I don’t think any other iPhone/iPad game had much chatter and high expectations than this game, but how good is this game (if at all)?

Chopper 2

You’ve seen the tech demos here and here. You’ve played the original Chopper. If you’re hoping for the best side scrolling game for your iPhone and iPad, look no further. Chopper 2 proves well damn worth the pre-release hype. Find out why!

Presentation

Chopper 2 is universal, and comes ready for all devices. With HD graphics for the iPhone 4 retina display or iPad, or to view on your TV via a VGA cable, it looks great on all devices. Chopper 2 has an array of locations, modeled against real life landscapes like Mt St Helen.

A nice added touch for Chopper 2 is the hovering animated text reminiscent of the captions on tv shows like Fringe and Heroes. These little pop/ups tell you about the levels and really gives the game a unique look and feel.

Controls

Chopper 2 has a handful of ways to control it. On iPad and iPhone, you can choose from either tilt, or touch controls. My favorite control method however, is using my iPhone to control the game on my iPad. Since Chopper 2 is universal, I can just install the game on both devices, without the need of an additional app. You can then control the game from your phone using BlueTooth. It’s my preferred control method and works out great.

For the controls, you can tilt your device to move the chopper left, right, up, and down. A laser pointer on the tip of the chopper will help you aim for you target. You can tap anywhere and slide up and down to use the machine gun / adjust the angle. As for the bombs, buttons will show on the side, tap them to use them. The missile will land wherever the laser is pointed at the moment you fire, while the regular bomb will drop down.

Gameplay

The original Chopper was a side-scrolling chopper shooter. The sequel, Chopper 2, is just that, but with loads of improvements. Your missions vary from escorting a general to a safe location, to rescuing hostages, to destroying an enemies location. Your chopper is equipped (err, gets equipped with) with a machine gun, missiles, and bombs.

One of the things that will catch your immediately is how the instructions for the mission are handed to you. In a cut scene moving through the level, instructions are displayed on the background, a-la Splinter Cell. The enemies get harder and harder. You start off with just soldiers, but eventually soldiers with bazookas, tanks, and other enemies start to surface, and it becomes challenging to avoid the missiles.

At its core Chopper 2 is a simple gameplay core, but can be tons of fun. With lots of innovative features regular apps don’t have on the AppStore, Chopper 2 is a great purchase no matter on what device you’re on.

Suggestions

I’m not looking for a serious, spot-on physics for the game, but there’s one thing that bothers me. The bombs (not the missiles, the ones that drop straight down), can be VERY off-target if you move even a bit. You have to be perfectly still or the bomb will land a mile away from your target. I just wish the physics were a bit more realistic for this part, like with the rest of the game.

Conclusion

Chopper 2 is a simple game, but sometimes the simplest things in life are the best. Chopper 2 is a great game for either your phone or iPad, or in this case, for both at the same time. The AppStore classic has returned and is better than ever. I recommend you pick it up and take advantage of the introductory price.

If there was any game worthy and should charge for both an iPhone AND iPad version, Chopper 2 is a prime candidate. Instead, Majic Jungle is offering you an INSANE deal, so I would stop dilly dallying around and just purchase this game already.