Play Choplifter Online

Choplifter on the Sega Master System is one of those games that sounds simple until you actually try it. You're flying a helicopter through side-scrolling levels, dodging tanks and enemy planes while trying to rescue hostages. The catch? Your chopper can only carry 16 people at once, and you need to save at least 40 out of 48 hostages to beat a level.

What makes it tricky is that enemies don't stop attacking just because you're trying to land and pick people up. I lost count of how many times I got shot down while hovering over a group of hostages. The Master System version ditched the fuel system from the arcade release, which is nice—one less thing to worry about—but they added six levels with some repeating backgrounds.

The controls feel tight, and there's something satisfying about nailing a perfect landing under fire. Just don't get too cocky—those ground missiles will ruin your day real quick. It's a solid port that keeps the original's tense rescue missions while adding its own twists.