Space Harrier: 32X or Virtual Console Arcade?

[Warp_Rattler]

Yeah, it's true for a lot of the series there are one or two installments where they could use a bit more coverage, but in some cases those few paragraphs are sometimes the most complete (English) info online. It's hit and miss, where even the misses count as very tiny hits. Or something.

[BrianC]

Yeah, it's true for a lot of the series there are one or two installments where they could use a bit more coverage, but in some cases those few paragraphs are sometimes the most complete (English) info online. It's hit and miss, where even the misses count as very tiny hits. Or something.

The little bit of info for Space Harrier TG-16 is very misleading. It's not the only game at HG101 with incorrect or misleading information either (one example is the Punch Out article where Arm Wrestling is given a small section with very misleading information that says the game is played by frantically wiggling the joystick and pressing the button). Personally, I view those as big misses, not tiny hits.

It's not all bad, though. The misinformation often kept me from some games that I ended up liking quite a bit, but there are things I like about the site too. The site has a great deal of info for some games and helped spark interest in some more obscure games. It has some interesting articles, as well.

Speaking of the SMS, I just got one recently and I have been enjoying it so far. So far I have Ys, Fantasy Zone, Kenseiden, Choplifter, Zillion, Rambo III, Hang On/Safari Hunt, Miracle Warriors, Great Baseball, Great Football, and Great Soccer and I have ordered Gain Ground and Land of Illusion, which have shipped (or are shipping soon in the case of LoI) and should be arriving soon. I plan to get Space Harrier since I used to play the SMS one quite a bit. I also plan to use that jet code.

[Strider77]

I see a listing for an arcade mode and options code for the Saturn version but can't get them to work. Any more info on these?

[SuperDeadite]

Actually the 32X port of Space Harrier does support analog controls, as does Afterburner 32X.
The manual does not list them, but the Micomsoft analog pad and cyberstick are supported.
The analog pad is plug and play, while the full size cyberstick needs an adapter.

Personally I stick with the X68000 version. Graphically it's a far cry from the arcade, but its fast,
smooth, cyberstick support and has various fan made music options.

[Strider77]

I'm talked about the Saturn version.

Hold X, Y, Z and Start on the title screen Arcade options
Hold A, C and Start on pad two on the title screen

I can't get either of these to work.

[Strider77]

Noooooooo, I must have my answer.

[Drum]

Space Harrier: Just Not That Good

[D]

Do any of the ps2 versions work with the Hori Flight stick?

[BrianC]

Noooooooo, I must have my answer.

I'm not sure about the arcade mode code or what exactly it does, but I read that the other code won't work without it. I think I may have heard that the game needs to be beaten in order for the arcade mode code to work, but I'm not sure on this.

[null1024]

Blast from the past.

Also, I noticed earlier in the thread someone said Space Harrier 32X runs at 30fps -- it doesn't. It's After Burner 32X that's locked at 30. Space Harrier is 60, with dips below.

[Koa Zo]

Do any of the ps2 versions work with the Hori Flight stick?

Good question!

I never thought to try it.
I'm guessing No since the other SegaAges releases of that era were very clear and thorough in thier instruction manuals about which peripherals are supported.

The PS2 Galaxy Force II Special Extended Edition release does support the Hori flightstick and is clearly noted on the rear of the box and in the manual.

The one extra feature with PS2 Vol. 20: Space Harrier II - Space Harrier Complete Collection is the inclusion of red/blue 3D glasss to play the Master System 3D version in all its glory.

[LSU]

I played Space Harrier about as much as any other game in my local arcades when I was growing up. I absolutely love the game, so I've collected just about every version I could ever since as they've been released!

GaijinPunch hits the nail on the head when he says the best package is the PS2 Space Harrier II Complete Collection. It has an excellent port of the arcade version with 240p video output, as well as a few other ports of home console versions on the disc as well - with red and blue glasses! (@D/Koa Zo: I don't have a HORI flight stick so can't test if that works sorry.)

The Saturn port I would say is the next best option, and if you use the analog 3D controller you can even get the re-centering control thing going. Works with the Mission Stick. Just beware buying this version if you have a Skeleton ('This Is Cool') Saturn console as it won't be playable at all - the frame rate is terrible, literally about 2 fps running on this revision of the console. Obviously it runs fine on all the previous Saturn models.

The 3DS port is also extremely good and has some fun options such as arcade cabinet noise and screen tilt, and can even run in widescreen. I'm sure it's quite accurate overall but I just can't compare it, playing on the small screen Vs. one of the versions listed above running on a large CRT the experience just isn't the same. The 3D is really cool though!

Beyond that, I'd list the Dreamcast and 32X ports next... and then after those, the virtual console or one of the unlockables on the other modern console retro collection discs. After that the GBA and you're into non-sprite-scaling-hardware territory so it gets quite a bit worse, of which the PC Engine hucard is about as good an example as any, but it's far from original arcade quality obviously.

The CBM Amiga version is an interesting one since your shots actually follow the perspective of the grid when they're fired, unlike most other versions where you shoot pretty much straight forward, largely ignoring perspective. It makes the game feel quite a bit different. (Master System certainly had a bit of this feeling, but not quite as much as the Amiga.) The PS2 polygonal remake is also interesting to play for a little bit, if only for a different take on things, but it feels really clunky compared to the original and even though it's relatively cheap it's probably best to avoid unless you simply must have every version.

I've probably forgotten another cool version somewhere that's worth mentioning..!

I *think* I remember K.Matsuoka saying in an interview once that if Thunder Force VI was successful he might like to do an update of Space Harrier..? Obviously that never happened but I'd love to find the link to that just to verify if my memory is correct.

[BrianC]

I'm not sure if I agree with the 32X and Dreamcast being placed above the Wii VC port. It's a well done M2 port with 240p support and multiple control options. It's certainly above the Backbone collection port with the off sound.

I also prefer some of the non-scaling conversions over the GBA version. GBA version isn't bad, just off in ways that the SMS and PCE/TG-16 versions aren't. I feel the same way about the other games in the same collection. They feel like some of the BITD computer conversions that managed to look impressive but are inaccurate gameplay wise.

Have you seen the Atari XL/XE version of Space Harrier? I tried it via emulator. It's unofficial, but it's definitely impressive for the hardware.

Another notable version of Space Harrier is the MZ-700 version. Text based Space Harrrier!

I'm not sure what the big deal is about red/blue glasses, though it is nice they offered an alternative. The original Space Harrier 3D's glasses weren't red/blue and were the fancy type that are plugged in. It's awesome 3D and I was especially surprised by the effect in Maze Hunter 3D since it's not a 3D perspective game.

[Fudoh]

Do any of the ps2 versions work with the Hori Flight stick?

yes, the Sega Ages Vol. 20 collection does. I bought the stick exclusively for Space Harrier and Galaxy Force II. So great.

[qmish]

. I keep seeing much cheaper Sega Ages Vol. 4 Space Harrier titles; are those from when the Sega Ages strategy was crappy low-budget remakes

Lovely arrangements of music, though.

Also, sorry, but can i ask what you here think of Space Harrier II?

[Fudoh]

SH2 got great ideas and enemies, but it's just no fun due to the extreme technical limitation (especially the low framerate).

Despite the misleading title PS2's Sega Ages Vol. 20: Space Harrier II does include the best conversion of the original Space Harrier. SH2 is just a bonus.

[LSU]

Another notable version of Space Harrier is the MZ-700 version. Text based Space Harrrier!

I would love to play this!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Yep, it'd be the PS2 Hori Flight Stick 2 setup that works like a charm with both Galaxy Force II and Space Harrier games -- this is the same flight stick that Namco sold as a bundled set with Ace Combat 5 deal back in the day.

Upon hooking up a Flight Stick 2 setup to a PS3 console, it'll say "Unknown USB device plugged in" & thus isn't usable with it anyways unless SCEI were to release an updated driver for it (otherwise, you'd have to use the optional Hori Flight Stick 3 setup on the PS3 instead).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[BrianC]

Also, sorry, but can i ask what you here think of Space Harrier II?

It's not as good as SH1, but I like it quite a bit, despite the limitations (no scaling, low framerate). The enemy patterns and bosses are well done and I found it fun to play. I also like Space Harrier 3D on SMS (which has a lower framerate than SH2).

[Strider77]

Despite the misleading title PS2's Sega Ages Vol. 20: Space Harrier II does include the best conversion of the original Space Harrier.

In what ways is it better than the Saturn port? Not speaking about extras... just the port of SH1.

[Fudoh]

I would say the arcade port itself is identical - if you run it on a CRT.

The PS2 version gives you the choice between 240p, 480i and 480p. 480p is great for all flat screens of course. It also includes a recorded superplay (which plays back using the game's engine) and gives you the possibility to record your own replays. You also get the switch between various versions including the Master System one, in both 2D and 3D (iirc).

[qmish]

But what about auto-centre controls?

[Fudoh]

not sure what you mean with auto-centre controls. Your character will always return to the middle of the screen if you stop pressing in a direction. Isn't that how SH was always meant to be played ?

[qmish]

Isn't that how SH was always meant to be played ?

Yeah, but is it comfortable for anyone? On different controllers? And in SH2 you don't return... so i thought they could switch on/off that.

[BrianC]

I don't know about the PS2 version, but I know other M2 ports (3DS and Wii) have auto centering for analog and no auto centering for digital controls. The Wii version also has an odd feature where you can use the Wiimote to simulate an analog stick. It also supports 240p, 480i, and 480p (it doesn't have screen options like size adjust and scanlines, though. 240p isn't supported when played on WiiU).

Despite the misleading title PS2's Sega Ages Vol. 20: Space Harrier II does include the best conversion of the original Space Harrier.

Given what I read in the M2 interview, I'm under the impression that the Wii and 3DS versions were actually made slightly more accurate with some odd display bug that was fixed from the PS2 and making the horizon line adjustable on 3DS to compensate for how far the analog controls let you move in the arcade. Not sure if the PS2 version is better than the Saturn either. The horizon line was lower on Wii than it was on PS2 and it turned out that it actually varied at arcades depending on the condition of the controls.

edit: Actually, saying the bug was fixed is inaccurate. It's more accurate to say that it's a display bug that was in the arcade and restored for the 3DS version.

[D]

Do any of the ps2 versions work with the Hori Flight stick?

yes, the Sega Ages Vol. 20 collection does. I bought the stick exclusively for Space Harrier and Galaxy Force II. So great.

Okay, awesome. I'll need to get that vol.20 then. Thanks!