Space Harrier at 40: how Sega’s surreal classic brought total immersion to arcades in the 80s

Space Harrier, released by Sega in 1985, is a classic 3D space shooter that celebrated its 40th anniversary this year. The game was designed by Yu Suzuki and featured a jetpack-equipped super soldier named Harrier, who flew through a surreal, psychedelic landscape battling alien enemies. Originally, the game was conceived as a realistic military flight simulator, but the technical limitations of the time made that impossible. Suzuki then drew inspiration from the flying sequences in the fantasy film "The NeverEnding Story" to create a more fantastical and abstract experience, with elements like stone giants and dragons as enemies. The innovative arcade cabinet, which would physically move players around, helped to immerse them in the action and provide a truly immersive experience. Space Harrier was a groundbreaking title that pushed the boundaries of what was possible in arcade games during the 1980s, and it remains a beloved classic to this day.