The game site for the Sega Ages Space Harrier is now live. The third-person rail shooter is "coming soon" to the Japanese Switch eShop and will set you back 925 yen.
This new version captures the spirit of the original 1985 arcade version while also adding in features from the 2012 3DS title such as widescreen support and the console-exclusive final boss. There's also a special wallpaper and CRT display (see below), channelling the retro glory of the arcade era.
The new mode "Komainu Barrier Attack" allows you to befriend powerful allies in battle - making the aerial dog fights in the game much easier for less skilled players. Komainu provides you with a special barrier, meaning you can make contact with enemies and obstacles without taking damage.
The last notable feature in this updated version of Space Harrier is the special "Joystick Mode" allowing you to hold your Joy-Con vertically and recreate the controls of the original arcade game.
Will you be downloading Space Harrier from the Japanese eShop or holding out for a local release? Leave a comment below.
[source gematsu.com]
Comments 38
AAAAARGHHH, GET READY
Sega needs to hurry up with the releases of the Ages line in other territories outside of Japan. Jeeeeeez guys, it's 2019
@Pichuka97 at least we're getting virtua racing next week <3 can't wait for it
This game was pretty lousy back in 1985, I doubt it’s gotten better enough to justify a buy. That’s a no for me, but I’ll happily throw my money down for an M2 remake of Daytona USA, Sega Rally Championship, or SCUD Race.
@Racthet916 What?! I think Space Harrier is one of the greatest arcade games from the 80's. I still love it. But since I have the arcade version of this on Wii Virtual Console, I don't think I'd be getting anything different by buying this. The "Komainu Barrier Attack" doesn't sound like much of a selling point.
Awesome!! I spent so many quarters on this game that it became the only game my mom recognized. Im nearly certain she tailored her shopping away from places that had this game if I was with her.
I've been waiting for this one for quite some time.
Their 3DS version was already perfect, this will be hard to top!
Oh man! I love Space Harrier!
...but...
I honestly wish that glasses-less 3D TVs were a thing. I love Space Harrier on the 3DS, the depth really made that remake-ish-port-ish really special!
Sure, we can now play this on a bigger screen. but I already own Space Harrier on the Saturn. Than again I say this, and I already own Sonic, Outrun, Alex Kidd, and plenty of other games multiple number of times anyway, and still got a Switch port!
...so I might end up getting this anyway! lmao!
Still waiting for virtua racing come on Sega sort it out
Still waiting til we reach the Saturn and Dreamcast era of games for Sega Ages.
To paraphrase Alien...
In an arcade, EVERYONE can hear you die on Space Harrier.
I wish the early Switch AGES catalogue didn't include so many of the titles already in the 3DS lineup. None of the Super Scaler games are going to beat their 3D counterparts.
@Racthet916 ?????? This game was legendary back in 85'. Daytona is never happening.
Where's Shinobi at???
@Racthet916 The coin-op was quite the spectacle in arcades. The home version, not so much. Sure, the gameplay was pretty basic, but it was far from lousy at the time. It wowed audiences when it first came out.
One of my first true loves in the arcades. Day 1 for me.
@retro_player_22 Me too, I really hope they manage it this time. They barely got started with the Dreamcast stuff during the 360/PS3 generation before abandoning it.
If they would just bite the bullet once and get some good Saturn and Dreamcast emulators written they can re-use them for hardware generations to come and hopefully put an end to them constantly releasing the same collection of Megadrive ROMs every few years.
Looking forward to this one. Great, classic game.
But next week is the big one for me- Virtua Racing At last!!! I can’t wait to pedal to the metal!
N3DSXL version is the best. The 3D is real.
Excellent, look forward to seeing this in the West in 6 months 🙄
Although I already have it in Wii VC and 3DS, it is worth getting for Scan Lines, much needed on large TVs with retro games me thinks
Soon in Japan... and much later worldwide!
@TheFox I agree, as with all Sega arcade games from the 80's...they were the greatest. I played the Master System version to death and I really enjoyed Space Harrier 2 on the Genesis as well. This one for will be an easy "yes".
Day 1 but please don’t take forever! 7 days to go to finally play Virtua Racing!
Great news, will be very tempted by this one and can't wait for Virtua Racing next week. I'd love to see some model 2 arcade games come our way at some point though, like Daytona and Virtual On.
I've been a fan ever since I had a go on a hydraulic cabinet at an arcade in Skegness, 1986, when visiting my Gran. One of the perks of visiting my Gran was frequenting the Arcades at the height of their popularity. I even loved the garish colour clash ZX Spectrum version, such was my love for the game. Definitely buying this, again!
The 3DS version says I've played Space Harrier for nearly 34 hours since 2013. Honestly, I probably won't pick this version up - I can't imagine playing without the 3D effect, which was mesmerising (though perhaps they could have some kind of mode for the Labo VR?)
Oh man, I'm all over this! I do hope the Joy-con joystick mode works better than the WiiVC Arcade motion controls, though. The control schemes on that version were awful, IMO.
EDIT: Joy-Con Joystick mode is GREAT! However, it seems to be very accurate to how the original arcade flight stick behaves (wiggly movements and all). So yeah, arcade accurate, but not what newcomers might be expecting as far as motion controls go.
It's a great game, but I don't see any reason to pick this up compared to the 3DS version.
@GrailUK It depends on which home version you're talking about. Some ports (as well as the Genesis sequel) were lousy, but others like the ones on the 32X and Saturn versions were excellent. Then we eventually got the original arcade version on the Wii, followed by what is now the definitive version on the 3DS. It's right up there as one of the best 80's arcade games ever made and has aged extremely well.
I never understood why we see this and its sequel everywhere. Such a terrible game for a re-release. Underappreciated Genesis gems: Road Rash, General Chaos, and Dinosaurs for Hire. Where are those?!
@Pichuka97 The other two arrive next week, or you could just get on with it like i do every time and buy them on the japanese eshop at launch.
@BulbasaurusRex The Japanese Saturn version is superior to the arcade.
I'm impressed that this isn't already on Switch, seeing as how it's been ported to approximately 8 billion things already.
@BulbasaurusRex I was talking at the time, so C64, Speccy even the mighty PC Engine had a naff version.
@Gs69
You're better off just making a Japanese eShop account, grabbing a code from PlayAsia, and buying it that way. The whole game will automatically be in English when you play it so there's really no point in waiting.
Which begs the question, why don't they just release both Japanese and English versions at the same time, if they are 100% the exact same code?
@SmaMan yeah I mean what’s the excuse I don’t mind waiting a few weeks after the jap release but a few months is a joke and like you said it’s already translated so I don’t see what the hold up is
@Racthet916 yes that's what I'm waiting for!
@Gs69 it s definitively incredible
i have the JPN version and love it
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