Sega Nerds

The Port Report: Space Harrier (TurboGrafx-16)

by Warren on January 6th, 2007

 

Not every Sega Arcade game is available at home yet, so some times us Sega buffs have to find the best version available if we don’t want to turn to Emulation. Thus, the Port Report was born. Seganerds.com will brave the endless sea of Sega ports so you don’t have to! Keep in mind that the final score is not an overall game score, it’s a score comparing the game to it’s Arcade original.

In this weeks Port Report we examine one of Sega’s best; Space Harrier. For what system you ask? None other then NEC’s TurboGrafx-16, a personal favorite of yours truly. How does this classic hold up on TG-16? Let’s take a look.

Space Harrier’s concept is simple, fly around and shoot stuff. What makes the game fun and unique, however, is it’s hectic pace and fantasy stylings. The game really holds up today, even graphically, which is amazing since it’s 21 years old. That’s a Yu Suzuki game for ya, always ahead of it’s time.

The TurboGrafx version, Developed by NEC and released in 1989, had four years to catch up to it’s Arcade brother. While it isn’t as pretty as the Arcade version, it gets the job done very well.

There are really only two big differences in both games other then the obvious graphical downgrade, which still looks nice. The first being that the Arcade version of Space Harrier controlled with a Flight Stick, while the TG-16 Version is controlled with a D-Pad. The difference is noticeable, but the D-Pad emulates the stick well and is surprisingly precise.

The second main difference is that the checker board styled ground is completely absent. This is a series trademark (a Sega one as well) and it’s odd that it’s missing. The only other versions of Space Harrier, to my knowledge, that do not have a checker board ground are the PS2 Remake (all though, you can turn it on if you wish) and the Commodore 64 port.

These are very minor issues, which shouldn’t matter unless you absolutely must have an Arcade perfect version, in which case your still out of luck due to the games Flight Stick control. The the sound and music are well done, too. Even all the voice clips from the Arcade version are here! Sure, they are really garbled…but they at least sound like a voice.

The TG-16 port of Space Harrier has it where it counts; It faithfully recreates the original game. It has a few kinks in it, mostly due to hardware limitations, but it’s still the same hectic, scrolling, blast-fest that the Arcade original is. This version even has an option to invert the controls, which is useful for people..that like to do that sort of thing. As good as it already is, it’s made even greater because TG-16 games can be played on a Turbo Express, so you can visit the Fantasy Zone on the go. That is, if you want to have to answer everyone’s “what is that huge thing!?” questions.

After the disappointing NES version of Alien Syndrome, this port is a breath of fresh air. Space Harrier fans have it a lot better then Alien Syndrome fans; The Arcade version of the game is available many places, such as a Mini-Game on Shenmue and Yu Suzuki’s Gameworks Vol. 1, both for Dreamcast. So finding the true Arcade version at home shouldn’t be too difficult. When it comes to portable gaming, however, the TurboGrafx-16 version is light years above the rest and it ain’t bad as a home version too.

Space Harrier for TurboGrafx-16 gets an 8/10 because it’s still a spritey dragon-blasting good game. GET READY!

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POSTED IN: Retro