Space Harrier: Game Guide, Developer and Facts

Space Harrier is a 1985 rail shooter video game developed and published by Sega for arcades. Designed by Yu Suzuki, the player navigates surreal landscapes while defeating enemies as a jet-propelled human character. It was conceived as a realistic military-themed combat flight simulation game, but technical and memory restrictions resulted in Suzuki redesigning it around a fantasy setting. The arcade game is controlled by an analog flight stick while the deluxe arcade cabinet is a cockpit-style linear actuator motion simulator cabinet that pitches and rolls during play, for which it is referred as a taikan (体感) or "body sensation" arcade game in Japan. It was a commercial success in arcades, becoming one of Japan's top two highest-grossing upright/cockpit arcade games of 1986 (along with Sega's Hang-On). Critically praised for its innovative graphics, gameplay and motion cabinet, Space Harrier is often ranked among Suzuki's best works. It has made several crossover appearances in other Sega titles, and inspired a number of clones and imitators, while Capcom and PlatinumGames director Hideki Kamiya cited it as an inspiration for him entering the video game industry. Space Harrier has been ported to over twenty different home computers and home video game consoles. Two home-system sequels followed in Space Harrier 3-D and Space Harrier II (both released in 1988), and the arcade spin-off Planet Harriers (2000). A polygon-based remake of the original game was released by Sega for the PlayStation 2 as part of their Sega Ages series in 2003.

Quick facts about Space Harrier

• Title: Space Harrier
• Developer: Sega AM2
• Released: 1985
• Type: Video game
• Wikidata ID: Q1707792

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