Helicopter-themed shmups

[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.

[Shepardus]

The Type B ship in Donpachi and Dodonpachi are helicopters.

[Udderdude]

Why hello there.

[KAI]

Desert War/Wangan Sensou is a heli shmup.

[WelshMegalodon]

Don't forget Konami's Super Cobra.

[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.

[Goompaolo9500]

Zero Gunner for Sega Model 2; the same arcade hardware as Daytona USA.

[Sumez]

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

[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

[Sumez]

Mr.Heli is absolutely appealing, and I can't imagine anyone ever claiming otherwise.

[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]

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

[LordHypnos]

Who needs heli games other than Zero Gunner 2? It's sweet.

[Barba]

Who needs heli games other than Zero Gunner 2? It's sweet.

But but but.. the rotation

[Dochartaigh]

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.

[xxx1993]

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.

[Obscura]

Who needs heli games other than Zero Gunner 2? It's sweet.

But... Kyukyoku Tiger!

[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.

[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.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[nattyb0hman]

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.

[OmegaFlareX]

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

Seemed pretty decent (like a vastly upgraded Gyrodine) but obviously unfinished.

[Perikles]

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!

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.

[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.

[Sumez]

the vehicle in Thunder Dragon has no rotors

Pointless semantics

[Perikles]

the vehicle in Thunder Dragon has no rotors

Pointless semantics

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.

[qmish]

Perfect soundtrack for heli shmups

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13D1YY_BvWU

[xxx1993]

I think the Airwolf theme would be a better soundtrack for those kinds of shmups, actually.

[BrianC]

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.

[Stevens]

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

[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.