PCE, SNES and Genesis, screen comparison.

[Tatsujin]

the only sad thing about the pce space harrier is, that they couldn't use that checker floor. but hey, the marty version coulnd't neither

but still wonder why? even the SMS version did it (albeit not so well).

The X68000 version uses the same effect as the PCE version, so maybe the same checker-stumped team made both (and maybe the Marty port)?

oops, sry. when i wrote marty i actually meant x68k :oops:

[Joe Redifer]

Space Harrier 2 definitely looks better... at least on pause.  In motion it is a toss-up.  The sound is awful on the PCE edition and the new music isn't very good on the Genesis game (since it is an actual sequel and not Space Harrier proper it has a completely different soundtrack).  The voice in the Genesis version in very clear whereas the PCE voices sound like white noise.  Both are worth owning if you are in to Space Harrier, but only as novelties.  I'd take the SMS version over both of them any day.

[sunteam_paul]

Space Harrier II looks much better than SH 1 on the Engine, but as Joe said it's a toss up when in motion - Space Harrier PCE seems to run far smoother than the Mega Drive counterpart. I really dislike the striped floor on the PCE though. If the other versions could have done it right with colour cycling, then why not the PCE?

On a side note, I really like the music to SH2, it encompasses the feel of Space Harrier while having an originality of its own. The main thing that lets SH2 down is the farty-weak sound effects and the inability to really rapid-fire your gun, something a lot of SH clones get wrong.

I also have a soft spot for the SMS version, it sends waves of nostalgia over me and is the version that made me love Space Harrier to begin with.

[Black Tiger]

How about matching up some Space Fantasy Zone screens with SH & SH2?

[Joe Redifer]

Space Harrier 2 allows rapid fire.  Press A + Start in the title screen to get to the options menu.

[nat]

Space Harrier II looks better in the still screens, but that's where the comparison ends. In motion, it's a landslide in favor of the Turbo. It's not even a tossup. Space Harrier II seems like it's running at 20 FPS.

Although being the true SH fan I am, I own both games of course and love 'em to death, though I feel that SH2 is deeply flawed.

[guyjin]

  I'd take the SMS version over both of them any day.

Seriously? i hardly ever play it because it's such an ugly, blocky mess.

when I have the urge to play SH, I generally pop in the 32X version.

[Tatsujin]

  I'd take the SMS version over both of them any day.

Seriously? i hardly ever play it because it's such an ugly, blocky mess.

when I have the urge to play SH, I generally pop in the 32X version.

me goes for the saturn version

i have also almost any console conversions to choose from -> pce, md, sms, ss..

i appreciate the title screen of the sms version very much.

[esteban]

When it comes to Space Harrier, all I can say is....

The only two things that matters in a Space Harrier comparison are:

1. The "bubble" shooting sound effect
2. The Game Over / High Score music

You also have to subtract points for not having that classic space harrier music as heard in the link below.

On a side note: there were a bunch of Game Gear games in that video I didn't recognize... kinda neat to think about the Japanese releases I can explore.

[Tom]

I really dislike the striped floor on the PCE though. If the other versions could have done it right with colour cycling, then why not the PCE?

 Charles and I looked into this before. They probably chose the striped floor method because it was the simplest to setup. The Genesis floor is easy to do as well, but takes up more vram. That might be why there are less frames in the MD version? Anyway, I'm at a loss as to why they didn't go full color cycling on the PCE floor. I mean, why only 3 colors for the stripes when they could have done a smooth 16 color or such.

[sunteam_paul]

Space Harrier 2 allows rapid fire.  Press A + Start in the title screen to get to the options menu.

I don't mean hold-down-the-button type rapid fire. I meant the number of shots on screen at once. With PCE SH you can keep blasting away non-stop, in SH2 every few shots you get an annoying gap where you seem to be limited with number of shots on screen at once.

[Joe Redifer]

I do not care for the Game Gear version of Space Harrier.  They took the SMS version and raped it with very odd graphics.

Seriously? i hardly ever play [the SMS version] because it's such an ugly, blocky mess.

That it may be, but everything is so much bigger than the PCE version.  The PCE has teeny tiny enemies and sprites you almost need a microscope to play it.  The SMS has giant, huge detailed things which are only enhanced by the tiles around them.  I am almost convinced that the SMS has better voice as well, though certainly not as much.

[sunteam_paul]

[awack]

Since every one seems to like space harrier lets put up some shots of the later levels.


pce                                               genesis

[sunteam_paul]

It's a shame that the PCE main sprite is so damn messy. Mind you, the arcade one was also a bit poorly shaded as well. I really like the all-red suit of SH2.