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''Space Harrier'' was originally made for the [[video arcade|arcade]]s, and later saw [[porting|ports]] to many home game systems. ''Space Harrier''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s release on the [[Sega Master System]] is notable, as there were two versions: one was just like the arcade, while the other, entitled ''[[Space Harrier 3-D]]'' was actually a sequel.
''Space Harrier'' was originally made for the [[video arcade|arcade]]s, and later saw [[porting|ports]] to many home game systems. ''Space Harrier''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s release on the [[Sega Master System]] is notable, as there were two versions: one was just like the arcade, while the other, entitled ''[[Space Harrier 3-D]]'' was actually a sequel.


It was one of the first arcade games to use [[History of video game consoles (fourth generation)|16-bit graphics]] and Sega's "Super Scaler" technology that allowed [[2.5D|pseudo-3D]] [[Sprite (computer graphics)#Move to 3D|sprite-scaling]] at high [[frame rate]]s,<ref>[http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/974/974695p3.html IGN Presents the History of SEGA: World War], [[IGN]]</ref> with the ability to scale as many as 32,000 [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]] and fill a moving landscape with them,<ref>Bernard Perron & Mark J. P. Wolf (2008), ''Video game theory reader two'', p. 157, [[Taylor & Francis]], ISBN 041596282X</ref> along with over [[Highcolor|32,000 colours]] displayed simultaneously on the screen. It also introduced a true [[Analog stick|analog]] [[Joystick|flight stick]] for movement, with the ability to register movement in any direction as well measure the degree of push, which could move the [[player character]] at different speeds depending on how far the stick is pushed in a certain direction.<ref>[http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/906/906935p2.html Space Harrier Retrospective (Page 2)], [[IGN]]</ref> The game was also an early example of a [[third-person shooter]].<ref>[http://www.gamezone.com/editorials/item/sega_franchises_that_deserve_the_platinum_games_treatment/ Top 10 Sega Franchises That Deserve Platinum Treatment], [[GameZone]]</ref>
It was one of the first arcade games to use [[History of video game consoles (fourth generation)|16-bit graphics]] and Sega's "Super Scaler" technology that allowed [[2.5D|pseudo-3D]] [[Sprite (computer graphics)#Move to 3D|sprite-scaling]] at high [[frame rate]]s,<ref>[http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/974/974695p3.html IGN Presents the History of SEGA: World War], [[IGN]]</ref> with the ability to scale as many as 32,000 [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]] and fill a moving landscape with them,<ref>Bernard Perron & Mark J. P. Wolf (2008), ''Video game theory reader two'', p. 157, [[Taylor & Francis]], ISBN 041596282X</ref> along with over [[Highcolor|32,000 colours]] displayed simultaneously on the screen. It also introduced a true [[Analog stick|analog]] [[Joystick|flight stick]] for movement, with the ability to register movement in any direction as well measure the degree of push, which could move the [[player character]] at different speeds depending on how far the stick is pushed in a certain direction.<ref>[http://uk.retro.ign.com/articles/906/906935p2.html Space Harrier Retrospective (Page 2)], [[IGN]]</ref> The game was also an early example of a [[third-person shooter]];<ref>[http://www.gamezone.com/editorials/item/sega_franchises_that_deserve_the_platinum_games_treatment/ Top 10 Sega Franchises That Deserve Platinum Treatment], [[GameZone]]</ref> it was influenced by the earlier 1982 Sega game ''[[Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom]]'', and ''Space Harrier'' in turn influenced later 3D shooters such as [[Nintendo]]'s ''[[Star Fox (video game)|Star Fox]]'' in 1993.<ref>{{allgame|2613|Star Fox}}</ref>


== Gameplay ==
== Gameplay ==

Revision as of 22:59, 27 March 2011

Space Harrier
European arcade flyer of Space Harrier.
European arcade flyer of Space Harrier.
Developer(s)Sega-AM2
Publisher(s)Sega
Designer(s)Yu Suzuki
Platform(s)Arcade, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Game Boy Advance, Game Gear, Nintendo Famicom, PlayStation 2, Sega 32X, Sega Master System, Sega Saturn, TurboGrafx-16, Virtual Console, ZX Spectrum
ReleaseOctober 1985, 1986 (Arcade)
Virtual Console
Master System
VC Arcade
Genre(s)Rail shooter
Third-person shooter
Mode(s)Single player
Arcade systemUnique

Space Harrier (スペースハリアー) is a third-person rail shooter game, released by Sega in 1985. It was produced by Yu Suzuki, responsible for many popular Sega games. It spawned several sequels: Space Harrier 3-D (1988), Space Harrier II (1988), and the spin-off Planet Harriers (2001).

Space Harrier was originally made for the arcades, and later saw ports to many home game systems. Space Harrier's release on the Sega Master System is notable, as there were two versions: one was just like the arcade, while the other, entitled Space Harrier 3-D was actually a sequel.

It was one of the first arcade games to use 16-bit graphics and Sega's "Super Scaler" technology that allowed pseudo-3D sprite-scaling at high frame rates,[1] with the ability to scale as many as 32,000 sprites and fill a moving landscape with them,[2] along with over 32,000 colours displayed simultaneously on the screen. It also introduced a true analog flight stick for movement, with the ability to register movement in any direction as well measure the degree of push, which could move the player character at different speeds depending on how far the stick is pushed in a certain direction.[3] The game was also an early example of a third-person shooter;[4] it was influenced by the earlier 1982 Sega game Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom, and Space Harrier in turn influenced later 3D shooters such as Nintendo's Star Fox in 1993.[5]

Gameplay

Space Harrier is set in the "Fantasy Zone", a surreal world composed of bright colors and a checkerboard-styled ground. The enemies are also unique, featuring prehistoric animals, Chinese dragons, and alien pods. The player is forced along the levels, running or flying around enemy fire, while shooting back with fireballs via the character's under-arm cannon (which doubles as a rocket-esque device allowing the character to fly). The character graphics are sprite-based, though the level backgrounds are pseudo-3D.

The arcade version of Space Harrier used digitized voices. When starting the first level, for example, you would be greeted with "Welcome to the fantasy zone!; Get ready!". After defeating a boss, the player is assured that "You're doing great!"
Like After Burner, Space Harrier was among the first (perhaps the very first) arcade game to feature a console in which the player sits, and which moves according to the joystick movement. There is also a non-moving sit-down version and a standard upright version.
The arcade version has a total of 18 levels, each containing a boss at the end. Three exceptions are the bonus levels (5th and 12th), and the 18th level, which is a boss rush containing some of the bosses encountered up to that point.

The 3-D Battles of World Runner by Square bears more than a slight resemblance to the game. Even more similar is Pony Canyon's parody, Animal Attack Academy in which a Japanese schoolgirl fights Australian animals in nearly identical gameplay.[6]

Ports

The game was translated to various home computer systems and consoles. Among these, the ports for the Sega 32X, the Sega Saturn and the Sharp X68000 (the latter being a Japan-only) are considered to be the most faithful to the original arcade version.

The game is also playable on the Dreamcast (within Shenmue, Shenmue II and Yu Suzuki Game Works Vol. 1) and Xbox (within Shenmue II). It is included in Sega Arcade Gallery for the Game Boy Advance and the Sega Classics Collection (a compilation DVD including other games from the same era that were remade for modern audiences, to negligible success in the US, but to big success in Japan) for the PlayStation 2.

Space Harrier II for the Sega Genesis was released for Nintendo's Virtual Console on December 18, 2006 while the first Space Harrier for the Sega Master System was released in Europe on October 17, 2008 and in North America on November 3, 2008.[7] The arcade version was released on the Virtual Console in Japan on March 26, 2009, in the PAL regions on May 29, 2009 and in North America on June 15, 2009.[8]

The arcade version of Space Harrier is available as an unlockable game in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles. The port suffers from a few sound issues, such as off-pitch voices and music.

Notable ports

  • Space Harrier Complete Collection. This collection offers the arcade version of Space Harrier, Space Harrier II, the Sega Master System version of Space Harrier and Space Harrier 3D. Also included as an easter egg was the Game Gear version of the game. It was released for the PlayStation 2 as the 20th volume of Sega Ages.

Complete series

References

  1. ^ IGN Presents the History of SEGA: World War, IGN
  2. ^ Bernard Perron & Mark J. P. Wolf (2008), Video game theory reader two, p. 157, Taylor & Francis, ISBN 041596282X
  3. ^ Space Harrier Retrospective (Page 2), IGN
  4. ^ Top 10 Sega Franchises That Deserve Platinum Treatment, GameZone
  5. ^ Template:Allgame
  6. ^ Arcade - NES - Attack Animal Academy • Every Video Game • Play Nintendo NES games online free
  7. ^ "Two WiiWare Games and One Virtual Console Game Added to Wii Shop Channel". Nintendo of America. 2008-11-03. Retrieved 2008-11-09.
  8. ^ "Mario Calculates the Time Needed to Catch Toasted Rainbows in Space". Nintendo of America. 2009-06-15. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
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