Helicopter Escape (Android)

 WHAT IS IT?

“Helicopter Escape” is an action game in which you’re stationed in a helicopter (hence the name). However, you are not the one attempting to do the escaping: Most levels consist of protecting a running human by blasting the hordes of creatures attempting to attack them. Other levels find you circling a building, taking out a tower full of baddies level by level. 

UI

I'm consistently shocked at just how in-depth many mobile games are. There are often menus and submenus, separate "event" menus and side menus, "free upgrade" menus...sometimes it's easy to get lost in all the various options.

Somewhat refreshingly, "Helicopter Escape" is devoid of these confusing navigational issues. Playing the game is straightforward, requiring just a single click upon startup to continue where you left off. Seeing your helicopter skins, avatar, and weapons are also easily navigatable from the main screen. Ditto that for the additional "events", which are prominently displayed from the game's initial menu and reachable with a single tap of the display.

Unfortunately, the game's simple user interface comes at the expense of a complete lack of variety.

GAMEPLAY

There are two types of levels in "Helicopter Escape", and only two types of levels. The typical one involves attemping to save damsels in distress by shooting at creatures attempting to kill the running woman (or "women") from the safety of your own helicopter. The level is completed when the female makes her escape by jumping onto the helicopter's landing gear, allowing it to fly away to safety. Failure occurs when one of the monsters manages to make contact with the innocent character.

While the game runs semi-fast and frantic, it does "slow down" into a near bullet-time mode when a bad guy gets close to the would-be victim. In these moments, exclamation points appear above the closest creature, giving the player extra time to aim and fire. This is a welcome addition, although one that makes an already easy game even easier.

The "skyscraper" levels are fun...at first.

Interspersed with the "escape" levels are the "skyscraper" levels. In these, the player is still stationed in a helicopter, but the person they are trying to save is themself. The 'copter circles around the perimeter of the building, slowly revealing bad guys in each room. "Bullet time" is then activated, giving the player time to pick off the unsuspecting baddies before they are noticed. If the evil henchmen notice the player, exclamation points appear above their head. This means they are about to fire back. But the slowness of the action - along with the fast response time of the controls - means these levels are still far too easy.

These levels are initially the most fun, but like everything else in the game, quickly degrades into mind-melting monotony after about the tenth time.

GAME MODES

Like many action games, “Helicopter Escape” offers up a few different “events” and “game modes”. But unlike many games, none of them stray from the core gameplay. Not even a little bit.

For example, at the time of this writing there is a “robot” event going on. But that just means instead of shooting aliens or zombies, you’ll be shooting robots. It’s still the same side-scrolling levels with the same exact mechanics as any other level. A previous event was based on the “Matrix” games, featuring the player blasting loads of agents, while the defenseless running characters were “good guys” from the movie franchise.

Robot "event".

In other words, while there are “technically” other game modes, none are actually different game modes. It’s just the same ol’ thing presented in a slightly more unique way.

GRAPHICS

The graphics are cutesy.

The graphics are “light” and “playful” given the subject matter. While there’s the constant threat from waves of menacing monsters, it’s never scary; the action aspects are the focal point over everything else. The guns are also cartoony and over-the-top; some might be based in reality, but they’re generally given “flame” skins or other cosmetics additions that make them less “threatening” than real firearms.

It should be noted that the game does contain blood, by default. This can be turned off in settings. Like the rest of the game, it’s not flagrant or too excessive: a brief “splatter” shoots out once a baddie is struck and quickly dissipates. It should also be noted the blood is only red when facing human enemies. Shooting zombies results in green splashes while robots spew out black “oil”. It’s nothing that would be uncomfortable for most teens, though it would likely be too much for younger kids.

There's blood, but it's not excessive.

AUDIO

Much like the game, the audio is thin and monotonous. The music sounds like it was taken from the public domain and adds nothing to the experience. The gun sounds are tinny and unrealistic. I guess both are kind of in line with the cartoonish graphics, but they certainly don’t create any sort of fun - or lasting - atmosphere.

The explosions sound like basic explosions, and each fallen creature elicits a generic “uh” or “oh” upon getting hit. Since there’s no “story”, there’s no spoken dialogue, either. This is one of many mobile games that you can play with the sound off and miss nothing. This can be a good thing when playing in public, but a not-so-great thing when you’re looking for a more immersive experience.

AD LOAD/ GREED LEVEL

The ad levels are a little overabundant. There are skippable ads (after around 5 seconds) following each round, which run around a minute in length. Free upgrades and bonuses require the viewing of a non-skippable thirty second ad. This is pretty standard for a free mobile game.

It's nice to be greeted by an ad first thing.

In addition to that, there are pop-ups for upgrades that require real cash immediately upon "booting" the game. It's presented in the "sale" format seen above. This is the equivalent of a "high-pressure" sales pitch, as it makes people think they might miss out if they don't purchase it right away. I can tell you from experience that no upgrades are even remotely necessary.

I made it to level 230 (no judging, please) without even feeling the need to spend a dime. Many of the "improvements" (outfit, helicopter) are purely cosmetic. Hell, given the near pointlessness of weapon upgrades, one could argue that even the gun upgrades are purely visual. The higher the weapon level, the more bullets shoot out at once, which sounds like it makes them more powerful. But since most enemies take just one hit to kill, and there's no "cooldown" period between shots, they don't offer any extra noticeable damage.

Ads are apparently stapled to the bottom at all times.

Arguably the most egregious example of the game's ad load can be found plastered at the bottom of the in-game screen. There's an omnipresent "banner" that runs the entirety of every level. I have to admit that I never even noticed it until I took screenshots. I also must admit that not once did I ever accidentally tap on one during gameplay. After all, the action takes place well above that area. So while it's far enough out of the way that it's not much of a distraction, it's still an added tactic I don't think I've ever seen in another mobile game. One that I would go so far as to label "excessive."

So the ad tolerance will mostly depend on how obsessed the player is with acquiring upgraded cash and skins. At first, I watched a few videos to get extra money so I could upgrade my guns quicker. Until I eventually realized none of it mattered. After that, I was able to cruise through levels with minimal ad intrusion. And while some gamers who strive to have the “best of the best” might feel compelled to spend some cash, it’s nowhere near necessary to progress.

There are some pretty expensive, completely unnecessary upgrade options.

CONTROLS

The controls are very responsive. Firing the gun consists of tapping the screen where you want the bullets to go. Since you’ll be firing loads of bullets at large waves of baddies, you’ll be furiously tapping the screen. And the bullets go exactly where you tap, as many times as you tap it.

This actually leads me to the conclusion that the controls are almost too responsive. No matter which weapon you’re using, the bullets always go exactly where you want them to. That might sound like a good thing, but it’s one of many things that make upgrading guns pretty well pointless. You would think lower level weaponry would be less accurate at first, and then get more and more accurate with each upgrade. But that’s not the case here. 

At any rate, I’d still give the controls pretty high marks, as there’s no lag in between tapping and waiting for your gun to fire. It’s actually kind of impressive; probably the most stand-out aspect of the entire game.

FUN

Here’s one area where the score takes a hit; it’s just not that fun. Actually, let me rephrase that: It’s fun for a very short while. Until you realize that every level - and event - is more or less the same and that nothing really matters. While some may enjoy “upgrading” their helicopter skins, there’s ultimately no point to it. Even the more expensive helicopter upgrades are just that: skins. They don’t provide any stat upgrades or other useful powerups.

Any single screenshot can more or less sum up the entire game.

Same with the guns, something I feel I’ve already harped on at length. Just out of curiosity, I went and played level 220 with a “weaker” gun; the first one I acquired beyond the initial “default” gun. I still beat the level with no problems. If that doesn’t prove the pointlessness of enhancing weaponry, I don’t know what else possibly could.

I kept playing the game as long as I did out of sheer boredom: I was sick and wanted a way to pass some time. It definitely did that, but by the end I was often more bored than I was before I started. What does that equal…negative fun? I won’t go that far, but let’s just say there’s very little in the way of replayability. And that is, without question, its biggest downfall.

IN CONCLUSION

The graphics are cartoony and somewhat appealing, and the game is fun…for about ten minutes. Then, the reality of limited game modes and ultra-repetitive gameplay sets in, along with pointless upgrades that don’t add any excitement whatsoever. If you’re just looking for a way to kill time over a short period of time - a doctor’s waiting office, for example - this could give you what you’re looking for. Anything beyond that, and there’s not enough here to create any sort of lasting interest.

OVERALL: 2.5/10.