Play Choplifter (Japan) (Proto) Online

Game Overview

Choplifter on the SEGA Master System is one of those games that looks simple until you actually try it. You're flying this little rescue chopper through enemy territory, trying to scoop up hostages while everything—tanks, jets, even random dudes with rifles—is shooting at you. The Japanese prototype version feels a bit rougher around the edges than the final release, which honestly makes it more interesting if you're into retro oddities.

What gets me every time is how tense it gets—you land to pick up hostages, but the longer you stay, the more likely some tank shell is going to ruin your day. And if you crash? Those pixelated hostages just... disappear. Brutal. It's got that classic 'one more try' pull, even when you swear you're done after the fifth failed run. Not many games make rescuing tiny sprites feel this high-stakes.

Definitely more arcade than simulator, but that's why it works. You'll either love the straightforward chaos or bounce off hard—no in-between.