Harmful Park

is a 1997 side scrolling shooting game developed by Sky Think Systems for the PlayStation. It has not been released outside of Japan. Set in a theme park, the game has been described as a "cute em up", and resembles Konami's Parodius games.

Gameplay 

Harmful Park is a horizontal scrolling 2D shooting game. Enemies in the game include gorillas, inflatable dinosaurs, and a gigantic woman. The game also features exotic weapons, including jellybeans and icecream.

The game has six stages in total.

There are four kinds of shots that the player's ship can fire, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. "Pie spread" for example fires continuously, while "Jelly Boomerang" tracks enemies, but has low attack power.

Three additional minigames are available as well.

Plot 
The game is set in a theme park, after a scientist named Dr. Tequila makes the rides and machines of the park go berserk. Another scientist orders her daughters to reclaim the park, using flying machines. The park has now been converted into a fortified base.

Development 
It was developed by Japanese game developer Sky Think Systems, and it was the final game they developed. The developer intended the game to have comedic elements, and to be enjoyable for a wide variety of gamers of all ages and both genders.

The game is a sub-genre of shoot em ups called "cute em ups", which include elements such as humor, cute enemies, and strange power-ups. Other games in the genre include Konami's Parodius and Success's Cotton.

Release 
The game was released in Japan on February 14, 1997. The game has become somewhat of a collector's item, and one of the rarest shooters on the PlayStation. A 2005 guide listed the game as costing between £80-£100, while a 2014 guide listed it as costing £100 in the United Kingdom in 2014.

In 2012, it was re-released for the PlayStation Network in Japan.

Reception 
Upon release, Famitsu gave it a score of 26 out of 40.

Multiple reviewers noted the similarities between Harmful Park, and the Parodius series and described the game as a "cute em up".

In 2014, Eurogamer listed the game among gaming's "most valuable treasures", praising the graphics, humor, and noting that while not difficult, it has personality. GamesTM described it as a cross between Parodius, and Coryoon. Retro Gamer listed it as number 6 on their list of "The 20 Greatest PlayStation Games You've Never Played".

Notes

References

External links 
  
 Harmful Park at GameFAQs
 Harmful Park at Giant Bomb
 Harmful Park at MobyGames

Category:1997 video games
Category:Cooperative video games
Category:Japan-exclusive video games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:PlayStation (console) games
Category:PlayStation Network games
Category:Scrolling shooters
Category:Video games developed in Japan
Category:Video games featuring female protagonists
Category:Horizontally scrolling shooters