Space Harrier II Review - Sega Genesis / Mega Drive

Space Harrier 2 was developed and published by Sega back in 1988 as a launch title for the Mega Drive in Japan. It was then made available for the US launch of the Sega Genesis in 1989 and for the PAL/European Mega Drive in 1990.
The original Space Harrier was one of many popular arcade games made by Sega that used sprite-scaling technology to achieve a 3D effect. Other titles include Hang-On, Out Run and After Burner which most people are familiar with.
Unfortunately the system hardware for the Mega Drive and Genesis wasn’t able to handle sprite-scaling, so a compromise had to be made where each enemy and part of the landscape was pre-rendered at different sizes to give a similar illusion. This resulted in the projectiles being harder to avoid and the game looking a little bit choppy, but for the time this was forgivable and still much more impressive than any of the ports of the original game on other systems.
Visually, Space Harrier 2 holds up pretty well to its arcade predecessor, keeping with the surreal, psychedelic, space greek-inspired theme (I can’t quite think how else I could describe it). There’s a fair amount of familiarity with enough new enemies and bosses to keep it interesting over the 12 stages which you can play in any order, followed by an added final stage if you can complete them all. Something I’ve never been able to achieve due to its high difficulty.
-----------------------------­­----------­------------------­-­---------------------­-----
Please let me know your thoughts on the game in the comments below. If you enjoyed this video, please click on the like button and subscribe... and as always; thanks for watching!
Written Review: www.mygamerxp.c...
Sega Classics Collection Review (PS2): • Sega Classics Collecti...
-----------------------------­­----------­------------------­-­---------------------­-----
Please support my videos on Patreon: / mygamerxp
Website: www.mygamerxp.com
Twitter: / mygamerxp
Instagram: / mygamerxp

[@FossilArcade]

The Space Harrier theme music is such a great tune!

[@Gxpblog]

Yeah the original Space Harrier theme tune is still one of my all time favourites. I often listen to it :-)

[@SinceSpacies]

As this was the game that I bought with my Sega Mega Drive back in the day this game has a special place in my gaming past. I loved the music in this version (although not as memorable as the arcade version). But the highlight was that voice. We take it for granted that speech is expected in most games. But back then it was rarely in a home console game. It is in my top moments in gaming hearing that crystal clear "get ready" sample when you get back up. I'm super nostalgic for this title!

[@Gxpblog]

It's true what you say about taking speech for granted on cartridge games. I remember a similar feeling too when Resident Evil 2 had compressed FMV on the Nintendo 64! The "Get Ready" in this is so crisp and clean, really impressive! :-)

[@Shambles11]

I found this game bright, colourful and mesmerising as a kid but it was so damn hard! Great vid as always mate!

[@Gxpblog]

Thank you! :-)

[@Jikyuu]

I think I may have played this as a kid, wouldn't mind having a go now.

[@snowkittenstudio]

Gahhhh! That face at 2:43! I never had the chance to play Space Harrier 2, but it does look great. (And this video is well put together too!) I played the first one on the Master System - a lot of fun but definitely a difficult game. I'm sure I played it on the Amiga as well, but never the sequel.

[@Gxpblog]

Yeah it looks very cool! + The Master System version wasn't too bad. I still need to try out a few other ports :-)

[@Charlie-Cat.]

I love Space Harrier II XP. I remember playing this in a local video game store and loved every second of it. Great choice as usual bro. Anthony...

[@Gxpblog]

Thanks Anthony! I hope to cover even more scaler games in the near future :-)

[@Charlie-Cat.]

MyGamerXP You're welcome XP. Can't wait to se more. Anthony....

[@Larry]

Check out the arcade game, Planet Harriers. That's the closest Sega has gone for a truly next gen space harrier.

[@rayforceaddict]

Larry Bundy Jr i popped in to say this too. Planet Harriers is awesome, especially if you can find a two player cab. I was disappointed when the GameCube version got cancelled

[@Gxpblog]

Aw I will do, thank you! I did see a bit about it on www.hardcoregaming101.net but I definitely need to see some videos or try to play it somehow :o

[@Gxpblog]

Aw yeah I'd love to try it! Shame about the GameCube version getting cancelled :-(

[@Xonatron]

Larry Bundy Jr going to check this out right now.

[@leroyvisiongames2294]

They need to bring Space Harrier back, and have Opa Opa as his sidekick. I think it’d translate well enough into the modern age. Just make it a little more plot-focused and make the gameplay something similar to Planet Harriers (though maybe find some way to keep the checkered terrain in; that’s kind of a staple).

[@jaysheets9617]

As much as the Sega Master System/MarkIII port didn't have the same feel as the arcade did, the soundtrack continued to feel incredible, and it still felt like Space Harrier, just not in its truer form. Haya-oh was a pain in the ass, though.

[@Straiden313]

I was hoping you'd mention the Shenmue arcade version ;)

[@namechange4919]

I could beat this game start to finish EVERY TIME IN A ROW ;)

[@chrispate1567]

sega had and still have the know how to have came out with several space harriers,easily.

[@Retromancers]

Nice; I don't think I played the sequel so this is cool to see.

[@Gxpblog]

Definitely worth picking up as it's one of the cheapest games to get for the Genesis/Mega Drive on eBay at the moment still :-)

[@Gxpblog]

Already been a subscriber since about 2014 I think :-)

[@Retromancers]

Sweet ;)

[@chuckyluvsu13]

Great review thanx

[@Shyning77]

Great review again, Matt! A game I can't fully enjoy due to its shmup genre. Same with AfterBurner, which I like slightly more though. The Mega Drive's unability to perform sprite scaling (ingame, that is) is what bugged me in several arcade conversions for the Mega Drive, especially OutRun (check out the "jerky" palmtrees at the start). That game specially deserved a 32X version IMO.

[@Gxpblog]

Thank you mate I always appreciate you leaving a comment :-) I don't play a lot of shoot-em-ups, but I do really love this one, even the Mega Drive version. I tried not to be too biased, but there's a lot of nostalgic feelings with the series for me. The same goes for After Burner, Out Run and even Thunder Blade which I didn't mention in this video, but I will cover all the Sega "scaler games" in the future.

[@Shyning77]

MyGamerXP Cool mate, looking forward to it. And thanks for your reply, I always appreciate that you do! ;)

[@namechange4919]

Space Harrier Too ;)

[@damon2874]

I played on an emulator&its the same game.