Helicops is a futuristic action game for Windows, published in 1997 by 7th Level and developed by Paragon Visual Systems. It combines third-person aerial combat, a sci-fi aesthetic, and a manga-inspired setting, featuring a campaign centered on defending a Tokyo rebuilt after a devastating earthquake. In this new metropolis—renamed NeoTokyo—the criminal syndicate Nemesys attempts to seize control of the city under the command of Maxwell Giger, a powerful criminal with global ambitions.
The player commands a special unit of police officers who pilot advanced combat helicopters. The campaign is structured into six major missions, each subdivided into various objectives and scenarios. Operations take the player over urban zones, industrial areas, mountainous regions, and other 3D environments, where they battle rival helicopters, ground vehicles, and defenses deployed by Nemesys forces. The goal is not merely to destroy enemies; players must also locate specific i...
Helicops is a futuristic action game for Windows, published in 1997 by 7th Level and developed by Paragon Visual Systems. It combines third-person aerial combat, a sci-fi aesthetic, and a manga-inspired setting, featuring a campaign centered on defending a Tokyo rebuilt after a devastating earthquake. In this new metropolis—renamed NeoTokyo—the criminal syndicate Nemesys attempts to seize control of the city under the command of Maxwell Giger, a powerful criminal with global ambitions.
The player commands a special unit of police officers who pilot advanced combat helicopters. The campaign is structured into six major missions, each subdivided into various objectives and scenarios. Operations take the player over urban zones, industrial areas, mountainous regions, and other 3D environments, where they battle rival helicopters, ground vehicles, and defenses deployed by Nemesys forces. The goal is not merely to destroy enemies; players must also locate specific items, protect positions, and complete assignments that drive the story forward.
One of the game's most notable features is the ability to choose from five pilots and five helicopters. Each aircraft differs in speed, armor, ammunition capacity, and weaponry, while the agents' profiles add an extra narrative dimension. The protagonists harbor personal rivalries with several of Giger's lieutenants, giving certain confrontations a dramatic weight that goes beyond simple combat. This blend of action and character dynamics helps distinguish *Helicops* from other arcade flight titles of the era.
The arsenal includes cannons and various types of rockets, with plentiful ammunition for engaging both aerial and ground targets. Controls can be handled via keyboard, joystick, or other compatible devices, though maneuvering requires a learning curve: piloting, orienting oneself, aiming, and managing altitude are not always intuitive. The experience leans closer to an arcade-style aerial shooter than a realistic simulation, yet it retains enough complexity to require familiarity with each aircraft and the specific demands of the missions.
With its 3D graphics, cinematic sequences, and sci-fi setting, *Helicops* reflects the mid-90s PC trend of bringing aerial combat into polygonal environments. Its single-player campaign offers a variety of objectives and enemies, while certain versions and contemporary references also mention networked multiplayer options. The result is a unique blend of action, flight, and futuristic drama, particularly appealing to those who enjoy the technological and narrative experiments characteristic of the 1997 PC era.
