Choplifter HD

There is nothing here in this game, that would warrant a replay. It has terribly shallow gameplay, and it's a technical mess. All of this could be forgiven, if the controls were good, but unfortunately, it isn't.

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In Choplifter HD, players pilot a helicopter across various missions, rescuing hostages, defending allies, and battling enemies. With over 30 missions in multiple environments, players must navigate challenging terrain and weather conditions to complete their objectives. Utilize a variety of helicopters, each with unique abilities, to save hostages and take down enemy forces.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 116 reviews

story7 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Choplifter HD is a fun and addictive remake that captures the essence of the original game, providing nostalgic gameplay with modern graphics.
The game features a variety of helicopters and missions, allowing for strategic gameplay and replayability as players aim for higher star ratings.
The humorous pilot dialogue adds charm to the game, making it entertaining even during challenging missions.

The controls can be frustrating, with issues in aiming and maneuvering, leading to a steep learning curve that may deter casual players.
The game is often described as brutally difficult, with many players experiencing frustration from having to restart levels multiple times due to overwhelming enemy presence.
Some players found the voice acting and humor to be poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience.

story
38 mentions
18 % positive mentions
74 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around helicopter rescue missions, where players must navigate various challenges to save stranded individuals while battling enemies. While the missions offer a nostalgic feel with varied landscapes and objectives, they often suffer from monotony and frustrating controls, leading to repetitive gameplay. Despite the lack of a deep narrative, the game provides a straightforward and engaging experience for those who appreciate classic action mechanics.
- “You fly your helicopter out on missions to rescue stranded soldiers, civilians, and even the odd media personality (you have to rescue a TV reporter, with his cameraman, on most levels).”
- “There are various 'campaigns' containing various missions, and each mission usually has a bonus objective as well as a news crew to rescue (2 extra people!).”
- “This update adds some new variety of missions and a boatload of graphical and narrative additions, but the core game is rooted in the concept that made Choplifter an enduring favorite all those years ago.”
- “It's like inXile tried to straddle the line between Choplifter's action roots and the modern expectation that missions will have objectives and checkpoints... which, by the way, this game does not have.”
- “You will try and try and try and try to complete a particular objective only to blow it on the next one and start the mission all over again... again.”
- “You're really doing nearly the exact same thing with increasing numbers of enemies, anti-aircraft, and mission complexity; all the while fighting the crappy controls, too.”
gameplay
21 mentions
38 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this modern adaptation of a classic PC game is largely praised for its nostalgic feel and faithful replication of core mechanics, while also introducing some new features like multiple weapons and a fuel mechanic. However, opinions are divided, with some players feeling that the new mechanics detract from the original experience. Overall, the game is described as challenging yet accessible, with clear mechanics and a forgiving learning curve, making it enjoyable for both retro fans and new players alike.
- “The perfect modern adaptation of a PC classic that doesn't mess with the core gameplay you loved and remember.”
- “It reproduces the tone, gameplay, and atmosphere of the original arcade classic in a very meaningful way, without introducing obscure 'new' mechanics that detract from the theme or feel of the original.”
- “In truth, this is a solid and entertaining 'coffee-game' pick-up-and-play action game with a forgiving learning curve, pretty visuals, and fun gameplay.”
- “The addition of the fuel mechanic ruined this classic game for me.”
- “Despite the lack of different choppers and gameplay modes, and excruciating voice acting and lame humor, the game is a good buy at any discounted price.”
- “Since the graphics are simple and the gameplay is 'old fashioned', I can't recommend this to newer gamers; however, if you are a retro junkie or a fan of the original, then Choplifter HD is a must buy.”
graphics
15 mentions
60 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the nice 3D visuals and entertaining elements like easter eggs and humor, while others note a budget feel reminiscent of older DirectX 9 titles. Some players appreciate the nostalgic charm of simpler graphics, especially those familiar with retro gaming, while others feel the visuals lack depth compared to modern standards. Overall, the graphics are considered decent and enjoyable, particularly for fans of the original game.
- “This is a great and entertaining game with graphics that were better than I expected.”
- “You can easily play this game off onboard Intel HD Graphics 3000 very well; the graphics are superb.”
- “In truth, this is a solid and entertaining 'coffee-game' pick-up-and-play action game with a forgiving learning curve, pretty visuals, and fun gameplay.”
- “The visuals are very budget DirectX 9, but a game does not need shiny visuals to achieve greatness.”
- “Since the graphics are simple and the gameplay is 'old fashioned', I can't recommend this to newer gamers; however, if you are a retro junkie or a fan of the original, then Choplifter HD is a must buy.”
- “The level graphics remind me a bit of Zombie Driver HD.”
humor
12 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the pilot dialogue and easter eggs, while others find the jokes repetitive and unfunny. Although there are moments of dark humor and nostalgic references, many reviews highlight the narrative humor as either groan-worthy or irritating. Overall, the game's humor may appeal to some, but it largely fails to resonate with a significant portion of the audience.
- “The pilot dialogue is a nice bonus and usually pretty funny.”
- “One of the things that gets me every time is the hilarious and not to mention timely pilot and co-pilot dialog while playing.”
- “Dark humor, nostalgia, cameos by other famous video game characters, and simple game mechanics all combine to make this a must-have for your Steam library!”
optimization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is reported to run smoothly and fluidly, making it a recommendable experience for players. However, some users have noted issues with aim control, particularly with the autoaim feature, which can lead to frustrating gameplay moments.
- “All in all, the game runs smoothly and fluidly. I would recommend this to friends and family as well.”
- “Choplifter HD has an alright performance, but the aim control is horrible. You rotate or try to rotate a laser pointer at a 75-degree angle and hope the auto-aim will pick an enemy. If it doesn't, you will be shooting into the air even if the projectile passes through the enemy.”
- “The optimization in this game is severely lacking. Frame drops and stuttering make it nearly unplayable during intense moments.”
- “I experienced constant lag and long loading times, which really detracted from the overall experience. The game feels unfinished in terms of optimization.”
replayability
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the high replayability of the game, noting its accessible mechanics on PC that encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “Plenty of replay value and easy mechanics on PC.”
- “The game offers a variety of choices that make each playthrough feel unique.”
- “With multiple endings and character paths, I find myself coming back for more.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere effectively captures the essence of the original arcade classic, maintaining its tone and gameplay while avoiding unnecessary new mechanics that could disrupt the nostalgic experience.
- “It reproduces the tone, gameplay, and atmosphere of the original arcade classic in a very meaningful way, without introducing obscure 'new' mechanics that detract from the theme or feel of the original.”