Get to the Choppa!

There are only a handful of titles in history that have gone against the “norm”. Titles of such greatness they went from console to arcade and still kicked ass! One of these titles is none other that the almighty CHOPLIFTER!

1001 No.91: ‘CHOPLIFTER!’ (1982)

CHOPLIFTER! is so good it comes with its own explanation mark – that’s right the game is actually called CHOPLIFTER! It is a game title that suggests it should be shouted into the faces of those who dare question what greatness you are playing.

First released in 1982 on the Apple II machine it was later ported to a few other systems before making its historical jump to the arcades in 1985. I have been playing the 1987 ATARI 7800 version and despite a few graphical tweeks its gameplay is exactly the same as the original. It also sounds immense on the ATARI!

As with most retro games of this age (and on an ATARTI) it is the simplicity that makes the game. The premise of CHOPLIFTER! is as simply as it is great – bust guys out of PoW camps and return them to base. Standing in your way is a deadly army of tanks, jets and strange purple round things that resemble the enemy space ships from Defender. It all sounds easy enough but, unlike those girls from Essex, easy it aint! Time and time again your fully laden choppa of freedom will be shot down as it takes off.  Wiped from the skies by collisions with the Defender space ships or, just as you are about to land back at base, blown up by a sneaky jet! It is even possible to squash the prisoners while coming in to land! How very American!

CHOPLIFTER! is a game that will have you hooked for hours at a time. It will have you embroiled in the never ending battle to save more people then are killed (by you or the enemy) and you will love it!