Space Harrier

System: Virtual Console (Arcade)
Developer: SEGA-AM2
Publisher: SEGA
Genre: Shooter
Players: 1
Points: 800

"Welcome to the Fantasy Zone. Get ready!"

It's a shame Space Harrier never started a trend of having the main character prepare the player mere seconds before taking on an entire planet. He'll even give you a little pat on the back after each boss fight with "you're doing great!" Why yes, I am - thank you!

Released in the arcades back in 1985, Space Harrier was quite the looker. Using SEGA's patented 'Super Scaler' technology (it's got nothing on Blast Processing), the game world screamed by with smooth sprite-scaling. The technology would later be used as a stepping stone for other SEGA hits such as OutRun and After Burner. Fuelled by its trippy, surreal landscapes, the visuals have held up amazingly well 25 years later.

This is a very simple and enjoyable title to get into, as you'd expect from an arcade game designed to sap away precious shrapnel. It's essentially a rail shooter, with the main character acting as the on-screen cross-hair. For reasons unknown, he can fly around the place. The power of the Fantasy Zone, perhaps? Touch down on the ground and he'll start running at the exact same speed, only slowing upon tripping over a shrub (or, you know, dying).


Whilst zipping about, you'll be shooting down waves of bizarre enemies and dodging obstacles. Some can be destroyed (small rocks, bushes, trees), but more and more invincible objects appear over time. There are 18 levels in total; each one seamlessly blending into the last. Boss fights and bonus rounds (which have you riding on top of a creature very reminiscent of that thing from The Neverending Story) break up the blazing fast action just a tiny bit.

One level you'll be fighting off stone heads, dragons and giant robots at dusk, the next you might be dodging alien structures and shooting mushrooms in an enclosed tunnel. It's a strange journey, but one you'll want to come back to time and time again.

Space Harrier has one of my all-time favourite songs in a video game; the main theme is a lengthy, energetic tune that never fails to bring a goofy smile to my goofy face. Probably a good thing too, since it's pretty much the only music in the game. The amusing voice samples (Harrier will scream in agony when he dies, only to get back up and happily remind you to "get ready" again) are mixed with a selection of sound effects pretty much on par with other shooters of the time. Muffled explosions, rumbling gassy noises, high-pitched blasts out of nowhere, that sort of thing.


As far as emulation goes, the coding legends at M2 handled this - it's arcade perfect. The Virtual Console Arcade is home to the best possible version of Space Harrier, beating out the 32X conversion, Backbone's dodgy work in the recent SEGA Mega Drive Collection and the one found in Shenmue. A menu screen allows you to toggle the game's difficulty level, free-play (unlimited credits), sound options and provides a variety of control methods.

The Wii Remote can be used by itself, or with a Nunchuk to control Harrier. What's cool is there's also an option to use the whole Nunchuk itself as a motion-controlled joystick by moving it around. This doesn't work very well at all, but it's the thought that counts. I think. Classic Controller and GameCube support is also in.

If the game takes your fancy, be sure to pick up the arcade version. The Master System port also exists on the Virtual Console, but it's vastly inferior, and this is only 300 Points more.


Score: 8/10 - "Good buy"
Welcome to the closing statement, get ready. Space Harrier is an important slice of SEGA's history, and it's aged extremely well. Simple high-energy gameplay with a killer soundtrack and surreal visuals. It's nice to have this sitting around on the Wii menu, as you'll want to kick back in the Fantasy Zone every now and then for some instant, mindless fun.

Review by Lance McGill (Infernal Monkey)