It's a neat game but I agree that it's way too easy in the early stages. I didn't feel the heat until stage 7. The visuals are surprisingly good and very trippy at times. Most importantly it feels good and the game runs very well.
I really hate the music and I think it was a bad call by Yu Suzuki. An embarrassingly derivative mish-mash of Queen, Enya and Danny Elfman isn't what I want to listen to
ever (even though I like all of those individually), much less when I'm playing a Space Harrier spiritual sequel. By itself it's maximum cringe, but in this game it's twice as awful. This genre thrives on fast-paced, punchy music to get the pulse racing.
Not amazing but still well worth a pop for Harrier and Suzuki fans.
this is better than After Burner II and Galaxy Force II
I'd put it on par with After Burner II, but I think Galaxy Force II, which I've always felt is a little underrated, is still superior.