It was developed by Canadian studio Gray Matter and released exclusively for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan is a San Francisco homicide detective known for his determination to crack cases, even if it means violating police protocol and civil liberties.

He wields his signature Smith & Wesson Model 29, and players have the ability to draw the weapon without actually firing it.

[2] The game uses digitized speech to deliver both of Harry's famous lines: "Go ahead, make my day" and "Do I feel lucky?

A password coded into the game that does not trigger any change in gameplay, "GUNNY", refers to Eastwood's character in Heartbreak Ridge – again, a non-Dirty Harry film.