I understand that Wii VC games are not as easy as just slapping some code together and getting it to run on Wii. Actually, it is. There might be a few controller tweaks here and there, but all in all, not really that challenging, especially when compared to a full on development of a brand new title.

So, it’s really puzzling to me that Nintendo has not released more classic Sega Master System, NES, SNES, TG-16, or N64 titles. Classic games on Wii VC are slower than N64 ones came out.

You remember don’t you? The old battle cry during N64 days of having more quality titles than PS1. Unfortunately, those arguments for Wii VC don’t work for me because Wii VC is meant for back titles. So WTF??? Why aren’t there more VC games? It just doesn’t make sense.

Especially when the library is full of awesome games like Choplifter. Really. The SMS version was the arcade version brought home. Very little was loss in the translation. The graphics and sound were spot on, except for maybe a little lagging in the bass department. You could tweak that of course, if you were geek enough to run your SMS through a stereo.

Conceptually, it’s simple. You’re a chopper pilot tasked with saving captured guys behind enemy lines. Oh, and you do pass enemy lines. Blow up the enemy base and your guys come running out. Land your chopper safely (too fast and you will crash)….don’t forget not to crush your guys…do so and they’re toast. While you’re on the ground enemy aircraft are flying all around you and the tanks and jeeps come in for the kill. They’ll shoot you or your guys. You’ll need to cover yourself to survive.

Did I mention the enemy SAMs, alien like spaceships, and jet planes all gunning for you?

Pick-up your guys and land them back to base, with all the baddies still after you.

This game is quirky animation at it’s best. Your guys wave you down or end up in a pile of guts when you land on ‘em or get toasted by enemy fire. If you get toasted, well, your chopper comes down in a flaming heap of glory.

Controls are Choplifter are excellent. In the arcades sometimes you got a unit where the controls were real slippery from an overused joystick…umm..yeah…I think I’ll leave that one alone.

At home, the D-pad controls were tight and your chopper responded well. You really had to lean on the left or right pad, but once you did, you picked up an appropriate amount of speed. Of course, you had to pull back to slow down or you’d crash into the ground or in-coming enemy fire.

Still, the controls really felt like you were flying a chopper. Remember when you first played Comanche Maximum Overkill or the first time you picked up a remote control mini-chopper? It feels just like that.

Button wise you had a turn button as well as fire button. Turning allowed you to land right so you could pick-up guys, but also shoot down ground targets in the foreground. Yup. Choplifter’s enemies have depth, which is pretty freakin’ cool for an 8-bit title (even for the arcades at the time).

Combine music, sounds, controls, and graphics, and I still scratch my head as to why Nintendo doesn’t strike a deal to get this little title on the Wii VC library.

Still, if you’ve got the jones, you can find this title out in the world of emulation (for demo purposes only, of course!). The SMS version is in my opinion, the best home conversion of Choplifter. The colors, sounds, and tight controls all scream near perfect arcade translation.

Why hold your breath for Nintendo?

(Editor’s Note: Seriously, Nintendo, if you made this title available, we wouldn’t have to go around you, now would we?)

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