The arcade version of Space Harrier was a mainstay of my junior high days, and the SMS version got a hell of a lot of play. But, in my opinion, it wasn't until Space Harrier II hit the Genesis that fans got a proper translation.

Was there ever a story to this game? If so, I don't know, and I don't care. Space Harrier II is just all about blasting the baddies. And there's a hell of a lot of them. Get used to hearing that iconic sample of a death scream, because you'll be hearing it a lot.

Sometimes the game does seem more than a bit unfair, especially given the Genny's limitations with 3D games this early in its' life cycle. But once you do hit a groove, Space Harrier II offers an experience that's still near-unparalled in the realm of shooters.

Combining colorful graphics, solid music, and frentic gameplay, this throws you into an almost hypnotic trance that has become one of the true benchmarks of gaming.

I've seen from other reviews out on the net that there's a lot of haters on Space Harrier II. Don't let them fool you; this is still an outstanding shooter that's well worth your time and money.