Prepare for the trippy space fantasy blast fest that was...
Mainline Entry 01 - Space Harrier
Formats: Multiple
Now 34 years old, the original game was an early success story for the rail shooter genre, the player racing through multiple stages as they gunned down an array of fantasy creatures in brightly coloured stages. With eighteen stages, most featured a boss and the player would have to make full use of their ability to roam the span of the screen to target enemies whilst avoiding incoming fire. It was later ported in some form or another to over twenty home machines and remains an inspiration to several who later went on to join the industry.
Spin Off Entry 01 - Space Harrier 3D
Formats: Master System
This title was one of two follow ups to the original that came to home console instead. In this entry the player navigated 13 stages but with support for the consoles SegaScope 3D Glasses. It was later ported over to the 3DS by Sega's buddies at M2.
Mainline Entry 02 - Space Harrier II
Formats: Mega Drive, Amstrad CPC 464, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
This outright sequel was a launch title for the Mega Drive that presented a similar form of action across 12 stages but without the originals scaling tech due to the hardware limitations of the 16 bit machine.
-7.jpg)
Mainline Entry 03 - Planet Harrier
Formats: Arcade
The third game came much later to arcades and offered 4 selectable characters to choose from. Typically it would be housed in a twin seated cabinet (though a standing solo unit existed) but otherwise was a modern update, gameplay being broadly the same. The dying days of arcades had set in though so the game didn't perform well and remains locked to those now old arcade units.
Remake Entry 01 - Space Harrier
Formats: Playstation 2
M2 produced a remake using 3D polygons for the PS2 Sega Ages based on the original game.
Share your thoughts and memories of Sega's often referred to but long dormant shooter series
Mainline Entry 01 - Space Harrier
Formats: Multiple
Now 34 years old, the original game was an early success story for the rail shooter genre, the player racing through multiple stages as they gunned down an array of fantasy creatures in brightly coloured stages. With eighteen stages, most featured a boss and the player would have to make full use of their ability to roam the span of the screen to target enemies whilst avoiding incoming fire. It was later ported in some form or another to over twenty home machines and remains an inspiration to several who later went on to join the industry.
Spin Off Entry 01 - Space Harrier 3D
Formats: Master System
This title was one of two follow ups to the original that came to home console instead. In this entry the player navigated 13 stages but with support for the consoles SegaScope 3D Glasses. It was later ported over to the 3DS by Sega's buddies at M2.
Mainline Entry 02 - Space Harrier II
Formats: Mega Drive, Amstrad CPC 464, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
This outright sequel was a launch title for the Mega Drive that presented a similar form of action across 12 stages but without the originals scaling tech due to the hardware limitations of the 16 bit machine.
Mainline Entry 03 - Planet Harrier
Formats: Arcade
The third game came much later to arcades and offered 4 selectable characters to choose from. Typically it would be housed in a twin seated cabinet (though a standing solo unit existed) but otherwise was a modern update, gameplay being broadly the same. The dying days of arcades had set in though so the game didn't perform well and remains locked to those now old arcade units.
Remake Entry 01 - Space Harrier
Formats: Playstation 2
M2 produced a remake using 3D polygons for the PS2 Sega Ages based on the original game.
Share your thoughts and memories of Sega's often referred to but long dormant shooter series
. 
Comment