Task Force Harrier EX

From Sega Retro

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TaskForceHarrierEX MDTitleScreen.png

TaskForceHarrierEX MD JP TitleScreen.png

Task Force Harrier EX
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Treco
Developer:
Original system(s): Arcade boards
Developer(s) of original games: NMK
Sound driver: Jorudan (custom)[2]
Genre: Shooting[3]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥8,500 (8,755)8,500e[4] T-24053
Sega Mega Drive
US
T-24036

Task Force Harrier (タスクフォースハリアー) is a little-known 1989 arcade shoot-'em-up developed by NMK and published by UPL in Japan and American Sammy in the US. It was remade for the Sega Mega Drive in 1991 by Jorudan and published by Treco, again released exclusively in Japan and the US as the more well-known Task Force Harrier EX (タスクフォースハリアーEX). This game is unusual for having exceptionally clear PCM audio for voices, and at least one song entirely in PCM.

Story

A communist group comes out of hiding and begin conquering the world, alerting the UN to call out Falcon, a noted fighter pilot, to stop them. However, the communists have already readied their freedom-destroying superbomber, the TU-190, to launch towards the US, making Falcon's job more rash. Consequently, he is given the Harrier V, an experimental version of US/UK VTOL fighter, for this job.

Gameplay

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Intermission.png

Mission briefing

The game is a vertically scrolling shoot-'em-up in which the player takes control of a fighter jet called the Harrier V in order to penetrate a hostile communist military force situated inside Russian territory. The majority of the enemy units in the game are based on real-life Soviet/Russian vehicles in both name and appearance. Before each stage, a commanding officer gives a short briefing.

The Harrier V moves in any direction using the D-Pad. It is equipped with two main weapons: rockets that shoot flying opponents such as enemy planes and helicopters, and bombs that only hit ground targets such as tanks and turrets. Both weapons are fired simultaneously with A, which can be held for rapid-fire. The rockets are fired in a slight spread and can be upgraded by collecting power-ups, which increase the number of rockets fired in parallel. There are three different types of bombs, which are switched by collecting power-ups and can be upgraded by collecting the same power-up successively. The Harrier V also carries a limited supply of super bombs, dropped with C, that can clear all on-screen enemies.

After collecting a power-up, the Harrier V is accompanied by two escorts, smaller fighters (resembling miniaturized F-22 Raptor fighters, an aircraft that was still in development at the time) that fire missiles when the Harrier V fires its weapons. There are three different types of missiles; like bombs, they are changed by collecting power-ups and upgraded by collecting the same power-up again. The escorts have four different formations around the Harrier V that can be cycled through with B. Changing the formation of the escort fighters results in different shot patterns and also affects the maneuvering speed of the Harrier V. The escorts are invulnerable and can be used to absorb enemy bullets.

The Harrier V is destroyed if it collides with an enemy or a bullet. If the player has extra lives remaining, a new Harrier V respawns immediately, with the power of all its weapons (rockets, bombs, and escort fighters) decreased by one and with three bombs (regardless of how many were possessed before). The game ends if the player runs out of lives but can be continued a limited number of times. There are three difficulty levels (Easy, Normal, and Hard).

Items

Items are released when certain enemies or structures are destroyed.

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Items.png
Increase Rocket Fire
Upgrades the Harrier V's rockets, up to 3 times. It initially shoots 2 rockets at a time, but it can be upgraded to 4, 6, and 9 as more power-ups are obtained.
Task Force Harrier EX MD, Items.png
Cluster Bomb
Changes the bombs to Cluster Bombs, which are quickly dropped a short distance in front of the Harrier V.
Task Force Harrier EX MD, Items.png
Dispenser Bomb
Changes the bombs to Dispenser Bombs, which ripple out in a line of several explosions in front of the Harrier V.
Task Force Harrier EX MD, Items.png
Impact Bomb
Changes the bombs to Impact Bombs, which explode in a radius upon landing, damaging enemies in an area.
Task Force Harrier EX MD, Items.png
Vulcan Escort
Equips two Vulcan Escorts to follow the Harrier V, which shoot lines of bullets straight ahead.
Task Force Harrier EX MD, Items.png
Fighter Escort
Equips two Fighter Escorts to follow the Harrier V, which fire homing missiles that seek targets automatically.
Task Force Harrier EX MD, Items.png
Missile Escort
Equips two Missile Escorts to follow the Harrier V, which rapidly shoot volleys of missiles.
Task Force Harrier EX MD, Items.png
Extra Super Bomb
Adds another super bomb to the inventory, up to a maximum of 5.

Stages

The stages alternate between aerial stages and ground stages. In the aerial stages, the enemy sends both flying and ground forces, and the Harrier V flies high in the air and can be followed by escort fighters. In the ground stages, the enemy only fields ground forces, and the Harrier V flies closer to the ground and cannot accompanied by its escorts.

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 1.png

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 1 Boss.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 1.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 1 Boss.png

Stage 1

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 2.png

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 2 Boss.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 2.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 2 Boss.png

Stage 2

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 3.png

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 3 Boss 1.png

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 3 Boss 2.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 3.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 3 Boss 1.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 3 Boss 2.png

Stage 3

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 4.png

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 4 Boss.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 4.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 4 Boss.png

Stage 4

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 5.png

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 5 Boss.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 5.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 5 Boss.png

Stage 5

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 6.png

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 6 Boss.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 6.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 6 Boss.png

Stage 6

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 7.png

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 7 Boss 1.png

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 7 Boss 2.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 7.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 7 Boss 1.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 7 Boss 2.png

Stage 7

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 8.png

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 8 Boss.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 8.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 8 Boss.png

Stage 8

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 9.png

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 9 Boss 1.png

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 9 Boss 2.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 9.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 9 Boss 1.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 9 Boss 2.png

Stage 9

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 10.png

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 10 Boss.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 10.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 10 Boss.png

Stage 10

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 11.png

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 11 Boss.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 11.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 11 Boss.png

Stage 11

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 12.png

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 12 Boss.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 12.png

  • Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 12 Boss.png

Stage 12

Task Force Harrier EX MD, Stage 13.png

Stage 13

Production credits

  • Management: Hiromitsu Kususe
Creative Staff - Task Force Harrier EX
  • Director - Team Griffin: Takashi Kuroda, Ryo Saitou
  • Planner: Yoh Hayakawa
  • Main Programmer: Y.K
  • Sub Programmer: Yuuichi Yamaguchi
  • Special Programmer: Mitoshi Asakawa
  • Main Graphic Designer: Yoh Hayakawa
  • Graphic Designer: Mitusru Ishida, Masaru Yokoura
  • Sound: Tenpei Satou
  • SE: M.Kajihara
  • PCM: T.Suzuki
  • Special Thanks: Takashi Ohga, Satoru Tanaka, Mura, Yaga Shooting Master, Tsu-chi, Kimi Chan, Mo‑Rin, Midori Chan, Naoko Chan, Mieko Chan
  • Master of Games: Take Chan
  • Presented by: Treco 1991
Source:
In-game credits
Task Force Harrier EX MD credits.pdf
[6]

Magazine articles

Main article: Task Force Harrier EX/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Task Force Harrier EX/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[7]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
60
[8]
Console XS (UK) NTSC-J
65
[9]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
60
[10]
Games-X (UK)
60
[11]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[12]
Joystick (FR) NTSC-J
65
[13]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC
30
[14]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
61
[15]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
55
[16]
MegaTech (UK) NTSC
51
[17]
Play Time (DE)
53
[18]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-U
62
[19]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC
65
[20]
Sega Zone (UK) NTSC-U
40
[21]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
56
[22]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
67
[23]
Sega Mega Drive
56
Based on
17 reviews

Task Force Harrier EX

Mega Drive, JP
TaskForceHarrierEX MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
TaskForceHarrierEX MD JP CartTop.jpg
TaskForceHarrierEX MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
TaskForceHarrierEX MD JP Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US
TaskForceHarrierEX MD US Box.jpg
Cover
TaskForceHarrierEX MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Taskforceharrierex md us manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Task Force Harrier EX/Technical information.

References


Task Force Harrier EX

TaskForceHarrierEX MDTitleScreen.png

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