Strider

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a game by Capcom, and U.S. Gold
Genres: Action, Fighting Games, Platformer
Platforms: XBox 360, Sega GenesisGenesis, Playstation 3, Sega Master SystemSega Master System, NESNES
Editor Rating: 8.7/10, based on 18 reviews, 19 reviews are shown
User Rating: 8.0/10 - 6 votes
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See also: Hack and Slash Games, Metroidvania Games
Strider
Strider
Strider
Strider

The Grand Master arrived from a far away galaxy with a not-so-grand plan for Earth. Now, the world is his slave. The planet's only hope for salvation is a super, high-tech brotherhood of space-age samurai -- the Striders.

Strider Rides Again

We know what you're thinking, SMS gamers -- Strider! Awesome! You stuffed quarters into the coin-op, and you drooled over the Genesis version. Now you can have a Strider of your very own. However, don't let your expectations get the better of you.

This 8-bit incarnation is a noticeably scaled-down version of the classic, futuristic hack and slash adventure with its own strengths and weaknesses. You get six levels of average fighting action. The side view, multi-scrolling graphics feature many of the great Strider characters and much of the scenery, but they aren't going to make your eyes pop out. The sounds are low key.

All in the Family

As in the other versions, you play ace Strider Hiryu, and you wield an awesome Plasma Sword that rips through the opposition. Eight-bit Hiryu has all the classic Strider moves such as the outrageous somersault and the neat, one-handed grabs. He also has the same weird slouching walk as he tiptoes up inclines. What he doesn't have is speed, but the other Hiryus aren't the quickest video heroes around, either.

Fortunately, you don't have to be quick to plaster the Masters army. The main alien force is full of soldiers, robots, and animals, but you rarely face two standard enemies onscreen at the same time. Your toughest fights are against mid-level and end bosses, which include a robo-gorilla, a bionic centipede, and a huge, mechanical dinosaur. Master SMS swordsmen ought to plough right through the first four levels, but average fighters will get a work out.

ProTips:

  • Defeat the robo-gorilla without eating up precious time, by standing toe-to-toe with it You'll lose two lives but it's much faster.

  • To take minimum damage versus the little Tyrannosaurus, time a jump as it charges you so mat you land right behind it. Now chase it and slash it before it turns to charge again.

  • When clones of a bad guy reappear continuously, just jump over one of them to make them stop.

  • After you beat the Level One muscle man, quickly duck under the platform to avoid the napalm.

The battleground is pretty much the same as in the larger versions. Your one-man invasion begins in the Soviet Union, cuts through a tropical rainforest, and ends up at the Master's outer space moon base. Each level has several time limit zones that force you to keep moving. Running out of time gets you as often as the enemies do.

Somersault down the snowy slopes to avoid mines and save time, but stop when you reach the ledge, you can't make the cliff jump that way.

Strider Strolls Along

Strider is an average action game that features steady if unspectacular combat. If this is your first Strider experience, you won't be disappointed, but you ought to hunt down the arcade version or tackle a friend's Genesis game to really find out what all the excitement's about.

Download Strider

XBox 360

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
Genesis

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
  • Game modes: Single game mode

Player controls:

  • Up, Down, Left, Right - Arrow keys
  • Start - Enter (Pause, Menu select, Skip intro, Inventory)
  • "A" Gamepad button - Ctrl (usually Jump or Change weapon)
  • "B" button - Space (Jump, Fire, Menu select)
  • "C" button - Left Shift (Item select)

Use the F12 key to toggle mouse capture / release when using the mouse as a controller.

Playstation 3

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
Sega Master System

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
NES

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
  • P-200, 32 MB RAM

Game Reviews

The year is 2040 A.D. You are Hiryu, a highly trained ex-member of "Strider," the top secret organization of ninja-style assassins. Strider conducts terrorist activities throughout the world; smuggling, kidnapping, demolition and disruption are their specialty.

You were once a Super-A grade Strider, but chose to end your career. Your only wish now is to live in peace in Mongolia.

But Matic, the Vice Director of Strider, is ordering you out of retirement. He informs you that your friend, Kain, was captured by the enemy. "Search for Kain," Matic demands. "And when you find him, kill him!" You refuse, but Matic blackmails you and you have no choice but to go in search of Kain.

During this mission you'll face the ultimate in deadly obstacles. Battle fanatic enemy soldiers -- human, mechanical, and who knows what—as you try to infiltrate massive hostile enemy complexes.

Begin your mission aboard the starship, Blue Dragon. Here you analyze acquired data disks for clues, teleport to various locations on earth, or take down your current password for future play.

Your mission takes you around the world as you try to discover where the enemy is hiding Kain. Journey from the high scaffolding and winding passages of the enemy complex in Kazadh, to the speeding Phantom Train and majestic Pyramid in Egypt, to the dark jungles of Africa, In between you may make stops in Japan, China or Australia.

As you infiltrate each enemy complex you must battle an endless array of deadly foes. Fortunately, as you increase in experience you'll have access to more powerful weapons and special tricks that will help you beat these enemies. These tricks include Fire (flaming bullets), Spark (a special electrical weapon), Jump (the ability to jump higher), and Warp (immediate return to the safety of the Blue Dragon).

ProTip: Take your time to explore each area thoroughly or you will miss important messages and clues that tell you where to go next.

Destroying the different enemies you meet along the way brings you increased energy and strength. You'll need energy to access the special tricks you must use to defeat the tougher enemies. Use your special boots to survive in tricky situations.

Beating certain foes also gives you the data disks you need to analyze in order to discover Kain's location. Pay attention to the important data on these disks and the clues given you by sympathetic people along the way.

After you rescue Kain, you discover to your horror that Matic is the real traitor and he has created an organization known as Enterprize. Enterprize is behind a diabolic secret plan known as "Zain." This plan for a mind-control weapon could destroy the world. You must stop Matic and Enterprize before it's too late.

With persistence you'll beat Matic in the ultimate battle in his hideout, the Red Dragon, and protect the future of the world.

  • Search for the one who gives you the powerful Plasma Arrows in Japan. To activate these hold your cipher in the air for five seconds and then fire.
  • Don't forget to master the Triangle and Acceleration Jumps and the Slide. Some areas are impossible without these skills.
  • Analyzing data disks aboard the Blue Dragon allows transportation to new locations on earth.

People say:

8

I'm always a little nervous when companies revive beloved games from our past, but Double Helix did a bang-up job bringing back Capcom's cyber-ninja after a 15-year hiatus from headlining games. As a fan of the offshoot NES Strider release, I love that this feels like a combination of those more adventure-oriented elements mixed with more action-y pieces from the original arcade game. While exploration never hits the level of Castlevania or Metroid, the game offers enough hidden paths and secrets to satisfy. However, the real star of the show is running, climbing, and slicing, and that's a blast thanks to Strider Hiryu's pinpoint controls and awesome powers. Unfortunately, his abilities--and many other elements in Strider--feel like they fall short of their full potential. With just a bit more development, this could've gone from good to great.

6

Maybe it's because I never played the original Strider for the NES (or the arcade version, for that matter) that I can look at this game and see it for the testament to mediocrity that it is. From a technical standpoint, Strider does successfully check off all the Metroidvania boxes, including the necessity of backtracking and acquiring items to unlock power-ups and new areas. But the story is nearly nonexistent, the gameplay is straightforward and dull, and the neon-infused aesthetics hurt my eyes so much that I got headaches.

7

Oh, Ray--I forgive you, for you know not what you speak. Platinum owes their entire "stylish action" concept to the OG Strided. This, on the other hand, is an enjoyable game--but it's not a good Strider. That's evident from the first time Hiryu unsheathes his sword; the iconic "SLASH" from the original is but a muffled, impotent whimper here. The above-average exploration and combat held my attention, but this is like going to the Luxor in Vegas after touring the Great Pyramid of Giza. It's a kitschy imitation of a work of art.

Easily the best action game at the CES, Strider (no relation to the NES title) is a near duplicate of the arcade game. Containing a phenomenal 6 meg of memory, this game offers graphic detail, seldom seen in a home cart. The character animation is near perfect also as his summersaults and flips are done in very fluid movements. Also like in the arcade version Strider can get the circling option for double firepower and later in the game his dog comes in handy in taking out the enemy. The end of round bosses are huge, nearly rising to the top of the screen and the animation of such a large character is done very well. With multidirectional scrolling coupled with a level of gameplaying intensity only seen in the arcades, Strider will probably be one of the biggest hits when it comes to the stores this Christmas.

He's back, and ready for more! Strider Returns, and this time he is saving his love Lexia from the clutches of the Evil Master! This time, however, Strider has some new attacks -including a Sweep Sword and throwing stars! The Evil Master is also ready with some new surprises - like huge bosses and other nasty elements! Strider must battle through five huge levels to save Lexia! Can Strider weather the oncoming storm of enemies? Will Lexia remain imprisoned by the Evil Master? See if Strider can make a triumphant return!

  • Manufacturer: Sega
  • Machine: Genesis

Lance Rice of Jasper, Alabama, has a continue for this Genesis game that isn't mentioned in the manual. Simply press the START button when "Game Over" appears on the screen. Thanks for the egg, Lance.

  • Manufacturer: Capcom

Classic combat action is only a quarter away in this classic strategy/conflict simulator.

  • Manufacturer: Capcom
  • Machine: Nintendo Entertainment System

At first glance, this latest offering from Capcom looks like yet another one of their run-of-the-mill, side-view action-adventure games. And basically that's what Strider is. With this minor negative aside, here's the good news: Strider is probably one of the best run-of-the-mill, side-view action-adventure games to come out for the NES. It has many of the little but nice - features the others lack: great graphics, great sound, great, well-paced action (rarely will you encounter a lull while playing Strider) and, to top all this "greatness" off, a great adventure challenge that isn't a cinch to solve, but won't frustrate the average NES gamer.

So what's the scenario of this great game? To be quite honest, I'm not sure. The story background described in the instruction manual is rather ambiguous, giving the impression that things, content-wise, were lost in the translation from Japanese to English (there are a few spelling mistakes, too). Apparently, your initial mission is to rescue a friend, but - lo and behold! - you discover some sort of a sinister plan by an evil organization bent on taking over the world. Of course, being the nice guy you are, you decide to save the world. After all, you're Hiryu, a "Super-A grade" member of the Striders, the strongest secret-maneuvers group in the world!

Sarcasm out of the way, the game starts from blue dragon headquarters (it's this orbiting space station that looks like a blue dragon, hence the name). Here you select from three functions: transfer, analyze and password. Password allows you to enter a 12-digit password from a previous game so that you can start from where you originally left off. Analyze is used for reading any one of the six message disks that you'll be gathering while exploring the many screens of Strider. Transfer starts the action. Depending on how far you've already progressed in game play, you can transport your Strider character to any one of several geographic locations on Earth.

You move and jump your Strider throughout these multi-level screens, armed only with the standard issue given to all Striders, a cipher (a kind of high-tech sword) to slice away at your enemies. Later on, you're given other weapons such as a plasma arrow and special abilities like being able to slide under your enemies. Also, there are a variety of power tricks that your Strider will attain, allowing you to select different weapons, special acrobatic abilities and to restore your Striders energy meter.

Message disks, which contain important information giving you clues on how to complete your mission, are obtained when you kill certain enemies or talk to a character. Keys are hidden throughout the screens and must be used to unlock doors that lead to other rooms. Three pairs of boots have to be found as well. These essential pieces of footgear are needed in order to walk on water, go over floors that are flashing and slide under and kill enemies. Littered about the levels are energy capsules and attack-energy cylinders. These should be collected to maintain your life energy and attack-energy meters at maximum levels.

Despite having both a game concept and story scenario that has been well overdone and heard before, Strider is a very refreshing game. For some reason, it manages to come across like something new, which it obviously isn't. Playing it gave me a strange sense of nostalgia of the first time I tried out Super Mario Bros, on my brand-new NES. That was a time when a new game meant new challenges and new discoveries. I guess that's what makes Strider so appealing. It's based on that mysterious source which turns games like Super Mario Bros, into classics.

  • Machine: Sega Genesis

As the 1990s drew to a close, the nations of the world were finally working together, putting aside their differences to concentrate on making the planet a better place to live. It seemed certain that the 21st century would be the best era that humanity had ever known.

Then, one day, strange objects appeared in the skies over the European nation of Kazafu. Soon afterward, an army of strange creatures and machines appeared in Kazafu's capital, led by the self-proclaimed Grand Master Meio. In just a few days the invaders leveled the city and began marching across the continent. Soon the aliens held all of Europe. No army in the world could stop them. And still they advanced....

Reports of the alien invasion were picked up on the small island of Moralos, home of the Striders. This elite band of warriors was Earth's last hope of defeating the alien hordes. The Striders began their attack by sending out Hiryu, the youngest man ever to become an A-class Strider. Strider Hiryu sets off on his dangerous mission, alone but strengthened by the encouraging words of his fellow Striders.

  • Available: 1993
  • Theme: Action

The stride for freedom!

Being the first 8-Meg monster cart to hit the store shelves, Strider is about to make another comeback on the Genesis!

All of the classic action is back, along with plenty of levels and challenge that will keep any fan of the original busy for quite some time! Many improvements have been added. The swinging blade is fast and well animated, and the movements are done with more style! Not only is that, but plenty of new weapons available. This is just a preview, with a lot more to come later! Stay tuned to GameFabrique for the latest info on Strider 2!

  • Levels: 5
  • Theme: Action
  • Players: 1
  • Difficulty: Average

Invaders from the third moon have come to take over the Earth! Hiryu - the last of the Strider order-must wield his plasma sword against the invaders and bring peace back to the world once again!

The award winning Genesis Strider is being converted to the Master System. It will be a 4 meg cart and, as you can see from the pix, this soft will probably be the best SMS cart ever!

  • Number of Levels: 6
  • Theme: Action
  • Difficulty: Average
  • Number of Players: 1
  • Available: November '90

Sega's long awaited adaptation of Capcom's arcade game - Strider is now a reality! Containing a full 8 megabits of cartridge memory - the largest ever for a U.S. home system, Strider faithfully duplicates all 6 levels found in the arcade version!

It's the year 2048 and the problems between the Russians and the Americans have progressively gotten worse. You, Strider, must penetrate the Russians robotic forces in order to exterminate the leaders who have initiated this conflict.

And this is your mission. After getting dropped off at the outside of one of the Russian fortresses you immediately encounter fierce resistance from the enemy. Still, you must fight your way through an onslaught of Russian forces armed only with your lightning quick saber, keen wits and acrobatic gymnastic skills. Make it through the fortress and it's off to the bitter cold mountains of Siberia where you have to scale the ice-coated sheer cliffs while fighting off killer attack dogs. All of this only to reach another fortress whose entrance is guarded by 'Pong' - a gigantic, full screen, mechanical gorilla! Once inside, the soldiers attack from above as you progress through a maze of huge mechanical devices. Survive this and move on to the jungle and two more intense levels!

  • In the first round, you face off against two super beings that include a powerful Russian soldier and the mutant Soviet Politburo!
  • Make your way past the hazards of level two, including the mechanized Gorilla and the Shadow Fighter who isn't always there!
  • After defeating the reactor core inside the enemy station, take on the Commie Captain Hook and his whip atop the floating helipad!
  • Type: Action
  • Release: Nov. 1990
  • Difficulty: Avg

Based on the Sega arcade game, this 8 meg Genesis version faithfully duplicates all of the levels found on the coin-op. You are a special agent who has been dropped deep inside of Russian territory in order to exterminate the evil rulers who want to take over the world. Fight through fortresses, in the mountains of Siberia, and in the hot jungles. Take on androids, attack dogs and even amazons in this action filled game.

People say:

9

Like Ghouls and Ghosts, this Capcom arcade translation is done to near carbon-copy perfection on the Genesis. The 8-Meg of power inside this cart displays some of the best graphics ever and, combined with the strong play mechanics, blend together to create an awesome game.

9

What a game! It's unbelievable what just a little bit more memory can do to a cart. Everything is here from the coin-op and it plays fantastic! Spectacular graphics, decent tunes and great game play! One look and you'll see why it's the game of the year!

9

From the game play to the graphics to the rockin' musical backgrounds, Strider is top class all the way! The action is intense and non-stop, and the sights along the way are so detailed you might think you're at the arcades. A few features are missing from the coin-op, but still first-rate!

9

Why is this game more popular now than when it was a coin-op game? If you've played that one, then here it is exact as can be and just as much fun if not more. Get your hands on this as soon as you can 'cause it's destined to disappear fast! How about the coin-op 'Willow' next?

  • Type: Action/Adv.
  • Difficulty: Avg.

One of the most eagerly awaited Nintendo games to come along in a while! Strider is loosely based on the Capcom coin-op of the same name. The goal of the game is to defeat the Russian army and prevent total world-domination from the pinkos.

Strider combines elements from scrolling action contests and adventures games as well. You must locate specific items to progress to higher levels of play. There is also a limited amount of energy and power that your hero possesses which must be monitored carefully.

People say:

7

Strider offers plenty to interact with, lots of weapons and implements to find, and an expansive adventure that will keep you occupied for some time. The graphics are above-average and help compliment the rest of the game. Capcom's second hit of the season (behind Mega Man 2)!

8

Capcom's games follow a similar pattern, whether it's Bionic Commando or Mega Man II, the game's are similar. Strider is good, and like Bionic Commando, has a variety of stages to conquer. Definitely not the average action game, Strider is a cut above the rest.

7

If you like games like Bionic Commando, you'll like Strider. It's a very good game that has all the options and play features you'd expect to find in this type of game. The one thing I didn't like was having to traverse each level and then transfer back to the main screen over and over again.

7

The NES version of Strider is not as good as the arcade, adopting a different storyline and look. The graphics and play are good, the maze is very complex, and many hidden items to find. The Password isn't really needed because the game isn't too hard, but the last Boss is very challenging.

Take to arms and eliminate the evil creatures invading your land. As the Strider, you must use all of your resources to defeat the enemy and rescue your comrades at arms. Incredible graphics and smooth game play combine to make Strider a sensational title!

Strider receives his orders and is dropped in the heart of Russia, armed with only a lightning quick sword. The task is to infiltrate the Red Army and return enemy secrets to your superiors. You are attacked by the KGB, journey to the snowcapped mountains of Siberia, and the Lowlands, where jungle tribes wait with poison spears and arrows. If you succeed in getting this far you return to Moscow to face the Grand Master of the Red Army. If you don't get to him before he destroys you the world will fall under Russian control! The free world relies on your success.

The year is 2089AD. In Russia, the evil Grand Master Meio has begun his insane plot to take over the universe. A lone figure drops from a stealth glider into Meio's base. He is Hiryu, Super A-Class Strider. His mission is to defeat the Grand Master and put an end to his plotting once and for all.

Converted from the classic arcade game, Strider lets you run, jump, perform acrobatics and climb walls and overhangs. You wield a plasma sword, called a Cypher, through 5 levels fighting robots and guards, with mid- and end-level bosses.

For years Meio the Grand Master has monitored planet Earth and all its inhabitants. His plan? To rule the Earth from a space station he has built between Earth and the Moon.

In early part of the 20th century, Meio sent his army of creatures down to our planet to aid him in his conquest. They annihilated five continents and 80 percent of all living things.

Somewhere in the South Seas lies hidden away a small island called Moralos. This island is training ground for the Striders, Earth's last hope against these malevolent forces. You are Hiryu, an A-class Strider armed with a plasma sword, and it is your duty to battle Meio's minions and finally, in an Earth-shattering climax, Meio himself.

Strider is an action-adventure game taken one step further than usual. Although you must kill off dozens of enemies and fulfill a quest — common fare — Capcom has nevertheless succeeded in making the game original.

For example, the plot of the game isn't just an excuse for the action; it actually matters. It revolves around a group of highly skilled commandos known as Striders who specialize in preventing terrorist acts, even if it means murder. Hiryu, the youngest and best of the Striders, recently retired from the group. But he is called back into service when his best friend, Kain, is kidnapped and brainwashed by the enemy's ZAIN mind-control machine. His orders are to kill Kain, but Hiryu just wants to get his friend out of enemy hands.

Now the fun starts. Beginning in the Striders' Asian headquarters, Kazakh, Hiryu must find six information disks and five keys scattered throughout the world. Each time he finds a disk or key, he can either travel to a new location or enter a new section of an area to which he already has access. His mission takes him to Egypt, Japan, China, Africa, Los Angeles, Australia, and finally to the enemy base, Red Dragon. Hiryu's skills increase as he finds the disks and keys. Though he brandishes a sword at the beginning of his mission, by the end of the game he's able to slide under low ledges, throw plasma arrows, and use three different kinds of special boots.

Strider isn't a particularly difficult game. You don't have to map any dungeons or alien worlds. On the other hand, there aren't any shortcuts to higher levels, either. Instead, Strider is an enjoyable, exciting game that combines adventure with a scavenger hunt.

Snapshots and Media

XBox 360 Screenshots

Playstation 3 Screenshots

Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Screenshots

NES/Famicom/Dendy Screenshots

Sega Master System Screenshots

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