Space Harrier [Model TFC-SO]

Space Harrier © 1989 Takara Company, Limited.

Space Harrier is a 3D/forward shooter by Takara and conversion of Sega's popular arcade game originally released in 1985. The game takes place in the fictional world of Dragon Land, where an evil force and his army have appeared and seek for the total annihilation of the land and its inhabitants. The player takes control of a warrior armed with a large laser-cannon, ready to take on the swarming invaders. The interesting device also doubles as a rocket-pack, giving the player the ability to float around the screen and to fly at blazing speeds through the different zones of the Dragon Land. Unlike most of the shooters released at the time, Space Harrier uses 3D effects based on sprite scaling, and the player constantly moves forward on a set track. Space Harrier features eighteen levels, all filled with all kind of flying enemies, from bug-like creatures to winged insects, robot-mechas, formations of flying jets and massive dragons. Finally, two bonus stages are also scattered throughout the game and give the player the ability to ride the dragon Uriah, and to destroy elements of the background for extra points.