I actually had the exact same experience as a kid in the 80s. I vividly remember being on a family beach trip and hit up the arcade. EVERYBODY was playing Double Dragon, so I moved along and discovered Space Harrier. It sincerely blew me away! It was the reason why I eventually bought the Master System with what little money I had and became a Sega devotee. This video was a fantastic trip down memory lane, so thanks to everyone involved. Now I need to see if I can get the Sega Saturn version to try it out.
Noah Powell Huge thanks to Epic Game Music for letting me use his amazing cover. Once I knew I was gonna sell the machine, I knew I had to have that playing over a montage like that. You can check out the full thing here: ruclips.net/video/mB-CPs9z6UI/видео.html
MAN, that 60 FPS really does this game justice. It's really touching that you donated your machine. I think it'll give a lot of modern geeky kids a fresh look into your childhood. :) Great video.
***** Thanks! I had this one in my head for several months and was really happy with the way it came out. I actually had it finished for a long time, but held off on putting it out so I could get the ending footage.
The truth is the insane colours were chosen to avoid the game getting released early, the boss of Yu Suzuki at the time would order you to ship your game even if it wasn’t finished as long as it had final-looking graphics, so the engineers working on Space Harrier added a switch on the prototype boards that if flipped would select a random colour palette, and some of these were so cool Yu Suzuki decided he wanted to use them in the actual game, so they sampled the memory to find out the exact palette and used them. The fever dream-inspired enemies were designed to match the newly chosen palettes.
I recently bought the Ultimate Atari Cart and played the Space Harrier homebrew for Atari 8-bit home computers (400, 800, XL, XE, line including the XE Game System). It blew my mind seeing this run on 1970s hardware!
Space Harrier is my favorite game. I'm 16 years old, everyone my age is playing FPS and MMOs but not me!! Only retro games for me!! Dear Timeline Arcade in Hanover PA, if you are reading this comment INSTALL A FRICKING SPACE HARRIER CABINET!!!
Dude, I'm like totally the same way! I haven't touched an Fps game in years and instead played on my MD, Saturn and Pc engine! That was probably one of my best life decisions, because I feel like my life has gotten better because of it.
Awesome episode! Like you Coury, when I first played Space Harrier in the arcades it became (and still is) my all time favourite video game. Watching this episode was like you were living my life but, here in Australia! I also own a Space Harrier machine (mini version) - sad at the end to see yours go; but that's sure an awesome thing to do to share it's amazing experience with a new generation. Again, like you, the SEGA Master System was my machine of choice back in the 80's; just loved the fire-dragons at at the end! Fingers crossed (well, everything when it comes to having hope with SEGA) that Planet Harriers makes it to home consoles.. For those that have a Japanese PlayStation Network account - Space Harrier Collection and the Fantasy Zone Collection are readily available for you to enjoy on PlayStation 3.
msjb1976 [Coury] Thank you so much. It's reading comments like this that really make me so happy that we do this channel. I miss the cabinet these days, but its ok. Its at a place that I can visit it any time. I actually have the JPN PSN copy of the compilation too, I got that when I first found out the existence of the set. At that time, I had been out of games and was gradually getting back in, and thought the only Sega Ages 2500 version was the remake. I have the Fantasy Zone Collection and intend on doing a series recollection using that disc as well.
There is a space harrier arcade cabinet in Manitou Springs CO. I was shocked to find it, as I loved playing this game on my original Master System I got for Christmas in 1986. Unfortunately lots of screen burn in, but still awesome to play the arcade version.
BBloom That’s cool. I’ve only ever seen one arcade cabinet with a CRT monitor, a dual-cabinet of a Sega AM2 Formula 1 Racer, in the Wight Mouse Inn in the Isle of Wight. It had two monitors, both Zenith Shadow Masks, and it was so cool looking! The coin slot was broken when I saw it earlier this year, so it might have been thrown away by now, but it was otherwise working fine and displaying the demos. Monitor 1 was in pretty good condition, but the other was much worse, with severe burn in and distortion. Both of them were massive though! Probably even bigger than my 21-inch Trinitron, probably 25-inchers.
This wasn't my first game but it WAS the first one I finished, gamegear version to be exact then the arcade much later. For this reason I don't think I'll ever forget it, also that fanservice in bayonetta =
Dude, nearly had me in tears at the end. Really great perspective on 'passing on the torch' with moving the cabinet to a real arcade. Did you ever go to see it when they had it set up?
CartridgeCanuck Thanks! Not yet, unfortunately - its actually not set up til after the new year. I'll be seeing it a lot, since it will only be 15 mins away. One of the reasons I was ok with letting it go was that it would still be super close.
Wow, pretty much sums up my own experience and feelings. Space Harrier was probably the defining game of my youth, at least my most played. I remember going to the store and looking side by side at an NES playing Excitebike and an SMS playing Space Harrier and thinking "Who could possibly want an NES?" Even as an adult I really admire the unique sense of style and art design in this game. It's the kind of thing that simply doesn't exist today.
GotNextVideo Thanks! Its great to hear someone else having a similar experience. I knew that Space Harrier was on the SMS so I had to get it. Space Harrier vs Excitebike? Pshhh, not even close.
The Super Scalar arcade games were groundbreaking for their time. It wasn't possible to have arcade perfect ports of these at home until the Saturn came out. And in its generation, it was the only console powerful enough to handle it.
Love the Space Harrier games. I have definitely put the most time into the 32X version, such a great game. but before that it was the C64 games which held my attention outside the arcade.
Great channel, gentlemen. Love the high production values and writing. You gained a subscriber. I'll share you channel to my friends as you guys deserve way more.
Man the end made me cry haha. I had a similar experience with Space Harrier, but the first time I saw it I was 6 on my brothers Mega Drive :) Awesome video once again guys.
I'm far too selfish. I never would have let that cabinet go. You're a stronger man than I. Space Harrier is one of the greatest games I've ever played. It's that good.
The Christmas I got my SMS, I got Space Harrier 3-d and the shutter glasses with it! Definitely not one of my top 10 games, but was really cool at the time.
Great video great video, I love Space Harrier, and Space Harrier II! Nice one for giving up your arcade cabinet, I wouldn’t have been able to do it myself personally!
Honestly, I think both you and Joe give the PS2 Ages games more crap than they deserve. One of the biggest reasons why I like those versions of Space Harrier, Outrun, and Afterburner is the scaling. As impressive as the scaling technology was back when the cabinets were released, I've noticed that the ways they scale leads to some terrible collision detection, which is infuriating to me in games like that. I would play Super Hang-On, and my biker's sprite wouldn't even touch an obstacle, but I would crash anyway, and I've passed straight through trees before without crashing. I understand they were trying the new technology back then, but nowadays, such detection would be considered inexcusable. With the Ages series, the polygonal models scale very smoothly, and the hit detection always feels spot-on. I always feel like my collisions are my fault now, instead of the older games with their awkward scaling technology. Yeah, the graphics are not as impressive as they could be on the PS2, but I went into them understanding that they were budget titles, and they work great on a playability level, so the visuals didn't bother me. And what's wrong with the lock-on and bombs in the game? Yeah, just because they're not completely "necessary" doesn't mean they can't be fun to use. You don't "need" the lock-on feature in Star Fox 64, but that doesn't mean it should be a point against it. It seems more like you're complaining against a small bit of added variety for the sake of it not being exactly like the original.
ShogunGin0 [Coury] Out of all the Sega 3D ages games I played, Space Harrier and Fantasy Zone were the only ones that I would continually go back to for a long time. It does look pretty cheap overall, but compared to the likes of the Golden Axe remake... I can understand the hit detection - I definitely found the PS2 version a heck of a lot easier. The smoother scaling along with the the additions of the lock on and bombs felt like they slowed the game down a bit and made it something different than a chaotic twitch shooter like the original. That said though, I definitely do like the game - especially it's music - I just wish it wasn't what a remake of what could be my favorite game of all time ended up being. The same could be said for most of the 3D Ages remakes - I love Phantasy Star and it deserved more attention than a budget remake. But who knows what we would have gotten now a days...
Oh man, i've never even heard of this series. It looks interesting, and educational... in a gaming historian sort of way. Great video, you've got me interested :D also, the ending... all the feels.
Someday I want to get an arcade machine to play stuff like this. I ideally want to get a multi-sync CRT monitor capable of handling many strange arcade resolutions, and have a cabinet setup to let me switch boards out to get different games, like my Uncle had setup in the 1990’s, to play Arcade games from the 1970’s and 1980’s.
I played a lot of Space Harrier 3D when I was a kid. Loved the game, but the thing that really stayed with me after all these years was the theme music. Listening to this song again is... bittersweet, to say the least...
I think the Wii VC version deserves special mention as well. It's emulation, but the VC arcade emulations are generally pretty solid, and it'll even output in 240p.
So dude the first time I played Space Harrier was at this place called Sam's Town and the had a full mobil chair that moved with you when you aimed left-right or up-down. It was years latter that I saw a normal stand up version. I loved this game! Always got top score. Felt great to be the best at something!
Darkbeat [Coury] I definitely came across some footage of it while I was research the ports of it. It definitely is hilarious, but I think its impressive that they tried.
***** The 32x doesn't have to many games. And the games that it does have aren't always that good. But space harrier for the 32x was a high quality game. Back in the day as well. I guess it makes sense to treasure as part of a SEGA collection.
I play Space Harrier 2 on Genesis when I was 13 years old since 2014 and my favorite Space Harrier port was Master System, Turbografx-16, Game Gear, 32X and Saturn
Great video love it Space harrier , out run , after burner , along with other Sega arcade games the good olds days and the love I have Sega then and always now
It should be Yu Suzuki 7. Power Drift, GLoc and Enduro Racer were also a super scalers directed and produced by Yu Suzuki, not counting of course the sequels to his originals also. That being said, even at a young age I was not going anywhere near a Space Harrier port, simply because my first experience of playing it was having to line up for almost an hour to jump on the arcade hydraulic chair version and being completely blown away by the experience the giant speakers close to my head and being enveloped inside this big moving cabinet. I knew immediately that nothing could reproduce the experience, and would be a sad imitation in my eyes. Decades later I finally got my hands on a cabinet its one of my prized possessions.
BillyTheBigDeal that would be the bold and brilliant Epic Game Music . He has the full thing on his channel which you can check out here: ruclips.net/video/mB-CPs9z6UI/видео.html
I only found out about this game thanks to a CD ROM that came with a gaming magazine, Game Player or Game Pro. I saw a video of it with the SEGA AGES video. I finally got to play it on the Sega Arcade Collection on GBA.
You know, I’d love to see a RGB Master Class 300 series video on running original Arcade machines. I’d love to learn more about what kind of monitors they used.
Suzuki and his team took inspiration from several movies from the time for the characters in the game: Uriah is a cat dragon, based off Falkor from Neverending Story, which is a dog-like dragon. The Skeggs from stage two are clearly inspired by Gremlins. And the mechs look a lot like the Zeon suits from Gundam.
I LOVE Space Harrier too. I grew up with Space Harrier 3D. Because that was the version I played the most I did not notice how choppy it was. I loved it and I loved the 3D. Right now the 32X version i smy favorite beside the 3DS version. Great job!
I had the the Master System 3D version and at the time also bought the glasses. What was more frustrating is that this game was very difficult, in addition to the reduced collection that used these glasses, with many mediocre games. But I really liked the part that the machine was sold, because unfortunately it takes up a lot of space at home and is a good opportunity for youngsters to meet games that have been successful in the arcades.
I played Space Harrier for the first time a few weeks ago, using the lovingly recreated version in Shenmue I, on the PC version of the HD Remaster. It’s honestly a great game, but I couldn’t beat the 4th level. It’s so hard! But I’ve never been good at arcade games. It’s great fun, I hope I can beat it someday.
Letting a cabinet go....must have been tough. It's great having something like that but it's a lot of space for one game. I have an Asteroids Dx at home and if there was an arcade near me that offered me a decent price I'd think about it - but seeing it leave would hurt.Really don't know what I would do. Have the Japanese Saturn port of Space Harrier - plays like a dream.
***** I'm ok with it...for now. We'll see how long that lasts though. One of the reasons I made the is video is so that I can keep the memories of it in something like this
Space Harrier is a great game. I had the ZX Spectrum version on a Sega compilation I had as a kid. When I got a Mega Drive and moved onto Space Harrier 2 I was kinda blown away by it. Still have it lying around somewhere. Wish i still had the Spectrum version. It looked like this if you've never seen it. Hope you like the sound of digitised farts. ruclips.net/video/VmLMBlvyPZI/видео.html
Oh wow Joe Redifer! I knew him like 10 years ago when I used to manage a projection booth at a movie theater. What's funny is he's such a gaming nut that he recognized my name from a letter I wrote that got published in Die Hard Game Fan back in the early '90s. Anyway, my only experience with Space Harrier was the sequel on the Genesis. It was mildly entertaining, but way too easy. All I did was fly around in a figure 8 pattern and had the entire game completed the first night I brought it home.
***** Mine too! I have the first 6 years of the magazine stashed in my closet. I'm also friends on facebook with the long-time chief editor. He and I share identical politcal views, so we immediately liked each other. He's told me some pretty amazing stories about what happened on the publishing side of gaming back then.
Space Harrier on the Sega Master System was my first love, and Planet Harriers (should SEGA ever get their butts up and port this to something, anything - come on guys, it's 2020, where's my PSVR version of this game?!) will be my last. I'll never forget how a colleague and me played through a Planet Harriers sit-down twin cabinet in Tokyo some time around 2001. Pure bliss! It cost us a few coins, but well worth it!
I can't believe Joe let someone else handle color correcting his talking head part. I bet he felt like a part of him died letting someone else handle that.
Schmeck626 It was a tough choice. I went back and forth on it and came to the realization that if it ever broke, I'd have a very difficult time fixing it. That on top of the fact that my wife and I just bought a house, and the idea of hauling it to the 3rd floor it made the decision a bit easier. I'll look on the bright side though, its going to a place thats just 15 minutes away where I can visit it any time I want!
Wonderful video - I love stuff like that has a person story and not just factual info. Thanks for sharing it. One question I felt like you didn't answer: How is the port of the arcade game on the M2 Sega Ages collection? I now have a region-free PS2 and I'm looking into getting some of the collections M2 did in that series.
Mike'Mo Brothers [Coury] Thanks! While some stories or anecdotes are bigger than others, I try to always put in a personal story. This was one that just came together perfectly. When it comes to the M2 collection, you can't really go wrong. They do amazing work for whatever they're hired for. The arcade footage in this video was captured from the collection disc, running at 240p. All the games on taht disc run really great, though of course they're not completely perfect. For instance, the death yell in Space Harrier 3D is slightly incorrect. But all in all, get all the collections they did. They're absolutely worth it, especially the Monster World and Fantasy Zone collections.
***** Great feedback, thanks. Just knowing what I see of the arcade game in this vid comes from the M2 collection is enough for me. And yeah, the MW and FZ discs are high on my list as well. Keep up the stellar work, guys!
A game i have always love since i first seen it in the arcades, over the years i have owned loads of ports of this and your right the Saturn version is amazing but i still have a love for the pc engine version even tho is doesn't have the checkered floor. The Yu Suzuki 4 should really be 5 as power drift was a cool super scaler game i know it was on the Y board but out run was on its own hardware as well.
What? You sold it? I never had the chance to play it in any arcade, but love it so much since it was my first SMS game and definitely made me a gamer! Now that I'm an adult it's tha ONLY arcade machine I'd like to have at home...
Nothing beats screaming through Asute at break neck speed! Long live Space Harrier, always my number 1. Also the dragon from the first game isn't in Space Harrier II, nor can you fight him as a regular enemy, This dragon appears only once.
I have a few questions: 1) Where were Try and Dave?? lol 2) Not a question, but Joe’s parts seemed sooooo formal lol I couldn’t stand seeing him so prim and proper talking to someone at a different angle from the camera Great vid though
Ah man, you made me cry at the end there! :')
Yeah , me too :.(
Somebody needs to stop cutting those onions
I actually had the exact same experience as a kid in the 80s. I vividly remember being on a family beach trip and hit up the arcade. EVERYBODY was playing Double Dragon, so I moved along and discovered Space Harrier. It sincerely blew me away! It was the reason why I eventually bought the Master System with what little money I had and became a Sega devotee. This video was a fantastic trip down memory lane, so thanks to everyone involved. Now I need to see if I can get the Sega Saturn version to try it out.
The ukulele theme at the end and the image of you saying goodbye was amazing
Noah Powell Huge thanks to Epic Game Music for letting me use his amazing cover. Once I knew I was gonna sell the machine, I knew I had to have that playing over a montage like that. You can check out the full thing here: ruclips.net/video/mB-CPs9z6UI/видео.html
MAN, that 60 FPS really does this game justice.
It's really touching that you donated your machine. I think it'll give a lot of modern geeky kids a fresh look into your childhood. :) Great video.
***** Thanks! I had this one in my head for several months and was really happy with the way it came out. I actually had it finished for a long time, but held off on putting it out so I could get the ending footage.
The truth is the insane colours were chosen to avoid the game getting released early, the boss of Yu Suzuki at the time would order you to ship your game even if it wasn’t finished as long as it had final-looking graphics, so the engineers working on Space Harrier added a switch on the prototype boards that if flipped would select a random colour palette, and some of these were so cool Yu Suzuki decided he wanted to use them in the actual game, so they sampled the memory to find out the exact palette and used them. The fever dream-inspired enemies were designed to match the newly chosen palettes.
I recently bought the Ultimate Atari Cart and played the Space Harrier homebrew for Atari 8-bit home computers (400, 800, XL, XE, line including the XE Game System). It blew my mind seeing this run on 1970s hardware!
I'm so happy to see so many fellow fans of Space Harrier. Makes me really happy. First played it via Sonic Genesis Collection and I love it!
Space Harrier is my favorite game. I'm 16 years old, everyone my age is playing FPS and MMOs but not me!! Only retro games for me!! Dear Timeline Arcade in Hanover PA, if you are reading this comment INSTALL A FRICKING SPACE HARRIER CABINET!!!
It´s nice see that some kids are playing the old games .
Dude, I'm like totally the same way! I haven't touched an Fps game in years and instead played on my MD, Saturn and Pc engine! That was probably one of my best life decisions, because I feel like my life has gotten better because of it.
I love how you Indiana Jones'ed it at the end. "It belongs in a museum!"
When the beginning said "welcome to the fantasy zone." I always thought that Harrier was in some kind of competition.
Awesome episode! Like you Coury, when I first played Space Harrier in the arcades it became (and still is) my all time favourite video game. Watching this episode was like you were living my life but, here in Australia! I also own a Space Harrier machine (mini version) - sad at the end to see yours go; but that's sure an awesome thing to do to share it's amazing experience with a new generation. Again, like you, the SEGA Master System was my machine of choice back in the 80's; just loved the fire-dragons at at the end! Fingers crossed (well, everything when it comes to having hope with SEGA) that Planet Harriers makes it to home consoles.. For those that have a Japanese PlayStation Network account - Space Harrier Collection and the Fantasy Zone Collection are readily available for you to enjoy on PlayStation 3.
msjb1976 [Coury] Thank you so much. It's reading comments like this that really make me so happy that we do this channel.
I miss the cabinet these days, but its ok. Its at a place that I can visit it any time. I actually have the JPN PSN copy of the compilation too, I got that when I first found out the existence of the set. At that time, I had been out of games and was gradually getting back in, and thought the only Sega Ages 2500 version was the remake.
I have the Fantasy Zone Collection and intend on doing a series recollection using that disc as well.
There is a space harrier arcade cabinet in Manitou Springs CO. I was shocked to find it, as I loved playing this game on my original Master System I got for Christmas in 1986. Unfortunately lots of screen burn in, but still awesome to play the arcade version.
BBloom That’s cool. I’ve only ever seen one arcade cabinet with a CRT monitor, a dual-cabinet of a Sega AM2 Formula 1 Racer, in the Wight Mouse Inn in the Isle of Wight. It had two monitors, both Zenith Shadow Masks, and it was so cool looking! The coin slot was broken when I saw it earlier this year, so it might have been thrown away by now, but it was otherwise working fine and displaying the demos. Monitor 1 was in pretty good condition, but the other was much worse, with severe burn in and distortion. Both of them were massive though! Probably even bigger than my 21-inch Trinitron, probably 25-inchers.
I know this is supposed to be about Space Harrier, but I had a total geekgasm when I saw those Lunar and Ys boxes on your bookshelf at the beginning.
This wasn't my first game but it WAS the first one I finished, gamegear version to be exact then the arcade much later. For this reason I don't think I'll ever forget it, also that fanservice in bayonetta =
Dude, nearly had me in tears at the end. Really great perspective on 'passing on the torch' with moving the cabinet to a real arcade. Did you ever go to see it when they had it set up?
CartridgeCanuck Thanks! Not yet, unfortunately - its actually not set up til after the new year. I'll be seeing it a lot, since it will only be 15 mins away. One of the reasons I was ok with letting it go was that it would still be super close.
Great deal. Thanks for the reply!
Wow Its just nice to know that someone else loves this game too
Wow, pretty much sums up my own experience and feelings. Space Harrier was probably the defining game of my youth, at least my most played. I remember going to the store and looking side by side at an NES playing Excitebike and an SMS playing Space Harrier and thinking "Who could possibly want an NES?" Even as an adult I really admire the unique sense of style and art design in this game. It's the kind of thing that simply doesn't exist today.
GotNextVideo Thanks! Its great to hear someone else having a similar experience. I knew that Space Harrier was on the SMS so I had to get it. Space Harrier vs Excitebike? Pshhh, not even close.
The Super Scalar arcade games were groundbreaking for their time. It wasn't possible to have arcade perfect ports of these at home until the Saturn came out. And in its generation, it was the only console powerful enough to handle it.
Love the Space Harrier games. I have definitely put the most time into the 32X version, such a great game. but before that it was the C64 games which held my attention outside the arcade.
Great video with wonderful production quality. Keep it up!
andrewsutherland2002 Thanks!
Great channel, gentlemen. Love the high production values and writing. You gained a subscriber. I'll share you channel to my friends as you guys deserve way more.
Jose Romero Thank you!
Man the end made me cry haha. I had a similar experience with Space Harrier, but the first time I saw it I was 6 on my brothers Mega Drive :) Awesome video once again guys.
You guys have made a huge improvement in mastering ur audio in new vids. The sound vol is all over the place
I'm far too selfish. I never would have let that cabinet go. You're a stronger man than I. Space Harrier is one of the greatest games I've ever played. It's that good.
The Christmas I got my SMS, I got Space Harrier 3-d and the shutter glasses with it! Definitely not one of my top 10 games, but was really cool at the time.
Funny enough my first experience with this game came from its appearance in Shenmue. Theme is dead catchy.
DEEEEWWWWWWWW DO DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DEW DEW DEEEEEWWWW DO DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I forgot about the existence of this game until Shenmue reminded me of it. Got it for my 32X, kind of justifies owning this Genesis tumor :p
funny enough me too. =)
I first played space Harrier on the 3DS like 2 years ago, and the art, music, and gameplay all had me instantly hooked.
Space Harrier is one of my favourite games of all time.
.
It's great to see a video that talks about this gaming gem.
.
lol ...maybe i'm just being too sentimental here but the ending made me cry...
Excellent video - subbed after seeing this on Sega-16's Facebook.
Jeremy Peeples [Coury] Thanks! I commented on it there, but I dunno if was really clear about it. I used to be Mezz on the TNL forums way back when!
***** Nice. TNL's led to some amazing conversations in its time.
Great video great video, I love Space Harrier, and Space Harrier II! Nice one for giving up your arcade cabinet, I wouldn’t have been able to do it myself personally!
I have never heard of this series and I now feel compelled to play it.
Adam McDermott You definitely should! If you have a 3DS, go for that version.
We had the Amiga versions when I was younger, they were pretty good
So it took the Saturn to properly emulate a game from 1985. Wow!
New to your channel, and I'm really digging it. Great job, guys.
Honestly, I think both you and Joe give the PS2 Ages games more crap than they deserve. One of the biggest reasons why I like those versions of Space Harrier, Outrun, and Afterburner is the scaling.
As impressive as the scaling technology was back when the cabinets were released, I've noticed that the ways they scale leads to some terrible collision detection, which is infuriating to me in games like that. I would play Super Hang-On, and my biker's sprite wouldn't even touch an obstacle, but I would crash anyway, and I've passed straight through trees before without crashing. I understand they were trying the new technology back then, but nowadays, such detection would be considered inexcusable.
With the Ages series, the polygonal models scale very smoothly, and the hit detection always feels spot-on. I always feel like my collisions are my fault now, instead of the older games with their awkward scaling technology. Yeah, the graphics are not as impressive as they could be on the PS2, but I went into them understanding that they were budget titles, and they work great on a playability level, so the visuals didn't bother me.
And what's wrong with the lock-on and bombs in the game? Yeah, just because they're not completely "necessary" doesn't mean they can't be fun to use. You don't "need" the lock-on feature in Star Fox 64, but that doesn't mean it should be a point against it. It seems more like you're complaining against a small bit of added variety for the sake of it not being exactly like the original.
ShogunGin0 [Coury] Out of all the Sega 3D ages games I played, Space Harrier and Fantasy Zone were the only ones that I would continually go back to for a long time. It does look pretty cheap overall, but compared to the likes of the Golden Axe remake...
I can understand the hit detection - I definitely found the PS2 version a heck of a lot easier. The smoother scaling along with the the additions of the lock on and bombs felt like they slowed the game down a bit and made it something different than a chaotic twitch shooter like the original.
That said though, I definitely do like the game - especially it's music - I just wish it wasn't what a remake of what could be my favorite game of all time ended up being. The same could be said for most of the 3D Ages remakes - I love Phantasy Star and it deserved more attention than a budget remake. But who knows what we would have gotten now a days...
Oh man, i've never even heard of this series. It looks interesting, and educational... in a gaming historian sort of way. Great video, you've got me interested :D
also, the ending... all the feels.
Someday I want to get an arcade machine to play stuff like this. I ideally want to get a multi-sync CRT monitor capable of handling many strange arcade resolutions, and have a cabinet setup to let me switch boards out to get different games, like my Uncle had setup in the 1990’s, to play Arcade games from the 1970’s and 1980’s.
I played a lot of Space Harrier 3D when I was a kid. Loved the game, but the thing that really stayed with me after all these years was the theme music. Listening to this song again is... bittersweet, to say the least...
Nice video, although it's worth pointing out that the 32X version does target 60fps, but with lots of frame drops. It's not locked to 30fps.
I think the Wii VC version deserves special mention as well. It's emulation, but the VC arcade emulations are generally pretty solid, and it'll even output in 240p.
I am loving all of your videos! It is fast becoming my favorite RUclips channel!!
So dude the first time I played Space Harrier was at this place called Sam's Town and the had a full mobil chair that moved with you when you aimed left-right or up-down. It was years latter that I saw a normal stand up version. I loved this game! Always got top score. Felt great to be the best at something!
Great video!
Have you guys ever seen the Sharp MZ-700 version of Space Harrier? It's absolutely hilarious. There's gameplay from it on RUclips.
Darkbeat [Coury] I definitely came across some footage of it while I was research the ports of it. It definitely is hilarious, but I think its impressive that they tried.
quite simply amazing video! New sub!
Great video! I also adore spac harrier . My favorite version is that on the 32x. I bought a 3DS last year just to play that version!
***** Lots of love for the 32x version in the comments here. If it wasn't for the Saturn version, it'd be my version of choice as well.
*****
I have got to be honest with you, I haven't played the saturn version yet!
***** The 32x doesn't have to many games. And the games that it does have aren't always that good. But space harrier for the 32x was a high quality game. Back in the day as well. I guess it makes sense to treasure as part of a SEGA collection.
The ending was sad.
I'll def get the 3DS version. I loved Outrun on it so much.
Grew up on nintendo, but space harrier still left a big impression on me.
I absolutely love Space Harrier. Nice coverage.
I play Space Harrier 2 on Genesis when I was 13 years old since 2014 and my favorite Space Harrier port was Master System, Turbografx-16, Game Gear, 32X and Saturn
Great video love it Space harrier , out run , after burner , along with other Sega arcade games the good olds days and the love I have Sega then and always now
It should be Yu Suzuki 7.
Power Drift, GLoc and Enduro Racer were also a super scalers directed and produced by Yu Suzuki, not counting of course the sequels to his originals also.
That being said, even at a young age I was not going anywhere near a Space Harrier port, simply because my first experience of playing it was having to line up for almost an hour to jump on the arcade hydraulic chair version and being completely blown away by the experience the giant speakers close to my head and being enveloped inside this big moving cabinet. I knew immediately that nothing could reproduce the experience, and would be a sad imitation in my eyes.
Decades later I finally got my hands on a cabinet its one of my prized possessions.
LOL who did that ukulele version of Space Harrier at the end?!
BillyTheBigDeal that would be the bold and brilliant Epic Game Music . He has the full thing on his channel which you can check out here: ruclips.net/video/mB-CPs9z6UI/видео.html
sweet, thanks!
I only found out about this game thanks to a CD ROM that came with a gaming magazine, Game Player or Game Pro. I saw a video of it with the SEGA AGES video. I finally got to play it on the Sega Arcade Collection on GBA.
nice gaming dude, so proud of your channels :D
You know, I’d love to see a RGB Master Class 300 series video on running original Arcade machines. I’d love to learn more about what kind of monitors they used.
Suzuki and his team took inspiration from several movies from the time for the characters in the game:
Uriah is a cat dragon, based off Falkor from Neverending Story, which is a dog-like dragon.
The Skeggs from stage two are clearly inspired by Gremlins.
And the mechs look a lot like the Zeon suits from Gundam.
They are Doms from Gundam.
I LOVE Space Harrier too. I grew up with Space Harrier 3D. Because that was the version I played the most I did not notice how choppy it was. I loved it and I loved the 3D. Right now the 32X version i smy favorite beside the 3DS version. Great job!
I had the the Master System 3D version and at the time also bought the glasses. What was more frustrating is that this game was very difficult, in addition to the reduced collection that used these glasses, with many mediocre games. But I really liked the part that the machine was sold, because unfortunately it takes up a lot of space at home and is a good opportunity for youngsters to meet games that have been successful in the arcades.
Oh the nostalgia ! :-)
Awesome video. I love Space Harrier too.
5:12 If you ask me, those are the demonic versions of the voice samples of Space Harrier.
thank you so much for showing these you guys are awesome and extremely talented
I played Space Harrier for the first time a few weeks ago, using the lovingly recreated version in Shenmue I, on the PC version of the HD Remaster.
It’s honestly a great game, but I couldn’t beat the 4th level. It’s so hard! But I’ve never been good at arcade games. It’s great fun, I hope I can beat it someday.
you can feel the magic in this video
Space Harrier is one of my favorite non-Sonic Sega games, next to Streets of Rage 2, Panzer Dragoon, Jet Set Radio, etc.
Letting a cabinet go....must have been tough. It's great having something like that but it's a lot of space for one game. I have an Asteroids Dx at home and if there was an arcade near me that offered me a decent price I'd think about it - but seeing it leave would hurt.Really don't know what I would do. Have the Japanese Saturn port of Space Harrier - plays like a dream.
Damn, what a great video and emotional ending.
Great video... but i cant believe you sold that cab!
***** I'm ok with it...for now. We'll see how long that lasts though. One of the reasons I made the is video is so that I can keep the memories of it in something like this
I wish I could find an old Space Harrier cabinet..
Love some 80's Sega scaler action.
Now I have a sudden desire to say "Wherever you are, whoever you may be have a good one and take care, bye." 🤣
I remember that end song part sadly a missed opportunity to capitalise on the argh get ready in the remix that would've really made it superb
Space Harrier is a great game. I had the ZX Spectrum version on a Sega compilation I had as a kid. When I got a Mega Drive and moved onto Space Harrier 2 I was kinda blown away by it. Still have it lying around somewhere. Wish i still had the Spectrum version. It looked like this if you've never seen it. Hope you like the sound of digitised farts. ruclips.net/video/VmLMBlvyPZI/видео.html
Oh wow Joe Redifer! I knew him like 10 years ago when I used to manage a projection booth at a movie theater. What's funny is he's such a gaming nut that he recognized my name from a letter I wrote that got published in Die Hard Game Fan back in the early '90s. Anyway, my only experience with Space Harrier was the sequel on the Genesis. It was mildly entertaining, but way too easy. All I did was fly around in a figure 8 pattern and had the entire game completed the first night I brought it home.
KarbuncleX [Coury] GameFan mag was the best. One of my biggest influences that led to me where I am now.
*****
Mine too! I have the first 6 years of the magazine stashed in my closet. I'm also friends on facebook with the long-time chief editor. He and I share identical politcal views, so we immediately liked each other. He's told me some pretty amazing stories about what happened on the publishing side of gaming back then.
I loved this game for my master system
I agree. The SMS port is very impressive and only Sega can pull that off.
Space Harrier is an amazing game! Great video.
Great vid! Even though the end is rather dark...
Space Harrier on the Sega Master System was my first love, and Planet Harriers (should SEGA ever get their butts up and port this to something, anything - come on guys, it's 2020, where's my PSVR version of this game?!) will be my last. I'll never forget how a colleague and me played through a Planet Harriers sit-down twin cabinet in Tokyo some time around 2001. Pure bliss! It cost us a few coins, but well worth it!
I like the Doms from Gundam at 1:50. lol
I can't believe Joe let someone else handle color correcting his talking head part. I bet he felt like a part of him died letting someone else handle that.
I respect you decision to sell that Space Harrier cabinet, but I'm not sure I could do it. Love the videos, I look forward to the next one.
Schmeck626 It was a tough choice. I went back and forth on it and came to the realization that if it ever broke, I'd have a very difficult time fixing it. That on top of the fact that my wife and I just bought a house, and the idea of hauling it to the 3rd floor it made the decision a bit easier.
I'll look on the bright side though, its going to a place thats just 15 minutes away where I can visit it any time I want!
Tell us more about that Ghaleon bust over your right shoulder in the intro!
I hope that arcade cab is being looked after.
Wonderful video - I love stuff like that has a person story and not just factual info. Thanks for sharing it. One question I felt like you didn't answer: How is the port of the arcade game on the M2 Sega Ages collection? I now have a region-free PS2 and I'm looking into getting some of the collections M2 did in that series.
Mike'Mo Brothers [Coury] Thanks! While some stories or anecdotes are bigger than others, I try to always put in a personal story. This was one that just came together perfectly.
When it comes to the M2 collection, you can't really go wrong. They do amazing work for whatever they're hired for. The arcade footage in this video was captured from the collection disc, running at 240p. All the games on taht disc run really great, though of course they're not completely perfect. For instance, the death yell in Space Harrier 3D is slightly incorrect.
But all in all, get all the collections they did. They're absolutely worth it, especially the Monster World and Fantasy Zone collections.
***** Great feedback, thanks. Just knowing what I see of the arcade game in this vid comes from the M2 collection is enough for me. And yeah, the MW and FZ discs are high on my list as well. Keep up the stellar work, guys!
How'd you make/get a region-free PS2?
Who's cover of the Space Harrier theme was that at the end of the video?
Nice; this was a pretty unique game for the time.
Why is there a Dom in the box art of the Master System version.
That ending made me really sad :( for real. Love space harrier
Frenom Sad to see it go, but it will only be 15 minutes away from me so I can visit it whenever I want!
A game i have always love since i first seen it in the arcades, over the years i have owned loads of ports of this and your right the Saturn version is amazing but i still have a love for the pc engine version even tho is doesn't have the checkered floor.
The Yu Suzuki 4 should really be 5 as power drift was a cool super scaler game i know it was on the Y board but out run was on its own hardware as well.
The game is also in Shenmue.
Fantasy Zone is the actual fantasy zone from the game ... "Fantasy Zone"
What? You sold it? I never had the chance to play it in any arcade, but love it so much since it was my first SMS game and definitely made me a gamer! Now that I'm an adult it's tha ONLY arcade machine I'd like to have at home...
3:03 eargasm
Space Harrier is an awesome game, I'm not very good at it. That theme song is easily one of my absolute favorite pieces of video game music.
Nothing beats screaming through Asute at break neck speed! Long live Space Harrier, always my number 1. Also the dragon from the first game isn't in Space Harrier II, nor can you fight him as a regular enemy, This dragon appears only once.
So if he's not in the game, how can you fight him once?!
@@Hellwyck because it's another dragon
I played this for the first time today...sadly on a Sega collection for the PS2. :)
How about SHENMUE vesion of Space Harrier ?
Great video!
nice video, i enjoyed it
I have a few questions:
1) Where were Try and Dave?? lol
2) Not a question, but Joe’s parts seemed sooooo formal lol I couldn’t stand seeing him so prim and proper talking to someone at a different angle from the camera
Great vid though
Thank God I have Shenmue to go to the arcades!!!!!