Space Harrier [Model H67G-1002]

Space Harrier © 1988 NEC Avenue, Limited.

Space Harrier is a 3D/forward shooter developed by Dempa and published by Nec Avenue, and conversion of Sega's popular arcade game. The peaceful world of Dragon Land is under attack by swarms of evil creatures. A fighter with extraordinary powers decides to challenge the invaders, and to save the doomed planet and its inhabitants. Space Harrier features eighteen levels and a fairly simple gameplay mechanics - the players takes control of a warrior armed with a large laser-cannon who can run on the ground or fly across the screen. However, the game is played from a 3D perspective and the player must dodge trees, pillars and enemy bullets while flying at considerable speeds through the strange landscapes of Dragon Land. Space Harrier relies on split second reflexes, and although obstacles can be destroyed in the first stage, most of them can't be later in the game, and the player must constantly move around the screen while shooting at countless enemies in order to stay alive. Two bonus levels are also scattered throughout the game, in which the player rides a large floating dragon and must smash into elements of the background in order to score as many points as possible.