Developer: NMK Co. Ltd Publisher: Treco Released: 1991 Genre: Shooter
Military themed games are not really my purview. Don’t get me wrong, I can enjoy a Metal Gear or occasional Call of Duty provided the game is good. But the setting is not the first that I look for when I want entertainment. Now combine that with vertical shooters, a genre that was totally over saturated on the Genesis and I’m not paying attention. Task Force Harrier Ex manages to rise above my apathy as a solid game with a pretty good weapon system and action. It might be too long but there are worse problems than too much content.
Task Force Harrier Ex comes loaded for bear with an assortment of weaponry. By default you drop bombs for ground targets while firing at airborne enemies. Both of these weapons can be upgraded in a number of ways. The main cannon is upgraded on its own but missiles come in three varieties; homing, Vulcan, and regular missiles. Missiles also grant two escort ships that function like options. Bombs similarly have three types; dispenser bombs that run in a straight line, impact bombs that have a wide radius, and cluster bombs. Mixing and matching the different missile and bomb types is incredibly fun and the game is very generous with its power-ups.
The EX in the game’s title comes from the expanded control over your escorts. In the Genesis version your escorts/options can be arranged in one of four formations. Each formation offers different benefits. Aligning them in front of your ship focuses your firepower while spreading them out increases the width of your attack but you leaves you vulnerable. Your speed will also increase or decrease depending on the formation replacing the need for separate power-ups. The options also absorb bullets which is similar to the force in R-Type. Indeed, you can view this as a vertical take on that series as the similarities are there. Being able to adapt to any situation at the touch of a button adds a whole new dynamic to the game and makes what would more or less be an ordinary but drab shooter more unique.
Task Force Harrier alternates its stages. The aerial have both ground and air targets. You get the full suite of power-ups get to see everything it has to offer in terms of enemies and bosses. Ground assaults take away your power-ups and zoom in the camera and focus exclusively on land targets. Here you get to really learn the ins and outs of each bomb since they are the focus. These stages can be rough since you do not get options to soak up bullets. Boss battles feel like a war of attrition since they can take a lot of punishment but never to the point of frustration. I like them even if the game lacks the fantastical element I seek in shooters.
All told Task Force Harrier Ex is thirteen levels long. You get a lot of game for your money. But it could stand to trim the fat a bit. The main problem is that levels are long and repetitive. You will start to notice the lacking enemy variety and similar environments in short order and it does not get any better. Part of that is owed to the game’s theme; the focus on real life planes and tanks is cool if you are into that but does not make for variety. Less stages, more diversity in the levels, I would even have taken a layer of parallax scrolling just to break up the mood. The bland graphics do nothing to break up the monotony and would have gone a long way toward making the game more interesting. As is the game becomes a slog long before its conclusion.
For the most part Task Force Harrier is median in its difficulty. The game is very generous with power-ups and death merely drops your weapons a level. The scoring system means you will earn extra lives regularly and death gives you three smart bombs to spam if need be. There is a sharp spike by stage nine that is sudden and the game can feel cheap at times. But it is nothing out of the ordinary compared to most shooters. This one remains accessible despite its best efforts.
In Closing
Task Force Harrier Ex has a few rough spots but is still a good game overall. Considering the system is inundated with quality shooters means it is a low priority considering its competition. But that is not a slight against the game, just acknowledging reality.
