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Task Force Harrier

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Arcade

Task Force Harrier is a 2D arcade vertically-scrolling shooter where the player controls a Harrier V fighter plane. The gameplay is similar to Xevious. The player shoots enemies in the air and bombs enemies on the ground. It is possible to collect power-ups to increase firepower. The game has a c...

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Developer
NMK

Released on
1989

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Shooter

Publisher
Treco

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

Cooperative
Yes

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Description

Task Force Harrier is a 2D arcade vertically-scrolling shooter where the player controls a Harrier V fighter plane. The gameplay is similar to Xevious. The player shoots enemies in the air and bombs enemies on the ground. It is possible to collect power-ups to increase firepower. The game has a cooperative 2-player mode.

Task Force Harrier

Overview & History

Released into arcades by Ricoh in 1989 and later published by UPL, Task Force Harrier is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up that drops players into the cockpit of advanced jet fighters during a fictional global crisis. Set against a backdrop of rogue military factions attempting to overthrow world governments, the story follows an elite squadron of mercenary pilots deployed to dismantle heavily fortified enemy installations across land, sea, and sky. Eschewing the purely sci-fi aesthetics of contemporaries like Raiden, this title blends modern military hardware with arcade excess, treating players to escalating missions that span dense jungles, militarized archipelagos, and heavily guarded enemy airbases.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard shmup formulas, Task Force Harrier incorporates a tactical energy and armament system. Players command a jet capable of both high-altitude flight and low-altitude strafing runs. You possess a primary rapid-fire vulcan cannon alongside a limited stock of devastating secondary payloads, including heat-seeking missiles and surface-to-air bombs that must be strategically deployed against ground installations and aerial armadas alike. Power-ups scattered throughout stages upgrade your firepower, while a dedicated loop maneuver allows your jet to briefly evade dense bullet hell patterns. The pacing is relentless, demanding precision flight through narrow canyons and intense boss encounters against colossal armored command tanks and heavily armed gunships.

Keyboard Controls

Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move jet across the screen
Action Keys: Fire primary weapon (Z) and deploy secondary missiles/bombs (X)
Enter: Start / Pause