Get ready, Space Harrier fans.

Tez Okana, the Japanese director of games including Astro Boy Omega Force, Gunstar Super Heroes and Thunder Force VI for PS2, wants to get his hands on Sega's revered Space Harrier franchise.

Asked by Edge magazine which games he'd like to work on after Thunder Force VI, he replied, "Well, there are two dormant Sega licenses which I would love to work on, Space Harrier 4D and Fantasy Zone 3."

Okana is currently working on "Project STG," an effort within Sega to revive the shooter genre with new versions of fan favorite shooters.

Thunder Force VI is only the first step for Project STG.

"Should our first step be a success, I really would like to get some big studios and resources on those," Okana said. "But Thunder Force VI is a very decisive step so others can come after.

"I need to demonstrate our approach is viable. But for my next step, I’d really like to work on Space Harrier. This is a unique game in Sega’s history that projected us into some incredible worlds and experiences. But the success of Thunder Force VI is the key to any future projects."

See the full interview here, which is also available in the new issue of Edge magazine.