Choplifter HD is a remake of the classic Apple ][ game, Choplifter, in which the player controls a helecopter and has been tasked with rescuing civilians from a dangerous warzone. The chopper has to dodge enemy fire and increasingly obtuse obstacles, while making sure not to crush anyone. The more people rescued, the higher the score. This new version sees improved graphics—not very difficult actually—and some modern gameplay features like multiple helicopter types, various themed missions (from real world rescues to sci-fi and horror scenarios), and semi-witty voice action. The game-play is essentially unchanged: float, dodge, land, wait for people to get to ze choppa’, then take off and get back out safely. If you’re feeling nostalgic, you will want to give this one a try.
The Icrontic spotlight this week floods the back alleys of AMY, a survival horror game with some unique elements. It’s 2023, and global warming has spread violence, disease, and really terrible weather across the globe. The protagonist is Lana, a civilian woman who survived a meteor strike in Silver City. The people around her have descended into madness, and the only other sane person seems to be a young autistic girl named Amy. Lana has to first work to earn Amy’s trust in the midst of the violently torn city, then they must escape together, utilizing Amy’s apparent telekinetic powers to help them survive.
It’s not just the dynamic support character that makes this game interesting, however—it’s also the idea of escape through avoidance. This isn’t a zombie shotgunner, where the player relies on overwhelming fire-power and billions of bullets to push through the crazies. Lana and Amy instead must attempt to avoid the infected, using sneak mechanics to get past them without direct confrontation, especially since every encounter with an infected person brings Lana that much closer to being overcome with the infection herself.
Following is a full list of this week’s announced North American releases:
Windows
- Choplifter HD
- Conquer 2.0: Invasions of Pirates
Wii
- Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Case of the Crumbling Cathedral
DS
- Hip Hop King: Rytmik Edition
3DS
- ZEN Pinball 3D
Xbox 360
- AMY
- Choplifter HD
Ps3
- AMY
- Choplifter HD
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