Space Harrier (Virtual Console / Master System) Review

Space Harrier

Space Harrier was originally released in the arcade in the 1980s, developed by AM2, which also developed OutRun and Afterburner. Space Harrier is widely recognizable by many arcade fans due to its distinctive, colorful art design and its fast-paced action.

The SEGA Master System version is considered a solid port of the arcade game, containing 18 levels of intense fun. As the “Space Harrier,” you must fight your way through “The Land of Dragons” and defeat the bosses at the end of each level to restore peace to the land. Are you prepared? Get ready!

Review by Damien McFerran

When Sega released the Master System back in the ‘80s the company was facing an uphill struggle against Nintendo’s NES. The NES had the software support and thanks to Nintendo’s nefarious practice of making developers agree to keep their titles exclusive, it left Sega with little in the way of third party support. So the firm naturally relied on its own output – specifically its range of cutting edge arcade licences.

Space Harrier was one such conversion. It was the first home port of the hugely popular ‘super-scaler’ coin-op and considering the humble nature of the hardware it was pretty impressive back then and even now remains one of the better conversions available. Ironically the game was ported to the Famicom (the Japanese NES) with disastrous results.

If you’re not familiar with the general gist of the game then it shouldn’t take long to explain – you fly into the screen shooting enemies and avoiding bullets until you meet the end of level boss. Rinse and repeat. There really isn’t much else to it, and it’s this simplicity which proves to be Space Harrier’s key strength and greatest weakness.

As an arcade game, such directly engaging gameplay is perfect as you’re unlikely to spend more than a few minutes in front of the machine. However, as a domestic release it works less well – granted, it’s still instantly accessible but after a few hours the lack of variety will annoy. Still, this is an amazing technical achievement and although the visuals are sometimes a bit garish, the relatively smooth scrolling and large sprites always impress.

Space Harrier might not be the most deep game in the world but if you’re a fan then this is one of the best ways to play it in your home. Just don’t expect it to hold your attention for very long.

3/5

Average reader rating: 3.30 (10 ratings)

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Fantasy Zone (Master System)
Axelay (Super Nintendo)
Blazing Lazers (TurboGrafx-16)
Gate of Thunder (TurboGrafx-16)
Lords of Thunder (TurboGrafx-16)

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USA VC Update: Space Harrier (3rd Nov 08)

1. KeeperBvK 27 Jun 2008, 11:46 GMT

Yay, I actually enjoyed this more than the sequel...and it's good news we won't get the abysmal NES-port. ^^

2. DEMON212 27 Jun 2008, 15:29 GMT

Can't wait. Been praying for it since the SMS hit. Billion times better than SH2.

Welcome to the Fantasy Zone bitch, get ready

3. Mendez 27 Jun 2008, 18:33 GMT

Can't wait for this, always liked Space Harrier 2 on MD and if this one really is as superior as people say it should be great. =]

4. Outrunner 28 Jun 2008, 12:24 GMT

Would've prefered TG-16 version.

5. adzix 29 Jun 2008, 11:13 GMT

i LOVE the soundtrack
very memorable
does anyone know if the jap version has fm sound?

6. Outrunner 01 Jul 2008, 14:05 GMT

Seriously, why didn't they do the TG-16/PC Engine version? Now there's probably no chance we'll see it. I've been waiting ages too. Bah!

7. Sharecrow 06 Jul 2008, 19:31 GMT

I didn't know there was a TG16 version. I bet it's pretty good...

I remember this game being much tougher than Space Harrier 2 (but that could be because I was younger). I wonder if it really is a tough one. Anyway, I would be delighted to download this and try again now that I am old

8. Mickeymac 06 Jul 2008, 23:10 GMT

It's funny, I look at this, and it actually looks good! Yet when I look at Space Harrier II, it looks like crud, and looks like it plays like crud too. How is it possible for a sequel to be so much worse than the original, especially when moving to a more powerful machine?

9. Outrunner 09 Jul 2008, 23:10 GMT

I like Space Harrier 2. And to Sharecrow: Yeah it is really good. Look up some vids of it on youtube to see just how good.

10. Mickeymac 12 Jul 2008, 07:48 GMT

@ Outrunner

Well, I was just going by the videos and reviews, so what do I know.

11. Mr. Cheez 12 Jul 2008, 18:59 GMT

oddly, this looks a lot better than SHII, despite the horrible-quaity music. Now we just need Alien Syndrome, Outrun, and Shinobi and all will be well!

P.S. how come almost every MS game has such laughably terrible box art?

12. Mickeymac 13 Jul 2008, 23:02 GMT

I think it was the thing back then, even for some NES games. Remember Mega Man 2?

13. Mr. Cheez 14 Jul 2008, 03:30 GMT

Mega Man 2? Fah! That box art looked like the Mona Lisa compared to the original MM's (you can see it in this site's MM review). Though the European art for MM2 was also pretty awful. He looked like a cross between Leonard Nimoy and the Tin Man! XD

14. Mickeymac 14 Jul 2008, 16:31 GMT

I thought that was MM2's Boxart.

Edit: Yeah, the European boxart was what I was referring to.

15. lockelocke 19 Jul 2008, 00:24 GMT

Get Ready
Got more wear than any of my SMS carts (or cards), IMO the best SMS title out there, kicks Space Harrier 2's ass up and down the block. Cop it!

16. slangman 26 Jul 2008, 12:06 GMT

@ Outrunner i am with you on this one but i guess they are putting up the Master System version since people know that version better that the TG-16 version.

17. Stuffgamer1 19 Sep 2008, 23:21 GMT

The Master System's box art is way worse than even the worst NES box you can think of. There's hardly any art at all, really, and I don't particularly like the grid in the background.

As for the game, the video looks kinda weird. I might try it anyway, though, just because Space Harrier is one of my favorite levels from Sega Superstar Tennis.

18. gamerwizz 21 Sep 2008, 18:47 GMT

cant wait for this one of the few master system classics I have never played

19. DoctorJest 17 Oct 2008, 06:07 GMT

This is one of those games I loved in the arcade, but could just never like on the home systems. Of course, the arcade version had the moving flight-chair that shifted up, down, left and right as you flew, so you got a whole extra experience there...

20. adzix 17 Oct 2008, 08:08 GMT

only a 3 star rating? hm...
well i guess it's because i grew up with the master system that my opinion of this game is a much higher one.
i love the soundtrack, the songs are really amazing.
the game plays pretty good and considering the horsepower of the sms this looks amazing. it's tough and i never managed to finish it...

21. Outrunner 20 Oct 2008, 19:22 GMT

I deleted my last comment because after spending a good few hours on this I've actually grown to like it. (The pal version is very slow however...). I still wish we'd gotten the TG-16 version but this will have to do. And being a Space Harrier fan how could I not download this? I just hope Sega pull a Street Fighter and upload other versions...

22. Adamant 24 Oct 2008, 00:46 GMT

With very few exceptions, Master System box art is absolutely hideous, and has been a point of ridicule for ages. This is one of the better-looking boxes, actually.

23. Kelvin 30 Oct 2008, 09:49 GMT

There are three generations of MS box art. The first generation, like Space Harrier, have the basic grid and dodgy art. The second generation (like the first Sonic) retain the grid, but improve the art. The third generation (circa 1992, like Mortal Kombat) drop the grid entirely in most cases.

24. Eltigro 02 Nov 2008, 01:09 GMT

I actually have this cartridge for my SMS. It's pretty fun. I remember playing Space Harrier in the arcade up the street from my house. Don't have the box.