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Choplifter HD
Choplifter HD
	Promotional art
Developer(s)	inXile Entertainment
Publisher(s)	inXile Entertainment; Konami (Xbox 360)
Series	Choplifter
Engine	Unreal Engine 3
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Ouya, Android
Release	January 10, 2012 Windows; PAL: January 10, 2012 (PC); NA: January 11, 2012 (PC); ; PlayStation 3; NA: January 10, 2012; PAL: February 29, 2012 (PS3); ; Xbox 360; January 11, 2012 ; Ouya; August 27, 2013 ; Android; October 11, 2013 ;
Genre(s)	Shoot 'em up
Mode(s)	Single-player

Choplifter HD is a video game developed by inXile Entertainment and released in 2012–2013. It is a 3D polygonal remake of the 1982 game Choplifter by Dan Gorlin. inXile hired Gorlin as a design consultant for the game.^[3] As in the original game, players fly missions in a helicopter, defeating enemies and rescuing people. Initially released for Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3, the game was later ported to Ouya and Android devices. Choplifter HD was praised for staying true to the original, retaining the gameplay the series was known for, but was criticized for its high level of difficulty.

Gameplay

Players take on the role of a helicopter pilot for an elite rescue squad known as Coordinated Helicopter Operations, Preservation and Rescue (C.H.O.P.R.).^[4] The game retains the same basic objectives as the original Choplifter, including the classic side-scrolling gameplay, but now features 3D polygonal graphics. Choplifter HD offers three main campaigns and 30 different missions, along with a tutorial level.^[1] The player completes missions by piloting the helicopter into hostile territory while evading or destroying enemies and managing the helicopter's depleting fuel supply, which can be replenished either at the helicopter's home base or at fuel depots scattered throughout the level. Missions typically involve picking up and dropping off various passengers. New features include passengers who can die and are associated with a timer, as well as zombie enemies. Levels now feature enemies in the foreground, which can only be defeated by facing them directly. Players can also unlock improved helicopters by collecting stars in each mission. Three difficulty modes are available, with the higher difficulties making enemies more challenging to defeat and causing the helicopter's fuel to deplete faster.^[5]

Development

The game was announced in March 2011 for release on PlayStation 3 (via the PlayStation Network) and Windows.^[6] An Xbox Live Arcade release was confirmed the following June.^[3] inXile founder Brian Fargo was a fan of the original Choplifter, having played the game on the Apple II.^[6] The original game's designer, Dan Gorlin, served as a design consultant for Choplifter HD, and Fargo credited Gorlin with contributions such as "connect(ing) the pilot to the rescued hostages in a meaningful way."

Originally slated for release in Fall 2011, the game was delayed to a winter release, with Konami signing on to publish the Xbox Live Arcade version.^[7]

Reception

Aggregate score
Aggregator	Score
Aggregator	PC	PS3	Xbox 360
Metacritic	65/100^[8]	71/100^[9]	65/100^[10]

Review scores
Publication	Score
Publication	PC	PS3	Xbox 360
1Up.com	B^[11]	B^[11]	B^[11]
Destructoid	N/A	N/A	7/10^[5]
Electronic Gaming Monthly	N/A	N/A	6.5/10^[1]
Eurogamer	N/A	N/A	7/10^[2]
GameSpot	N/A	N/A	5.5/10^[12]
IGN	8/10^[13]	8/10^[14]	8/10^[14]
Official Xbox Magazine (US)	N/A	N/A	4.5/10^[15]
PC Gamer (UK)	59%^[16]	N/A	N/A
PlayStation: The Official Magazine	N/A	8/10^[17]	N/A
TeamXbox	N/A	N/A	6.5/10^[18]
Maxim	N/A	8/10^[19]	8/10^[19]
Metro	N/A	N/A	6/10^[20]

Choplifter HD received "mixed or average reviews" on all platforms according to the [Review aggregator|review aggregation] website [Metacritic].^[8]^[9]^[10] The game was praised for being faithful to the original, with Destructoid's Maurice Tan commenting that "the core gameplay of Dan Gorlin's classic Apple II title remains largely intact in this HD revisiting"^[5] and GameSpot's Sean Evans writing that the remake "retains the core gameplay for which the series is known." However, the game was criticized for its difficulty, particularly the relentless incoming fire from enemies, which Ryan Winterhalter of 1Up.com compared to that of a bullet hell shooter.^[11] Evans opined that players "will eventually hit a wall with the difficulty that robs you of all desire to continue," while Winterhalter called **Choplifter HD** "the ideal game for perfectionists with a flair for self-flagellation".^[12]^[11] Despite this, some reviewers felt that the difficulty enhanced the game's enjoyment, with Christian Donlan of Eurogamer calling it "pleasantly punishing" and Mitch Dyer of IGN commenting that "frustrations are rare in Choplifter HD because its constant concern is that you're having a good time".^[2]^[13]^[14]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Carsillo, Ray (January 18, 2012). "EGM Review: Choplifter HD (X360)". EGMNow. EGM Media, LLC. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Donlan, Christian (January 12, 2012). "Choplifter HD Review (Xbox 360)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Dutton, Fred (June 1, 2011). "Choplifter HD Confirmed for XBLA". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on August 28, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^ Thorsen, Tor (March 28, 2011). "Choplifter HD landing on PS3, PC this fall". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Tan, Maurice (January 11, 2012). "Review: Choplifter HD (X360)". Destructoid. Gamurs. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Dutton, Fred (March 28, 2011). "Choplifter HD announced for PC, PS3". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^ Sinclair, Brendan (November 30, 2011). "Choplifter HD grounded until winter". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Choplifter HD critic reviews (PC)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Choplifter HD critic reviews (PS3)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Choplifter HD critic reviews (X360)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Winterhalter, Ryan (January 13, 2012). "Review: Choplifter Appeals to Your Inner-Masochist". 1Up.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
^ ^a ^b Evans, Sean (January 13, 2012). "Choplifter HD Review (X360)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on March 7, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Dyer, Mitch (January 9, 2012). "Choplifter HD Review (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Dyer, Mitch (January 10, 2012). "Choplifter HD Review (PS3, X360)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^ Lewis, Cameron (February 2012). "Choplifter HD review". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. p. 76. Archived from the original on January 13, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^ "Choplifter HD". PC Gamer UK. Future plc. April 2012. p. 79.
^ "Review: Choplifter HD". PlayStation: The Official Magazine. No. 56. Future plc. March 2012. p. 85.
^ Frederiksen, Anders (January 16, 2012). "Choplifter HD Review (Xbox 360)". TeamXbox. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Sciarrino, John (January 13, 2012). "Gaming Review: Choplifter HD". Maxim. Biglari Holdings. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
^ Jenkins, David (January 13, 2012). "Choplifter HD review – get to da choppa (X360)". Metro. DMG Media. Archived from the original on January 15, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2023.