| Keith Burkhill converted Space Harrier to the ZX Spectrum. Computer and Video Games described him in January 1987 as a 20-year-old programmer who had done Elite's Spectrum versions of Commando and Ghosts 'n Goblins, learned in-house at Elite, and spent four months on the conversion. He had seen the arcade game in Rhyl and worked for months on the scrolling. Crash's review names him as the author. | p. 28 (image 28), Space Harrier review header | Magazine |
| Computer and Video Games reported that the Spectrum version has 15 levels, one fewer than the arcade game, and quoted Burkhill that the final stages run two and a half times faster than the first. Crash listed sixteen scrolling arenas and one skill level. | p. 28 (image 28), Comments boxp. 28 (image 28), Comments box | Magazine |
| Crash's Christmas Special of 1986 reviewed Elite's Spectrum version at £7.95 and rated it 77% overall, with the general verdict "a near miss": 75% for use of computer, 78% for graphics, 76% for playability, 76% for getting started, 72% for addictive qualities and 72% for value for money. Its next issue printed a letter from Mark Edwards of Redcliffe Bay, Bristol, who had seen the game made a five-star Sinclair User Classic and objected to Crash's verdict. The reply said that Steve Wilcox of Elite, among others, had found the reviewers a bit harsh, but that the reviewers stood by their ratings, finding not that much of a game there, and asked readers whether they were wrong. | p. 28 (image 28), headerp. 28 (image 28), headerp. 28 (image 28), Comments boxp. 28 (image 28), ratings boxp. 28 (image 28), ratings boxp. 28 (image 28), ratings boxp. 28 (image 28), ratings boxp. 28 (image 28), ratings boxp. 28 (image 28), ratings boxp. 28 (image 28), ratings box | Magazine |