| Mr. Heli | |
| Developer: | Irem |
| Publisher: | Irem |
| Composer: | Masahiko Ishida[1] |
| Released: | Arcade: Ports: 1989 |
| Platforms: | Arcade, Amiga, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Atari ST, PC-Engine, Virtual Console, Evercade VS. |
| Genre: | Scrolling shooter |
| Modes: | 1-2 players alternating turns |
| Arcade System: | Irem M-72 system hardware |
Mr. Heli, fully titled in Japan as is a multidirectional scrolling shooter developed and published in arcades in 1987 by Irem. It was released in North America as Battle Chopper.
Players control a wacky fighter chopper named Mr. Heli, while shooting enemies, collecting power-ups, and defeating bosses to advance levels.
Mr. Heli was ported for the Commodore 64, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, and Atari ST by Firebird, as well as for the PC Engine in Japan by Irem. This version was re-released for the Wii Virtual Console on March 18, 2008, only in Japan. It came back for the Wii U Virtual Console on April 15, 2015 in Japan, and was then released for the first time in the United States and Europe on February 1, 2018.[2] [3] [4]
In Japan, Game Machine listed Mr. Heli on their January 15, 1988 issue as being the fifth most-successful table arcade unit of the month.[5]
Ciarán Brennan of Your Sinclair magazine reviewed the arcade game, calling it "a lovely little game" that is "very imaginative and beautifully" paced.[6] ACE magazine reviewed the PC Engine version in 1989, rating it 890 out of 1000 and listing it as one of the top five best games available for the console.[7]
Mr. Heli later appeared in the Japan-only Game Boy title Shuyaku Sentai Irem Fighter, along with other characters from the game, as well as characters from three other Irem franchises: R-Type, Ninja Spirit and Hammerin' Harry. Mr. Heli was mentioned in one of the billboards seen in the final stage of Irem's Vigilante and also appeared in R-Type Final as a playable ship. Battle Chopper is also available on the Evercade retro games console as part of the Irem Arcade collection cartridge.
Mr. Heli has also been noted for inspiring Barunba.[8] [9]