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-25% OFF

Heli-Cats

$14.99 $11.24
Release Date:
Developer:
DrearyWeary
Publisher:
DrearyWeary
Platforms:
Windows Mac
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About This Game


With the world facing a desperate energy and economic crisis, rogue forces have launched a coordinated assault on a weakened allied order. Unable to respond directly under the fragile political climate, the Joint Security Alliance has turned to a special helicopter squadron known as the Heli-Cats. Their mission is to repel the invaders under the guise of a local paramilitary unit such that all actions can be disavowed should things go wrong.



Take control of pilots “Tiger” and “Lynx”, either together in a single helicopter or individually in two machines, as they battle their way through enemy lines and uncover the reasons behind the instigations.







Push the elevation button to switch between high and low elevations.

High projectiles are yellow and low ones are red. (The color combo can be changed as an option.)
Ammo can only damage targets of the same elevation for both players and enemies.
So while traditionally unavoidable enemy fire can now be rendered completely safe, players must still put themselves in harm's way in order to defeat enemies.



Tapping the shot button fires a burst of normal ammo.
Hitting and destroying enemies with a normal shot increases the focus counter.

Holding the shot button fires a more powerful focus shot that consumes the focus counter.
Some enemies also shoot lighter colored missile-shaped focus ammo that are greater in quantity but slower in speed.

Use the focus shot to cancel them and break through the barrage with ease.



Regular enemies destroyed with the focus shot drop orbs.
Collecting them fills the level gauge and powers up both normal and focus shots when the next level is reached.

The green power gauge that appears depletes only when normal shots are used. The player goes down a level when out of power.
Stay at the maximum level by replenishing the power gauge with more orbs.



Scoring in Heli-Cats is very simple. Survivability and score potential are at opposite ends of the difficulty spectrum.

Survivability: High, Score: Low
  • Power up often
  • Keep away from enemies
  • Use the focus shot regularly
  • Bomb often

Survivability: Low, Score: High
  • Avoid powering up
  • Shoot enemies at very close range
  • Avoid using the focus shot
  • Avoid using bombs

Players have to find the right balance on this difficulty scale and adjust their strategy according to skill level. Knowing when to utilize these systems is the key to victory!

Check out the community hub news section to find out more details about the various aspects of the game.


  • Dual elevation gameplay allows an extra layer of strategy to avoid enemy fire
  • Local co-op
  • 2 initial helicopters to choose from (more can be unlocked with progress)
  • 8 arcade stages (2 more can be unlocked under special conditions)
  • Includes Novice Mode for beginners of shoot'em ups
  • Multiple endings depending on performance and uncovered secrets
  • In-game credits system that unlocks new modes, upgrades, and customization of the game
  • Fully assignable gamepad and keyboard button controls

Screenshots

User Reviews

Mixed
4 user reviews
50%
Positive
3 hrs at review
Not Recommended

Cannot recommend at present. Unfortunately, the central mechanic goes like this: - Rapid shot kills raise a gauge that allows focussed fire - Focussed fire drains the gauge to produce items on kill - Items increase your shot power level to a max of Level 3 - Rapid shot then gradually decreases your power level, so start again... In other words you 'do' the mechanic repeatedly just to power up. Boss fights do not contain any way to produce items, so you drain all your power during the fight. I don't think there is any scoring element/advantage to this loop, but would be delighted to be wrong about that. Game runs smoothly and the 'height' mechanic is interesting, so I hope more scoring fun gets injected in future. Shot power level could give a score multiplier at the very least...

7 helpful
2 hrs at review
Recommended

Ketsui: Euro arrange

3 helpful 3 funny
1 hrs at review
Recommended

Honestly I'm impressed with this game. It's like Touhou, Twin Eagle II, and Strikers 1999 had a threesome and this is their love child. The visuals and the music is great. The gameplay is simple and easy to learn and the altitude mechanic works well and actually adds strategy to the overall gameplay experience. I only have 4 issues to bring up but these are not deal breakers at all, just merely observations for areas of improvement. [u][b] No Sub-Weapons [/b][/u] Many top down shooters have sub weapons for your unit. The Strikers series is a perfect example. Whether it's guided missiles or free flight rockets or lasers, having some sort of sub-weapon is a GOOD thing to have especially when you're dealing with with hordes of enemies coming at you. There's no sub-weapons here, all you have is your normal shot and even though you have a focus shot, the normal and focus shot is honestly not enough and isn't gonna cut it. The player is immediately and permanently handicapped. [u][b] Char...

1 helpful

System Requirements

Minimum

Minimum:
  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10 64-bit
  • Processor: Intel 3rd generation Core (Ivy Bridge) or AMD equivalent
  • Memory: 4 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 2500
  • Storage: 150 MB available space

Recommended

Recommended:
  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system

FAQ

How much does Heli-Cats cost?

Heli-Cats costs $11.24. Currently 25% off!

What are the system requirements for Heli-Cats?

Minimum: Minimum: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: Windows 10 64-bit Processor: Intel 3rd generation Core (Ivy Bridge) or AMD equivalent Memory: 4 GB RAM Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 2500 Storage: 150 MB available space Recommended: Recommended: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system

What platforms is Heli-Cats available on?

Heli-Cats is available on Windows PC, macOS.

Is Heli-Cats worth buying?

Heli-Cats has 50% positive reviews from 4 players.

When was Heli-Cats released?

Heli-Cats was released on Nov 13, 2023.

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