Product: Chopper Alley
Publisher: ZioSoft
Web Site: http://www.ziosoft.com
Category: Game – Arcade Action
Price: $19.95

Requirements: Pocket PC:
Casio Cassiopeia E-115, E-125, EM-500, E-200
HP Jornada 540 and 560 series
Compaq IPAQ 3600, 3700, and 3800 series
NTT Docomo G-Fort
UR There @migo
Toshiba Genio

Software:
Microsoft ActiveSync
Desktop Windows 95 / 98 / Me / 2000 / NT 4.x

Pocket PC OS:
Windows CE 3.x for Pocket PC
Pocket PC 2002

Pocket PC CPU:
MIPS / SH3 / StrongArm

Color:
65K / 4096 Colors

Storage Memory:
4.5MB of RAM

Having worked on a few flight simulations for the PC, I have always been a fan of aerial simulation games. Now comes Chopper Alley published by Zio Interactive. Trying to create a flight combat game on the PC is very difficult. Making one on the Pocket PC is extremely difficult. With the limited screen, memory, storage, and input system of a Pocket PC, creating a true experience is quite a challenge. Choppy Alley is fun and challenging, but it is not a simulation. It is however, an enjoyable action game.

Chopper Alley is a game with a long history. Developed by Amazing Games, it went through a long list of versions, bugs, design faults, and was re-released a number of time. The game has finally reached a final release form and is now being published by Zio Interactive. Lets focus on this latest version.

Version 1.5e has a lot of improvements and is very stable. The basic features are:

1. 6 Choppers – Bell H13, Huey Uh1b, Super Cobra, Apache, SeaKing, and Ka27.
2. 8 Weapons – Machine Guns, Sidewinder air-to-air rocket, Maverick air-to-ground rocket, Light Rocket Pod, Heavy Rocket Pod, Sidewinder, Maverick Pod, and fuel drop tanks for extended range.
3. 5 Sceneries (unique location, environment, and weather/sky)
4. 25 Missions (air combat, ground attacks, stealth, and rescue operations)
5. Portrait and Landscape mode available.
6. Highly detailed scrolling 2D map
7. Snapshot is available at the touch of a button to save a screenshot.
8. Configurable - adjust draw distance, image quality and other options to balance speed and graphic quality.

Visually the game is impressive on a Pocket PC. Using 3D voxel technology, it really gives a true feel for the landscape, but is very pixilated at close range. The sound effects are basic and do not enhance the gameplay. The main problems I had were the lack of ability to customize the controls and the lack of a radar system. It can be very difficult to find your targets and complete your mission objectives. The menus are slow to load, but once the games starts then everything moves quickly. Controlling the game using the buttons and stylus can be quite a challenge, but after 20 minutes it seems natural.

This can be a fun and challenging action game, but it will take lots of practice. I enjoyed playing Chopper Alley and, if you are looking for an aerial combat game, I think you may as well.

Rating: 3.0 out of 5 Stars.

--Harvey Lee