Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report

Space Harrier arrived in Europe in an incomplete version for Commodore 64

infogiochi's profile picture
Published in 
infogiochi C64 tapes
 · 13 Nov 2021
Space Harrier (Encore)
Pin it
Space Harrier (Encore)

Space Harrier is an arcade video game that is part of the scrolling shooter genre and was released by SEGA in 1985. The game was converted to various gaming platforms of the time, including the Commodore 64. But the version marketed in Europe was incomplete because the programmer didn't have enough time to complete it and Elite demanded the game to be released by Christmas.

The European version of Space Harrier for the Commodore 64 differed greatly from the US version, in that it lacked the characteristic 3D terrain effect.
The US version, released a few months after the European version, was optimized thanks to the greater time available and the timing of the NTSC system that allows greater speed, and then the 3D effect of the terrain was added.
There are indeed raster lines on the ground to simulate 3D scrolling, the animation of the same main character has been changed and there is finally a resemblance to a real race. In addition, if the player accidentally hits a small bush on the ground he will not die, enemies and objects are more detailed, while the dragons have been completely redesigned and the sound effects of the explosions are also much better than in the Elite version.

It is interesting to note that the Commodore Amiga version also ran into oddities: the game was incomprehensibly published by the Elite divided into two parts: Space Harrier with the first 10 levels of the game, and Space Harrier Return to the Fantasy Zone with the remaining 8 levels and 2 bonuses. It was a really absurd strategy to make people pay twice in order to have the complete game.

Space Harrier for the commodore 64 European version (UK)
Pin it
Space Harrier for the commodore 64 European version (UK)
Space Harrier for the commodore 64 USA version
Pin it
Space Harrier for the commodore 64 USA version
← previous
next →
loading
sending ...
New to Neperos ? Sign Up for free
download Neperos App from Google Play
install Neperos as PWA

Let's discover also

Recent Articles

Recent Comments

Neperos cookies
This website uses cookies to store your preferences and improve the service. Cookies authorization will allow me and / or my partners to process personal data such as browsing behaviour.

By pressing OK you agree to the Terms of Service and acknowledge the Privacy Policy

By pressing REJECT you will be able to continue to use Neperos (like read articles or write comments) but some important cookies will not be set. This may affect certain features and functions of the platform.
OK
REJECT