Mr Heli - Information

In 1987, coin-op giant IREM were on a bit of a roll. Their classic shoot 'em up R-Type was going down a storm in the arcades, as were the home computer and console conversions. Known as Battle Chopper in the US, Mr Heli was another arcade blaster from IREM, except that this time it was much brighter and (for want of a better phrase) cutesy.

Mr. Heli was a scrolling blaster that started moving from left-to-right, but could also move down the screen as well as right-to-left. The home computer game was split into three main stages, although there were mini-levels within each stage.

As with most arcade shoot 'em ups, the plot behind the action was almost completely irrelivant. The fact that the story didn't make much sense when translated from the original Japanese hardly mattered. If it moved, you shot it. If it shot at you, you shot it.

Blasting rocks (with missiles or bombs) produced crystals that gave the player money, but only if they could collect them. Sometimes, crystals would fall from above and the player had to swoop in to collect them before they disappeared below.

Naturally, collecting crystals wasn't the only thing the player had to do. The money gained from the crystals could be spent in various 'shops' to upgrade weapons and give Mr. Heli other advantages. Upgrades included increased bullets, missiles, shields, petrol (for energy) and fish (to blast through walls - obviously!). Each shop only sold one item and once it had been bought, the shop displayed a Sold Out sign which prevented the player from buying more of the same.

Of course, flying enemies were also out to get Mr. Heli, including spy choppers that would steal various upgrades from the player upon contact. Mr Heli had to shoot them all.

As with every other arcade blaster, the end of each section or stage involved battling a large boss who was often protected by other cohorts as well as an array of weaponry.

Mr. Heli also included an annoyingly catchy tune (taken from the coin-op) in the 16-bit versions. The original tune was even released on a CD (along with a number of other IREM game tunes) in Japan.