Help Finding the name of a 3d (or 3rd person 2D) Shmup

[chojinlocke]

Hello all

I have been a shmup fan for a long time, and it started to bug me that I couldn't find a particular game for a friend of mine. I kind of remember it, but I can't seem to get the right keywords on KLOV or here to find it.

He described it as:
A 3rd person shooter
The player rides a dragon or worm that moves up and down (he said it was a pain because the dragon's body would obscure the screen if you moved him to the top)
He played it between 1991-1993 at an arcade in Austin
Sounds like a Space Harrier type of game
There were plants and weird organic creatures to shoot.
He said it had a weird name that was hard to pronounce and easy to forget. (Probably had one of those fantasy type fonts that make it even worse to remember).

Any help anyone could give would be great. I can usually play the "what's that game" with the best of them, but this one has me stumped.

Thanks!

BTW this is one of the most rockin sites! I play any shmup I can get my hands on, but I am not a shmup master. I'm hoping to make a shmup based on a comic I co-write, and I keep coming back here for inspiration. Great work to everyone who has a hand in the site!!!

[Daigohji]

"It's been a long time since the last time we met, Yamaki. Next time I suggest you pick a better hotel." [/obscure quote]

The only 3D Space Harrier style dragon game I can think of is Panzer Dragoon, but did that ever have an arcade version?

[chojinlocke]

"It's been a long time since the last time we met, Yamaki. Next time I suggest you pick a better hotel." [/obscure quote]

The only 3D Space Harrier style dragon game I can think of is Panzer Dragoon, but did that ever have an arcade version?

Yeah, I don't think that there was a panzer dragoon arcade (I thought of it first as well, but also panzer dragoon wasn't out until later I believe), and from what my friend was saying, sounded more like how the dragons are put together in Space harrier. I seem to remember seeing the game he told me about, but I just can't place it.

I thought I would be able to find this one immediately, but it has been a mystery for the past week or so.

hehe nice quote indeed!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Well, Space Harrier came out for both Japan & USA in three different arcade cabinet configurations:

*upright arcade cabinet style

*sit-down style with non-moving seat

*sit-down style with self-moving seat (powered by electric motors) - this one costed either 75 cents or a dollar to play since the extra hardware needed to move the player's seat in relation to the Space Harrier's main character shown on-screen.

I've seen all three different and distinct Space Harrier arcade cabinets at one time or another in the USA. In fact, at the California Extreme 2006 show, someone had brought their personal upright arcade cabinet version of Space Harrier to show off + was set on "Free Play" so one could try it out. Awesome game PCB and is Jamma compatible as well. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Daigohji]

You play a snake-like dragon made out of interconnected section in St Dragon. I think that's the right era too, but it's a hori, not a Space Harrier style one (unless your friend was just referring to SH for the similarity to the dragon boss).

[Frogacuda]

Space Harrier had bonus levels where you ride a dragon. It sounds very much like this. You think he might be thinking of that?

[chojinlocke]

Space Harrier had bonus levels where you ride a dragon. It sounds very much like this. You think he might be thinking of that?

I'm going to have to check out the bonus levels and find out... This one is bugging me to no end. I had to double check with him because I thought of st. dragon as well. Thanks everyone, I'm going to keep looking but I really appreciate the help!

-TS