Choplifter (Arcade)

Choplifter has you take control of a combat helicopter pilot to save P.O.W.s from war camps and bring them to safety to the friendly base, while avoiding enemy vehicles (i.e. planes and tanks) who try to shoot you down.

In an inversion of how games tended to be released at the time, Choplifter came to the Apple II first, then got ported to other computers, and three years later was remade for the arcades.

Revisional Differences#

There are two distinct versions in MAME, labeled "8751 315-5151" (which is the typical Sega encryption used at the time) and "unprotected" respectively. As the latter version features minor additions, it's highly assumed that it is a revised/new version of the former.

Demo#

Old	New

The new version adds an "and Return" to the task seen in the demo.

Gameplay#

• The new version gives you indications on how to complete the levels.
• For some reason, in the old version the pilot instantly comes out from the base, synced with the jingle that plays before the level starts. In the new version, the pilot comes out from the base after the jingle ends.
• Awkwardly, the "DEAD" counter was renamed "LOST", even though it's clearly visible that if you accidentally shoot a hostage he dies.