Tiger-Heli NES box art

Nintendo Entertainment System · Shoot 'em Up

Tiger-Heli

Deep cut

SystemNintendo Entertainment System
Released1986 (originally 1985)
GenreShoot 'em Up
DeveloperToaplan
PublisherAcclaim
Players1–2 players
CommitmentQuick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
SeriesTwin Cobra
LegacyDeep cut · legacy score 3

Tiger-Heli is a shoot 'em up released in 1986 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, developed by Toaplan and published by Acclaim. This NES release is a port or adaptation of a game that first appeared in 1985.

It came out in the NES's second year on the market. Other notable NES releases from 1986 include Arkanoid, Metroid and Dragon Quest.

It is part of the Twin Cobra series; on the NES you can also try Twin Cobra. The series also appears on other systems with Tiger-Heli (PS1) and Twin Cobra (PS1). Toaplan also made Snow Bros.: Nick and Tom and Rally Bike for the NES.

Tiger-Heli supports up to 2 players, whether that means taking turns or going head-to-head.

Pick it if…

  • you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
  • you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
  • you have a friend to play against
  • you've played the NES hits and want something less obvious

Maybe skip it if…

  • you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets

What playing Tiger-Heli is like

Shoot 'em ups (shmups) put you in a ship facing waves of enemies and bullets. Runs are short and intense, and the goal is to survive, collect power-ups and push your high score.

Tip for newcomers: Focus on your ship's small hitbox rather than the flood of bullets, and learn which power-ups suit each stage. Most shmups are designed to be replayed many times.

Tiger-Heli gameplay screenshot on NES
In-game screenshot (NES)

Tiger-Heli cheats & codes

51 codes on file (Game Genie, Other codes). Here are a few Game Genie codes to start with:

Don't Take DamageSZSYAEGK
Infinite Lives (1-Player Game)SLXLGNVS
Start With 2 Lives (1-Player Game)AEUUYTZA
Start With 9 Lives (1-Player Game)AEUUYTZE
Start With 6 Lives (Player 1 In A 2-Player Game)IASUYYZA
Start With 9 Lives (Player 1 In A 2-Player Game)AASUYYZE

See all Tiger-Heli cheats

Tiger-Heli walkthroughs & guides

Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Tiger-Heli.

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Galaga NES · 1985 · Shoot 'em Up Classic

Playing NES games today

NES games are short on paper but often famously tough, so expect to replay levels and learn patterns. Many first-party titles are available through Nintendo Switch Online, original cartridges remain easy to find, and you can play backups of games you own in an emulator such as Rec0m88.

Tiger-Heli FAQ

When did Tiger-Heli come out on the NES?

Tiger-Heli was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986; the original game dates back to 1985.

Who made Tiger-Heli?

It was developed by Toaplan and published by Acclaim.

Is Tiger-Heli multiplayer?

Yes. Tiger-Heli supports up to 2 players.

How long does Tiger-Heli take to play?

As a shoot 'em up, Tiger-Heli typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.

Read more about Tiger-Heli on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.

Not sure? Let the Matrix pick for you