destroyed by enemy fire or by crashing into terrain. Watch for enemy tanks, jets, and ships - each level introduces new threats.
New players should focus on learning to control altitude smoothly. Rising too fast can cause a crash, and descending too quickly can damage your landing. Also, keep an eye on the fuel gauge at the top of the screen; you must return to base periodically to refuel. Prioritize rescuing groups of hostages that are clustered together to maximize efficiency. It's a straightforward game but requires good timing and patience.
Choplifter! (USA) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: Joystick
- X: Button 1
- S: Button 2
- Enter: Pause
- V: Select
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