Space Harrier (1986). Play online

Summary

The Master System’s version of Space Harrier was a technical showcase, arriving in 1986 as the console’s first two‑megabit cartridge. All eighteen original stages survive, but the vibrant backgrounds are replaced by a stark, monochrome horizon and the series‑iconic checkerboard floor, giving the game a distinctive minimalist feel.

Developed by Mutsuhiro Fujii and Yuji Naka, this port adds a unique finale: a twin‑bodied fire dragon named Haya Oh that serves as an exclusive boss, along with an ending sequence not seen in the arcade. The effort earned a 9 / 10 from Ed Semrad of The Milwaukee Journal. A later off‑shoot, Space Harrier 3‑D, paired the same core gameplay with SegaScope 3‑D glasses, introducing new stages and enemies while preserving the original’s high‑velocity shoot‑‘em‑up spirit.

Storyline

The arcade version of Space Harrier basically throws you into nonstop action with no story—once you clear the stages it just flashes "The End."
The Master System port, however, tacks on a simple storyline: you’re the heroic pilot Harrier, tasked with saving the mysterious Land of the Dragons from total destruction.
After battling through the psychedelic skies you finally confront the fire-breathing dragon Haya Oh in an exclusive boss fight, then the game rolls a new ending sequence to wrap things up.