Choplifter! is a side-scrolling action/arcade game that puts the player in command of an attack chopper. The mission: Go behind enemy lines and rescue up to 64 hostages. However, the chopper can only carry 16 passengers at a time, so several rescue attempts must be made to rescue everyone. Be careful, though, because tanks and enemy aircraft will try to stop you - and they won't stop shooting while the rescuing of hostages is going on.
The gameplay in Choplifter! involves navigating through levels, rescuing hostages, and avoiding enemies. The chopper can collect fuel by returning safely with hostages, and the goal is to rescue at least 20 hostages per level to complete it. The game also features a scoring system and new enemy units.
The Sega Master System version of Choplifter! has six levels, with three repeating backgrounds, but with no city rooftops level available. It removes the fuel system and requires 40 out of 48 hostages to be rescued per level. The gameplay remains largely the same as the original arcade version.