Helicopter Escape 3D

The whole game rests on a single idea. You fly a helicopter above a hostage who is running for safety, and you shoot everything chasing her. Zombies, gangsters, henchmen and armed combatants all come after her, and a stray shot at the hostage herself counts against you.

When zombies close in at a critical moment, time slows so you can line up shots. Once she is clear, she leaps into your helicopter in slow motion.

Levels alternate between rooftop zombie chases and attacks on buildings full of armed enemies, where you clear one floor after another. Some enemies shoot back, so you can activate a shield before starting a level. Explosives and other objects in the scene can take out several enemies at once.

Finishing levels pays for upgrades to your guns, outfit and helicopter. You move through the districts of the city toward boss levels that give extra rewards. Weapons range from pistols and shotguns to assault rifles, SMGs and rocket launchers. Occasional bonus levels swap in odd ammunition such as cats, sheep and paint.

Google Play shows 8 screenshots, and the game leans on cinematic camera angles and a tense soundtrack.

Helicopter Escape 3D has little in common with the party and arcade titles listed beside it. Stumble Guys, Aquapark.io and Snake.io are built around racing or competing against other players. Subway Surfers City is an endless runner, and Level Devil is a trick-based platformer.

Kick the Buddy is the closest in mood, since it also lets you cause chaos with weapons. The difference here is structure: you follow a progression through city districts with upgrades and bosses, and you protect a character instead of attacking a target.

The game is distributed through Google Play by SayGames Ltd, whose website lists a privacy policy and terms of use. It carries an Everyone 10+ content rating. Expect ads and optional in-app purchases, and review the permissions Google Play shows before installing version 1.18.32.