Harrier Jump Jet | Microprose 1992 (Roland sound)

While I wait for the Razbam's Harrier for DCS World which I already preordered, I'm looking at some classic Harrier flight sims from the '90. First up is Harrier Jump Jet from Microprose released in 1992.
I have to say I love the frontend, all the interactive menu screens, that glorious Microprose vibe, the art style, it's greatly immersive. What happened to these in all the new sims?
The game had pretty good graphics at the time. When most flight sims were still flat shaded, Harrier Jump Jet had rolling hills with Gourand shading, although the view distance was limited and pop-up terrain was commonly seen.
Gameplay followed similar formula to previous classic Microprose titles as F-19, F-15 II or F-117. You choose your theatre of operations from 3 available ones - Falklands/Malvinas, Hong Kong and North Cape. When you sign up you can choose 2 Harrier variants - USMC AV-8B or RAF GR.7. They are basically the same. Note that both have 4 weapon stations under each wing in game while in reality only GR.7 has 4 while AV-8B has 3. RAF version also uses different muinitions in few cases although they serve the same purpose as US counterparts.
You have a wide array of weaponry - from basic A/A Sidewinders, anti-radar Sidearms, unguided CRV-7, guided Mavericks, Hellfires, LGB's, CBU's, slick and retarded unguided bombs, recce pods, gun pods, ECM pods. There's plenty to chose from.
Missions follow FRS (Fighter, Reconaissance, Strike) role - they vary from BARCAPs, air intercepts, reconaisance to CAS, SEAD, and straight up ground attack. You can fly from regular runways, small strips or LHD's.
As always you can study your achievemnts or mistakes at the debriefing map which should be well known to the Microprose flight sim enthusiast.
The flight model is a bit wonky. It's more realistic than in previous MP flight titles mentioned earlier but the jet-borne flight is a bit tricky. I haven't played the game much till recently, so you have to excuse my crash landing ;) I guess I have to practice more ...
Looking back at it after flying DCS Razbam's Harrier I can see many small details implemented from real aircraft. HUD symbology is pretty accurate for 3 modes NAV / VSTOL / A/G. Sidewinder employement is also realistic, you have 2 modes used in real aircaft modelled - BST (boresight) and SEAM (Sidewinder Expanded Acquisition Mode). One thing is even more accurate here than in DCS Harrier - the NAVFLIR image displayed on the HUD is in monochrome green, while in DCS Harrier is black/white (DCS World engine limitation, should be correctly implemented during Early Access).

[@ryansta]

Amazing that they could do all that and pack so many features in, easy to dismiss nowadays unless you take a long look at what your actually seeing on screen. Used to love anything by Microprose back in the day, they were one of the flying sim Gods, with the big cardboard box chocked full of manuals and usually a book as well. Thanks for posting.

[@therexbellator]

Hell yeah. You crystallized my excitement for getting a Microprose sim to a tee. Those sweet juicy manuals to pore over was one of the best parts besides actually flying and completing a mission successfully. It's a shame how flight sims of this complexity disappeared. early/mid 90s flight sims were peak flight sims for me, complex enough to feel challenging but not so hardcore that you felt like you had to enlist in the air force haha. Good times.

[@G_de_Coligny]

@@therexbellatoryup, DCS manage to so perfectly miss the point for this… Either get toy planes or stuff that require to flush the p1ss tanks perfectly following the maintenance manual to have the right to follow the next 30 minutes of engine startup and nav calibration…

[@G_de_Coligny]

Oh… AND THE FUNKING LOADING TIMES !!!

[@SuperbLobster]

5:20 This menu music kicks ass.

[@uniquehandle1]

It's hard to believe that this game was released before Prince of persia 2

[@jakubdabrowski3846]

I have good memories about this game - the first flight sim with Gouraud shading. And that beautiful intro.

[@saintuk70]

I think I played this back in the day - along with TFX, EF2000, F22 ADF - awesome games for the hardware they were one. Still, in terms of flight sims, nothing beats the first I owned which was Nightflite for the ZX Speccy :)

[@rodrigobarbosa6610]

oh man! It brought so many memories. nOt from this game in particular, never played it, but form another Microprose classic; Strike Eagle III. Simpler times, good old times, great games.

Great sounding soundtrack on a Roland (and compatible FM synth devices)!

[@polar0101]

in nowadays when i see extra big orange sky and sunrise over far mountains allways I am constantly reminded of this game with arctic orange sky

[@MCP2002]

Haha I remember the sim well! Ahhh the good ol days. No youtube vids, no video reviews...all you had was look at the back of the box...looks cool. Buy. Lol

[@damsonn]

You forgot the video games magazines ;-)

[@camberiu]

I wish we had modern, semi-realistic yet accessible combat flight sims like this one available today.

[@damsonn]

We sort of have one comming - Combat Air Patrol 2 is in the making, but the development is taking long due to only one active developer is working on it at the moment. You can check it s progress here: kzbin.info/aero/PLIku_oD9y-RAUBR4LShCQkVQoUfwsBNgS

[@Motorman2112]

This is better than I'd have expected for 1992.

[@Aeronaut1975]

Anyone remember "Tornado"? I still have the original boxed set.

[@Durian_Defense]

www.moodurian.com/tornado

[@pelimies1818]

This is for casual arcade player - compared to Tornado, which was one of the most accurate sims from it’s era.

[@dagger6467]

With reciept from EB Games Framingham,Mass.

[@javasrevenge7121]

Yes sure.

[@EJ205T]

Oh yeah that music

[@matthewjames4268]

Never knew this game exisited at the time. I had F-19 stealth fighter. Loved that game. I think I went on to Wing Commander after.

[@HAWKYE10]

No joke it doesn't look that bad and I like the music.

[@dagger6467]

The first time I had ever viffed!

[@Stinktierchen]

I loved this game back then. But I was too young and too stupid to really master it :D

[@serinusgranainobolborhynch868]

Qué recuerdos!!! Y que aterrizajes imposibles!!!

[@kino57]

Never realized this game was so good

[@MrPhantom453]

I don't remember this one. Strange!! We have come so far with these sims.

[@Air-Striegler]

Wonderful memories! Finally a good video with the proper sound!

[@JIMJAMSC]

Been at it since Microprose F-19. $3 grand at Radio Shack for a 25 mz Tandy. Now I have that much total in addons for P3D not inc the computer/tv or HOTAS. Last week I upgraded P3D P4 and it took 2 days and I STILL have not tweeked it. And TBO I was more fascinated and enjoyed the early games more than today. We have become jaded.

[@damsonn]

True ...

[@spacedigger]

Goddamn I love this old shit. Fucking nostalgic sounds and all.

[@thorerikkarlsen]

I bought this game in march 1993. Really loved your manouvering in this video. I couldn't land it successfully either :) I wonder if someone has

[@damsonn]

I did in my other HJJ vid: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKKWdoR-i9iElcU ;)

[@malthomas987]

god that taks me back

[@henryng439]

26:20 was the landing too fast? what caused it to explode?

[@damsonn]

Most likely.

[@ytdlder]

Which one do you think is the better game: this or "AV-8B Harrier Assault" from the same year?

[@damsonn]

The Domark sim has way better flight model, fully dynamic campaign which you can alter, but MPS also has its advantages - somewhat more realistic depiction of avionics (especially HUD modes), and it has a nicer presentation (love the music). In the end it's the personnal preference. I like both.

[@ytdlder]

@@damsonn Thanks! Seems I gotta try them myself then 🙂

[@esbenrose]

Menu music tho!

[@simnostalgia]

I enjoyed a lot Domark's AV-8B and I want to try this, anyone knows where to get the manual?

[@damsonn]

Let me know if you find one. I was looking fot scanned manual myself. The only way is to track down the physical copy I guess. But the game is pretty rare.

[@simnostalgia]

Of course I'll share if I find a copy. I think the same, it seems that the only way is finding a phisical one.

[@jamescarter8311]

For you, the war is over, LMAO

[@biffrapper]

CBU-87s?! We got gipped in DCS. Harrier only gets crusty rockeyes which stink.

[@alexh2790]

On Gog now!

[@damsonn]

It's probably the same as on Steam, published by Atari. If so it's most likely badly configured and lacking even the manual...

[@alexh2790]

@@damsonn I see that you've generously shared a link to the pared down manual. I may bite the bullet anyway and see for myself. The configuration doesn't bother me, I usually play these games on my phone with Magic Dosbox. Edit: I forgot to say thanks!

[@damsonn]

@@alexh2790 I feel it's my duty to help the community ;) and the dosbox config could be easily altered. First thing to change would be "cycles" setting in dosbox.conf file (or whatever name they gave that file). I'm using 20000 cycles myself for this game.

[@roak4115]

Is it for pc?

[@damsonn]

Yes, it was realesed only for PC.

[@vgaoct91]

What Harrier sim would you recommend me?

[@damsonn]

From the good old days I would say SVGA Harrier (upgraded AV-8B Harrier Assault) from Domark. Surprisingly the flight model is still pretty good even today. You can pretty much execute the proper lvertical landing on the LHD, the controls in jetborne flight feels just right. Also you have this kind of dynamic campaign which you can influence by altering the default battle plan. You have limited supplies (Harriers as well as other assets) to utilize, so you have to be careful how you use them. It was really ahed of its time IMHO.

[@thriftweeds]

I you ask me i would say "TORNADO: Operation Desert Storm by Spectrum Holobyte, Digital Integration 1993 - as it was not Harrier sim! My bad , But still awesome simulation to try out.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKi9hn2CjbWpeNU

[@vgaoct91]

I'm still trying to figure out the autospeed and wing sweep controls on that one. In actuality, I was asking about a *Harrier* sim. Though I'd kill for SVGA Harrier and TORNADO: Operation Desert Storm... As well as M1 Tank Platoon I & II.

[@thriftweeds]

im sorry i mixed Tornado's and Harrier's together that because both have unique flying style i guess :) as i recall there's not much Harrier sims for DOS just This Jump Jet and AV8B (SVGA Harrier) then there's lot's of arcade harrier games such as Harrier Combat Simulator but it's from 1988 that i have played

[@hook86]

RAZBAMs AV-8B being released for DCS World very soon. It will be the definitive Harrier simulation.