Space Harrier

Arcade Video game published 39 years ago by SEGA Enterprises, Ltd.

Listed in MAME

Info

Space Harrier © 1985 Sega.

Space Harrier is a sprite-scaling 3D shoot-em-up set in the 'Fantasy Zone'; a surreal world composed of abstract structures and a checkerboard landscape. The game's enemies are as abstract as its setting; with creatures including prehistoric Mammoths, alien pods, giant mushrooms and, at the end of most stages, a huge, fireball-spitting Chinese Dragon.

The player's on-screen counterpart carries a portable jetpack under his arm which allows him to fly. The player can also run along the ground to avoid overhead structures and enemies.

In addition to its flight capability, the jetpack is also equipped with a laser, used to destroy both the game's many enemies as well as some (but not all) obstructions, such as the trees and floating rocks on the first stage.

Space Harrier has a total of 18 stages, each with a boss fight at the end. Three exceptions are the bonus stages (5th and 12th) and the 18th stage, which is a 'boss rush' featuring some of the bosses encountered up to that point.

Click to enlarge
(members only)

TECHNICAL/MACHINE PICT.

123

[1] [Sit-Down model]

[2] [Rolling model]

[3] [Upright model]

Players : 1
Control : stick
Buttons : 3 (FIRE, FIRE, FIRE)

TRIVIA

Space Harrier was released in October 1985 in Japan.

The pioneer 3-D shooting game realized by a high speed 3-D processing. The first full-color CG graphics in Japan and a beautiful BGM supported by a FM sound system that gave a great impact to the arcade scene in 1985.

In an early version of the game before it was released, the player controlled a spaceship instead of a flying man with a gun.

Sountracks:
[JP] Dec. ??, 1987 - Sega Taikan Game Special [28XA-198]
[JP] Oct. 17, 1997 - Yu-Suzuki produce Hang-On / Space Harrier [MJCAX-00001]

Library:
[JP] Jan. 10, 1989 - Space Harrier - White Dragon no Yuusha [Bouken Game Book]

Click to see more
(members only)

TIPS AND TRICKS

There's an Easter egg which causes a credit from Yu Suzuki, as well as a build date, to appear on the screen. To trigger this text, at the start of a stage (before the stage name disappears), press Shot-3 six times, Start eight times, then Shot-3 again. Note that any misstep in this sequence will reset the whole process.

SERIES

1. Space Harrier (1985)
2. Space Harrier 3D [Model G-1349] (1988, Sega Mark III)
3. Space Harrier II [Model G-4002] (1988, Sega Mega Drive)
4. Space Harrier - Return to the Fantasy Zone (1989, Commodore Amiga)
5. Planet Harriers (2001)

STAFF

Designed by: Yu Suzuki (YU.)
From highscore table: (KAN), (KAW), Satoshi Mifune (BIN), (TUD), (NAG), (ASO)
Music by: Hiroshi Miyauchi

PORTS

CONSOLES:
japan Sega Mark III (dec.21, 1986) "Space Harrier [Model G-1310]"
usa Sega Master System (1987) "Space Harrier [Model 7001]"
europe Sega Master System (aug.1987) "Space Harrier [Model 7080]"
japan NEC PC-Engine (dec.9, 1988) "Space Harrier [Model H67G-1002]"
japan Nintendo Famicom (jan.6, 1989) "Space Harrier [Model TFC-SO]"
usa NEC TurboGrafx-16 (1990) "Space Harrier [Model TGX040025]"
usa Sega Genesis 32X (1994) "Space Harrier [Model 84505]"
europe Sega Mega Drive 32X (1994) "Space Harrier [Model 84505-50]"
japan Sega Super 32X (dec.3, 1994) "Space Harrier [Model GM-4005]"
japan Sega Saturn (jul.19, 1996) "Space Harrier [Sega Ages] [Model GS-9108]"
japan Sega Saturn (jul.19, 1996) "Space Harrier [Limited Special Set] [Model GS-9111]"
japan Sega Dreamcast (dec.20, 2001) "Yu Suzuki Game Works Vol.1 [Model ASP001]"
japan Sony PS2 (sept.25, 2003) "Space Harrier [Sega Ages 2500 Vol.4] [Model SLPM-62384]"
japan Sony PS2 (oct.27, 2005) "Space Harrier II - Space Harrier Complete Collection [Sega Ages 2500 Vol.20] [Model SLPM-62691]"
japan Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console Arcade] (mar.26, 2009)
europe Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console Arcade] (may.29, 2009)
usa Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console Arcade] (june.15, 2009)
usa Microsoft XBOX 360 (feb.10, 2009) "Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection [Model 60834]": as an unlockable extra.
korea Sony PlayStation 3 (feb.10, 2009) "Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection": as an unlockable extra - by SCEI.
usa Sony PlayStation 3 (feb.10, 2009) "Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection [Model BLUS-30259]": as an unlockable extra.
europe Microsoft XBOX 360 (feb.20, 2009) "SEGA Mega Drive Ultimate Collection [Model 384-40210]": as an unlockable extra.
europe australia Sony PlayStation 3 (feb.20, 2009) "SEGA Mega Drive Ultimate Collection [Model BLES-00475]": as an unlockable extra.
Microsoft XBOX 360 (feb.26, 2009) "Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection": as an unlockable extra.

HANDHELDS:
japan Sega Game Gear (dec.28, 1991) "Space Harrier [Model G-3212]"
usa europe Sega Game Gear (1991) "Space Harrier [Model 2314]"
japan Nintendo 3DS [eShop] (dec.26, 2012) "3D Space Harrier [Model CTR-JSHJ-JPN]"
usa Nintendo 3DS [eShop] (nov.28, 2013) "3D Space Harrier [Model CTR-JSHE-USA]"
europe Nintendo 3DS [eShop] (nov.28, 2013) "3D Space Harrier [Model CTR-JSHP-EUR]"
australia Nintendo 3DS [eShop] (nov.28, 2013) "3D Space Harrier [Model CTR-JSHP-AUS]"

COMPUTERS:
europe Amstrad CPC [Disk] (1986) "Space Harrier"
europe Amstrad CPC [Cassette] (1986) "Space Harrier"
japan Sharp X68000 (sept.1987) "Space Harrier [Model DP-3205003]"
usa Commodore C64 europe (1987)
japan Fujitsu FM-7 (1987)
japan Fujitsu FM-77AV (1987)
europe Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1987)
usa europe Atari ST (1988)
usa europe Commodore Amiga (1989)
usa PC [MS-DOS, 5.25"] (1989)
japan NEC PC 8801
japan Sharp X1

OTHERS:
usa Tiger Handheld LCD Game (19??)
usa Mobile phones (2002)

SOURCES

Game's pictures.
Game's ROMs.
Game's screenshots.
See goodies section.