Task Force Harrier

Task Force Harrier is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game developed by NMK and released in 1989 by UPL in Japan and American Sammy in North America. You control a Harrier jet on a mission to penetrate a hostile military force inside Russian territory. The gameplay follows the Xevious formula, requiring you to alternate between air-to-air rockets and air-to-ground bombs. Power-ups are obtained by destroying transport aircraft, trucks, and helicopters, each upgrading a different weapon system. The game features escort fighters that can be positioned in formations, affecting shot patterns and speed. Stages alternate between aerial combat (with escorts) and ground attack missions (without escorts). The game supports two players simultaneously.

Arcade

Task Force Harrier was released in August 1989. The arcade hardware is powered by a Motorola 68000 CPU at 10 MHz, with sound handled by a Z80 CPU and Yamaha YM2203 and OKI6295 chips. The game is displayed on a vertical monitor at 224 x 256 pixels with 512 colors. Controls use an 8-way joystick and two buttons, supporting two players. The game was developed by NMK and distributed in North America by Sammy. Pony Canyon released a limited-edition soundtrack album. Critical reception has been mixed: while it is considered a solid, accessible vertical shooter, it has been criticized for lacking distinctive gimmicks and being overshadowed by more innovative shooters of the era.