Helicopter-themed shmups

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xxx1993

Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by xxx1993 »

Why aren't there more shmups where you fly helicopters? The only ones I can think of at the top of my head are Tiger-Heli, Gyrodine, the Twin Cobra series, the Zero Gunner series, Under Defeat, the Blackhawk Striker series, SWIV, Silkworm, and Ketsui. But other than that, I don't know others.
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Shepardus
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by Shepardus »

The Type B ship in Donpachi and Dodonpachi are helicopters.
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by Udderdude »

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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by KAI »

Desert War/Wangan Sensou is a heli shmup.
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by WelshMegalodon »

Don't forget Konami's Super Cobra.
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by Perikles »

Also Air Duel, A-JAX, Ashura Blaster, Avenger, Choplifter (series), Chopper I (who would've guessed?), Gekirindan, Mega/Super SWIV and both Twin Eagles, just off the top of my head.
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by Goompaolo9500 »

Zero Gunner for Sega Model 2; the same arcade hardware as Daytona USA.
At this rate, I won’t be interested into shmups anymore. I am no longer going to be active in this forum from now on. I am more interested into Kemono Friends, rhythm games, D4DJ, Puzzle Games, Hololive, and Pretty Cure.

Farewell.
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by Sumez »

xxx1993 wrote:Why aren't there more shmups where you fly helicopters?
How many would you prefer there being? I guess people could make more, but when will you be satisfied?

edit: also namedroppin' Thunder Dragon here, just for the street creds
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by gray117 »

Saw mr heli back in the day on pc engine, and was kind of fascinated.

Only owned it later, and there's probably a fair chunk nostalgia, but still find it to be very appealing, and probably my go to for a kind of cute hybrid shmup platformer ... that or bangia-o, though that's more a puzzler.

Would the megadrive (desert/urban/was there another?) strike games count?

ha, google spat this out:
viewtopic.php?p=48286
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by Sumez »

Mr.Heli is absolutely appealing, and I can't imagine anyone ever claiming otherwise.
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by pegboy »

Preshistoic isle 2 on neo geo is one of my favorites.
Also if you want to scrape the bottom of the barrel then check out d-force on snes.
xxx1993

Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by xxx1993 »

I don't mind other shmups, but when it comes to other aircraft in shmups, helicopters seem to be the most underrated.
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by LordHypnos »

Who needs heli games other than Zero Gunner 2? It's sweet.
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by Barba »

LordHypnos wrote:Who needs heli games other than Zero Gunner 2? It's sweet.
But but but.. the rotation :(
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by Dochartaigh »

gray117 wrote:Would the megadrive (desert/urban/was there another?) strike games count?
Definitely not a Shmup, but I also feel like I have to mention those amazing games! (they were on SNES too I think. Absolutely LOVED those games back in the day - and especially if you love helicopters you should give them a try.
Last edited by Dochartaigh on Mon Jan 29, 2018 7:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
xxx1993

Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by xxx1993 »

Barba wrote:
LordHypnos wrote:Who needs heli games other than Zero Gunner 2? It's sweet.
But but but.. the rotation :(
The rotation is very easy to get used to, actually.
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by Obscura »

LordHypnos wrote:Who needs heli games other than Zero Gunner 2? It's sweet.
But... Kyukyoku Tiger!
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by OmegaFlareX »

There's an Airwolf arcade game (yes, based off the TV show with the cool theme song), but it controls like ass due to inertia.
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by PC Engine Fan X! »

Yep, Twin Eagle II arcade shmup that runs on the SSV (Sammy, Seta & Visco) arcade motherboard platform. There was a local arcade hangout called Camelot Park (aka Boomers nowadays) in Modesto, CA, that had a pcb of Twin Eagle II up & running on a Dynamo upright cab back in 1995.

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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by nattyb0hman »

xxx1993 wrote:
Barba wrote:
LordHypnos wrote:Who needs heli games other than Zero Gunner 2? It's sweet.
But but but.. the rotation :(
The rotation is very easy to get used to, actually.
I agree. I became used to it so quickly at the time that I didn't even know it was a thing that bothered people until recently.
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by OmegaFlareX »

Saw a prototype called Hammer Away on LordBBH's MAME Roulette stream.

Seemed pretty decent (like a vastly upgraded Gyrodine) but obviously unfinished.
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by Perikles »

Sumez wrote:edit: also namedroppin' Thunder Dragon here, just for the street creds
Alas, your desired reputation is naught but a fatuous phantasmagoria - the vehicle in Thunder Dragon has no rotors, thus, your attribution is fallacious. For shame, Sumez, for shame.

Now, the obscure Thunder Dragon epigone S.S. Mission does feature a helicopter, and be assured that mentioning such a fleeting title would've garnered you fame and respect among our midst. Maybe next time! :P
OmegaFlareX wrote:There's an Airwolf arcade game (yes, based off the TV show with the cool theme song), but it controls like ass due to inertia.
There's also an equally repulsive MD game by the name of Super Airwolf which is partially a god-awful attempt at Kyuukyoku Tiger and partially the worst multi-directional shooter of all time. Successfully managed to suppress this game until I saw your post.
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by BIL »

You don't fly a helicopter, but by god if Bakuretsu Breaker isn't the most startlingly helicopter-themed shmup I've ever seen.

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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by Sumez »

Perikles wrote:the vehicle in Thunder Dragon has no rotors
Pointless semantics 8)
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by Perikles »

Sumez wrote:
Perikles wrote:the vehicle in Thunder Dragon has no rotors
Pointless semantics 8)
Think on that phrase when you order a pizza next time only to obtain a cheese sandwich, upon which the responsible person nonchalantly answers thusly. :mrgreen:
xxx1993

Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by xxx1993 »

I think the Airwolf theme would be a better soundtrack for those kinds of shmups, actually.
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by BrianC »

xxx1993 wrote:I think the Airwolf theme would be a better soundtrack for those kinds of shmups, actually.
Funny you mention that since there is actually an Airwolf Famicom game that's mostly shmup stages and a sequel for Genesis.
Last edited by BrianC on Sat Mar 03, 2018 5:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by Stevens »

I named the 1st boss in Under Defeat Airwolf:D
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xxx1993

Re: Helicopter-themed shmups

Post by xxx1993 »

I'm mostly familiar with the Genesis game. Wasn't there one on the NES except that one was pretty crappy? The Famicom version should be better.
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