Harrier Attack! The original game

Harrier Attack, by Durell Software Ltd, published by Amsoft, is an iconic game that is instantly recognizable as it came bundled with the machine. I remember spending many hours playing it with my dad when we got our first Amstrad, a CPC 464, back in 1987. I flew the plane and my dad pressed the space bar to bomb the targets. Many people have fond memories of growing up, playing this game.

Some are under the impression that Harrier Attack was written in the BASIC programming language. They may think this due to its slow speed, blocky movements and 8x8 character-sized sprites. But it is written in machine code. Its slow speed is due to the entire screen being scrolled one byte at a time. There are also program loops inserted by the programmer to deliberately slow the game down, presumably to make it easier for children to 'win' on the earlier levels.

As Harrier Attack is a fairly simple game, I wanted to see if I could disassemble it, to try to speed it up. The result is Harrier Attack Reloaded!

Copyright

I contacted Robert White, founder and director of Durell, about the possibility of creating an Amstrad Plus version of the game using the original code. Robert was the inspiration behind Harrier Attack, while Mike Richardson was the programmer for the CPC and Spectrum versions. Robert says the the copyright for Harrier Attack was sold to Elite Games in 1987 for specific platforms, and that while Elite do hold a licence for the CPC464 version, an Amstrad Plus version should be able to be produced without difficulty.

Features

• Fast CRTC scrolling, with a split screen for flight instruments
• Split palette MODE 1 graphics
• Multicoloured hardware sprites
• Dusk and night missions
• Configurable rocket range and contrails
• Air-to-ground guided missiles by pressing left+fire
• Flak damage counter, which was present in the original game but not displayed
• Redefinable keys
• Joystick enabled menu and scoreboard controls for GX4000
• Music in the game menu ('I vow to thee my country')
• Cartridge version, floppy disc and cassette versions available
• Physical tape and cartridge editions to follow

Making Harrier Attack Reloaded

Below is a video presentation of how I disassembled the original game code, and developed it for the Amstrad Plus machines, as well as how the cartridges are produced.

Developing Harrier Attack Reloaded PDF - How I disassembled Harrier Attack and redeveloped it

Physical editions

Physical cartridge editions, pictured right, are available to order via eBay. A pewter Harrier keyring, produced by the RAF Musuem, comes free with the first orders of the game.

Harrier Attack Reloaded cartridge box art - for a physical cartridge that is being produced

Downloads

Harrier Attack Reloaded CPR - Amstrad Plus cartridge file for emulators
Harrier Attack Reloaded DSK - Amstrad DSK file for emulators
Harrier Attack Reloaded CDT - Amstrad CDT file for emulators

For disc and tape editions, you need to type RUN "HARRIER.BIN" to load the game from the BASIC prompt.