Space Harrier II

From Sega Retro

For the home computer versions from 1990, see Space Harrier II (home computers).

n/a

Space Harrier II Title.png

Space Harrier II
SpaceHarrierII iOS icon.png
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Sound driver: pre-SMPS Z80
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

















Release Date RRP Code
Wii Virtual Console
JP
600pts600
Wii Virtual Console
US
800pts800
Wii Virtual Console
EU
800pts800
iOS
JP
iOS
US
CERO
Missing Parameter!

Space Harrier II (スペースハリアーII) is the official sequel to the arcade game Space Harrier. It was initially released for the Mega Drive on October 29, 1988 as one of the two launch titles for the system in Japan (the other being Super Thunder Blade).

Gameplay

Gameplay is nearly identical to its predecessor (move around the screen with the D-pad and use A, B, or C to fire), though it is now possible to select which level to play and the graphics/music are different, the bonus stages have been changed from riding to shooting, and certain properties, such as rapid fire, are configurable by hitting A at the title screen.

The game was notable for the time for its use of digitized voices - an example of the technical advancements the Mega Drive offered over its rivals. However, unlike the arcade original, the Mega Drive could not handle scaling, meaning the graphics were pre-rendered at various sizes. This, along with the slightly lower framerate, results in a less-smooth gameplay experience.

Like the original Space Harrier and other games of the era, such as Hang On or After Burner, the game increases the score based on the player's survival time. However, as the score counter doesn't stop during boss fights, it possible to accumulate the maximum amount of points by simply avoiding attacks and not attacking the boss.

History

Legacy

The Mega Drive version of the game was re-released for the Wii's Virtual Console service in 2006, and for Steam and iOS devices in 2010. The iOS version was removed from sale on iTunes in 2015. [2]

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Planner: Ossale Kohta
Main Programmer: Yamaichi
Assistant Programmer: Ore
Monster Program: Ore
Program Coordinator: Yamaichi
Monster Design: Stresteles, Shizuoka Taro
Graphic Coordinator: Stresteles
Test Player: Works Nishi
Sound Composer: Bo
Sound Programmer: Bo, Navy
Presented by Sega

Artwork

Promotional Material

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
93 №26, p144[3]
89 №1, p72
76 №4, p35[4]
68 №3, p14[5]
50 №18, p36
75
85 №19, p20[6]
55 №9, p114[7]
48 №5, p94
51 №9, p22
76 №1, p80[8]
77 №2, p26/27[9]
60 №3, p63[10]
60 №23, p54
63 №6, p29[11]
62 №18, p67
55 №8, p26[12]
Sega Mega Drive
67
Based on
17 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
30
[13]
ACE (UK) PAL
93
[3]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
60
[14]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
89
[15]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
76
[4]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
76
[16]
Console XS (UK) PAL
62
[17]
Cool Gamer (RU)
30
[18]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
68
[5]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
65
[19]
Excalibur (CZ)
50
[20]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
75
[21]
The Games Machine (UK)
85
[6]
Games Preview (DK)
81
[22]
Joystick (FR)
55
[7]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
48
[23]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
72
[24]
Mega (UK) PAL
55
[25]
Mega (UK) PAL
51
[26]
MegaTech (UK)
76
[8]
Mean Machines (UK)
77
[9]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
76
[27]
Raze (UK) PAL
60
[10]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
50
[28]
Sega Pro (UK)
63
[11]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
62
[29]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
55
[12]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
62
[30]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
46
[31]
Sega Mega Drive
64
Based on
29 reviews

Space Harrier II

Mega Drive, US
SHarrierII md us cover.jpg
Cover
SHarrierII md us cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
SHarrierII md eu cover.jpg
Cover
SHarrierII md eu cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
SHarrierII md jp cover.jpg
Cover
SpaceHarrierII MD JP CartTop.jpg
SpaceHarrierII MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Spaceharrierii md jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, KR
SpaceHarrierII MD KR Box.jpg
Cover
SpaceHarrierII MD KR cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, CA

External links



Space Harrier series
Space Harrier (JP home computers | Elite versions | Sega Ages Vol. 2 | mobile | 3D) (1986) | Space Harrier 3D (1988) | Space Harrier II (Electronic) (1988) | Planet Harriers (2001) | Typing Space Harrier (2002) | Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 4: Space Harrier (2003)
Albums
Yu Suzuki Produce Hang On/Space Harrier (1997) | Planet Harriers The Original Soundtrack (2001) | Space Harrier II: Space Harrier Complete Collection Original Soundtrack (2005)
Other Media
Space Harrier (video) (1987) | Space Harrier: White Dragon no Yuusha (1988)
  1. http://www.4gamer.net/games/049/G004989/20100727028/
  2. http://www.polygon.com/2015/5/18/8622645/sega-pulls-games-from-itunes-app-store-google-play
  3. 3.0 3.1 File:ACE UK 26.pdf, page 144 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 26.pdf_p144" defined multiple times with different content
  4. 4.0 4.1 File:CGtC UK 04.pdf, page 35 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CGtC UK 04.pdf_p35" defined multiple times with different content
  5. 5.0 5.1 File:EGM US 003.pdf, page 14 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:EGM US 003.pdf_p14" defined multiple times with different content
  6. 6.0 6.1 File:TGM UK 19.pdf, page 20 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 19.pdf_p20" defined multiple times with different content
  7. 7.0 7.1 File:Joystick FR 009.pdf, page 114 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joystick FR 009.pdf_p114" defined multiple times with different content
  8. 8.0 8.1 File:MegaTech UK 01.pdf, page 80 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MegaTech UK 01.pdf_p80" defined multiple times with different content
  9. 9.0 9.1 File:MeanMachines UK 02.pdf, page 26 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachines UK 02.pdf_p26" defined multiple times with different content
  10. 10.0 10.1 File:Raze UK 03.pdf, page 63 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Raze UK 03.pdf_p63" defined multiple times with different content
  11. 11.0 11.1 File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf, page 29 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf_p29" defined multiple times with different content
  12. 12.0 12.1 File:SegaForce UK 08.pdf, page 26 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce UK 08.pdf_p26" defined multiple times with different content
  13. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 218
  14. Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1990" (JP; 1990-01-08), page 71
  15. Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 72
  16. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 49
  17. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 134
  18. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 201
  19. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 93
  20. Excalibur, "" (CZ; 1993-09-10), page 32
  21. Famitsu, "1988-11-11" (JP; 1988-1x-xx), page 13
  22. Games Preview, "8/9 1989" (DK; 1989-xx-xx), page 71
  23. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 94
  24. Mega Drive Fan, "November 1989" (JP; 1989-10-07), page 49
  25. Mega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-17), page 60
  26. Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 21
  27. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140
  28. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54
  29. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67
  30. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  31. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 172