Planet Harriers - ARCADE

[Duddyroar]

When Sega said they were updating the classic Space Harrier, I was pretty excited. But Aside from a few screenshots in EDGE, the game pretty much passed me by. I've never seen this is any UK arcade, either. Was it a stinker or something? It ran on the Hikaru chipset, so a Dreamcast conversion would have been possible. I suppose by the time of release (2001) the DC was all but dead. A home version would have been nice though.

Anyone got any opinions on this game?

[Kaladron]

I always assumed that this would wind up on Dreamcast or GameCube but I guess it was never to be. Its probably gonna end up like so many other arcades in that its generation will pass and noone will see the point in porting it. Though Spikeout is on its way so I guess there is still hope.

I've never played Planet Harriers but I would love to. Does anyone know any operational cabinets in the uk?

[Kotatsu Neko]

I remember drooling over the movies and shots on IGN and hoping for a DC, then a GC conversion. I guess if the DC had lived longer it would have been ported.

It will no doubt show up on MAME in years to come. They have Model 3 in there now and apparently SCUD Race will be playable at decent frame rates in forthcoming updates.

I've never seen a Planet Harriers machine, even in Tokyo!

[JAPJAC]

It's one of the few Sega dedicated coin-ops that never saw the light of day in London arcades. I have seen it once, played it once, here in Japan. In a little arcade in Ginza of all places about a year and a half ago. I too was excited to play it after gagging to do so for such a long time. dcharlie my mate always said it was ****e and I sort of believed him due to him being a massive ur-SH fan like myself. Unfortunately it stinks to high-heaven. It looks rushed, slows down to buggery constantly and is ACTUALLY very boring to play. Not one to lose sleep over, forget it.

[m0nk3y]

I too have been trying to find a PH cab since I saw about the game in Edge. Didn't realise that there's nowhere in the UK to play it. Damn, oh well. I would have though that Sega World in the Trocadero would have had it. Need to return there, still not had the chance to play 3screen F355, Outrun2 or the Starwars Podracer cabs.

[Arashikage]

There is a Planet Harriers machine in an arcade down in Barry Island, South Wales. It's even got the yenny stickers still on it. The only other place I've played it (or for that matter seen it) is in Club Sega Akihabara about 3 year ago. It's alright, nothing too special though. Barry seems to get quite a few import coin-ops like the load of Bemani stuff they have down there.

[m0nk3y]

From what ppl are saying, I don't think I'd go on a great mission to find a cab, but I do still want to have a go!

Another game that deserved a DC conversion though, with Space Harrier unlockable on completion.

What is it with Sega and (some) arcade conversions? I want Sonic Fighters on Saturn. Still. After all these years.

[Arashikage]

Yeah it's definately worth a go. The closest I got to having it on the DC was a video of it on an old Japanese Dreamcast Magazine demo disc. *Sigh* at least I could pretend I had it.

[Kaladron]

I refuse to believe that Amusement Vision ever made a bad game.

[Kubrick]

Virtua Striker 2002

[Yakumo]

I play Planet Harrier quite a few times. It's very dull indeed. While it looks good (mostly like a top end DC game) it offers nothing exciting in game play. Probably it would be ok as a home title but as far as Arcade games go it'sa bit of a dud.

Yakumo

[Leon Retro]

I suppose if it was a great game it would of been ported quite quickly and easily. The fact that it was never even talked about by Sega makes me think the game is a duff. The shots make it look nice, but if everyone is saying it plays and feels bad, then I trust them.

At least I can stop praying for a port now!