Strider

From Sega Retro

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Strider Title.png

Strider
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Virtual Console
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Master System
EU 		9005
Sega Master System
AU
Sega Master System
BR
Sega Master System
KR 		GB4028JG
Wii Virtual Console
JP ▼ 		600pts600
Wii Virtual Console
US ▼ 		800pts800
Wii Virtual Console
EU ▼ 		800pts800
CERO
Missing Parameter!

Strider, known as Strider Hiryuu (ストライダー飛竜) in Japan, is an action game developed by Capcom and released for CPS arcade hardware in 1989. It was subsequently brought to home consoles and computers, including the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Master System.

Gameplay

Strider is an action-platformer. The highly mobile protagonist needs to can walk, run, slide and climb to conquer all five stages and defeat the self proclaimed world ruler, grandmaster. Aside from his sword, Strider can also employ robotic helpers (one of them resembling a tiger) to fight his adversaries.

Versions

The Sega versions of Strider were licensed from Capcom, but developed internally at Sega. Allegedly Sega was not given much support by Capcom, forcing the teams to rip graphics and reverse engineer arcade units to create both games (it is rumoured that practise was also in effect for Ghouls'n Ghosts and Final Fight CD, Capcom not partaking in Sega development on their own until Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition).

Mega Drive

Strider was brought to the Sega Mega Drive relatively early in the system's lifespan, debuting in late 1990. It was seen as one of the hard hitting 16-bit action games designed to encourage users to migrate from Nintendo's NES to Sega's console, boasting high definition graphics and recorded speech samples. It was the first 1MB (8Mb) ROM cartridge released for the system, making it one of the largest cartridge-based video games available at the time.

The comparison between Mega Drive and NES is striking when discussing Strider, as despite having a hand in both developing and publishing the Nintendo version, the console's technical restrictions led to an entirely different game. Meanwhile the Mega Drive version was for a while the most accurate home arcade conversion available to consumers (inevitably superseded by a Sharp X68000 version in November 1992).

The most noticeable differences in the Mega Drive version are the slower attack speed (especially when hanging from the ceiling) and lower acceleration (meaning the jungle stage and final stage's inverse gravity section require different approaches to that of the arcade). Like its arcade counterpart, the western versions lacks Hiryu's "Ha!" shout while attacking with the sword.

There are also slight differences between regions; when playing up to the boss rush section of the final stage without losing a life in the Japanese Sega Mega Drive version, there is a high chance that Ouroboros (stage one boss), normally transporting the player to the place of the final battle, will not appear. The player has to deliberately lose a life to respawn Ouroboros. This issue was apparently fixed in the Western versions. Continues may be used in the Western versions whereas the Japanese release requires the player to input a cheat code to enable them, and the famous line, "All sons of old gods, die!", spoken by the final boss, was removed from the Western versions.

Strider is one of the few Sega Mega Drive games that has noticeable load times during stages. The game stops for about half a second when new background graphics or big enemies, like boss characters, appear. It also features an original ending scene.

Master System

Unlike its NES counterpart, the Master System Strider is a compacted version of the arcade game, with simpler graphics and sound as is to be expected of the console. It is known, however, to suffer from heavy slowdown when the engine is under stress, so much so that simply attacking will cause the frame rate to drop.

History

Legacy

Multiple other versions of Strider exist, all of which (bar the aforementioned X68000 version) are widely considered to be less accurate than the Mega Drive version. Ports were made to the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS and ZX Spectrum. A PC Engine Arcade CD-ROM², version, exclusive to Japan and released in September 1994 could be considered the Mega Drive's closest rival, but still falls short due to a number of graphical omissions (in exchange for an extra level).

Strider was unofficially followed by U.S. Gold's Strider II, however Capcom later returned in 1999 to make a true sequel under the name of Strider 2. The character of Strider Hiryuu has also appeared in other Capcom games, such as 1999's Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes, released among other systems for the Sega Dreamcast.

The Mega Drive version was also made available for the Wii's Virtual Console service in 2011.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Chief Programmer / Program Coordinator: Yama1
Assistant Programmer: Mizoran
Chief Designer / Graphic Coordinator: Taro.S☻
Designer: Sayshi, Mt.Maya
Sound Programmer: XOR
Total Coordinator: Pal‑Ko♥
Special Thanks to: Momonga Momo, Little Sun, Larie, Thunder, Panpakapann, Filly, The Hi Master, Capcom Arcade Staff

Promotional material

  • Strider MD US PrintAdvert.jpg

    Mega Drive US print advert

  • Mega Drive JP TV advert

  • Strider MD BR PrintAdvert.jpg

    Mega Drive BR print advert

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
92 №40, p103[2]
100 №5, p22[3]
91 №4, p36[4]
95 №109, p68-70[5]
95 №1, p30-32[6]
100 2012-04-02
90 №16, p20[7]
90 №1, p98[8]
88 №17, p122/123[9]
99 №27, p78
83 №6, p98[10]
96 №10, p108[11]
78 №5, p94
89 №9, p22
89 №1, p65
91 №1, p80[12]
92 №2, p18-21[13]
86 №7, p26/27[14]
92 №4, p15[15]
91 №8, p24/25[16]
95 №19, p10/11
100 №23, p54
92 №6, p29[17]
87 №18, p67
94 №2/92, p21[18]
Sega Mega Drive
 92
Based on
25 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[19]
ACE (UK)
92
[2]
Ação Games (BR)
100
[3]
Buzz! Computers (UK)
84
[20]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
91
[4]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
91
[21]
Console XS (UK) PAL
90
[22]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
95
[23]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
90
[7]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
90
[8]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
70
[24]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
88
[25]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
83
[10]
Joystick (FR)
96
[11]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
78
[26]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
87
[27]
Mega (UK) PAL
89
[28]
Mega Action (UK)
89
[29]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
90
[30]
MegaTech (UK)
91
[12]
Mean Machines (UK)
92
[13]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
91
[31]
Player One (FR)
86
[14]
Power Play (DE)
68
[32]
Raze (UK) NTSC
92
[15]
Raze (UK) PAL
91
[16]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
95
[33]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
100
[34]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
87
[35]
Sega Pro (UK)
92
[17]
Sega Force (SE)
94
[18]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
73
[36]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
68
[37]
User (GR) PAL
88
[38]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
90
[39]
Video Games (DE)
75
[40]
Sega Mega Drive
 86
Based on
36 reviews

Strider

Mega Drive, US
Strider MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Strider MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
Strider MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
Strider MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
Strider MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
Strider MD JP CartTop.jpg
Strider MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Strider MD jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, AU
Strider MD AU cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, BR
Strider MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
Strider MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Strider md br manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, CA
Strider MD CA Box.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, KR
Strider MD SK Box.jpg
Cover
Strider MD KR Cart.jpg
Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
100 №5, p26[1]
67 №0, p50-52
67 №1, p158[41]
50 №25
73 №2, p26/27[42]
80 №21, p169[43]
67 №6, p62-64[44]
78 №14, p70/71[45]
74 №26, p24/25
60 №1, p60/61[46]
61 №18, p74[47]
Sega Master System
 71
Based on
11 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Ação Games (BR)
100
[1]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
48
[48]
Console XS (UK) PAL
79
[49]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
67
[41]
FX (UK)
85
[50]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
60
[51]
Games-X (UK)
50
[52]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
73
[42]
Joypad (FR) PAL
82
[53]
Joystick (FR)
80
[43]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
75
[54]
Mean Machines (UK) PAL
67
[55]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
67
[56]
Player One (FR)
78
[45]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
74
[57]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
79
[58]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
60
[46]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
61
[47]
User (GR) PAL
68
[59]
Video Games (DE)
28
[60]
Sega Master System
 69
Based on
20 reviews

Strider

Master System, EU
Strider SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
Strider SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Strider sms us manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, AU

Master System, BR
Strider SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
Strider SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Strider SMS BR Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, KR
Strider SMS SK Box.jpg
Cover
Strider SMS KR cart.jpg
Cart

External links

References

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NEC Retro has more information related to Strider Hiryuu
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 File:AcaoGames BR 005.pdf, page 26 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:AcaoGames BR 005.pdf_p26" defined multiple times with different content
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 File:ACE UK 40.pdf, page 103 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 40.pdf_p103" defined multiple times with different content
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 File:AcaoGames BR 005.pdf, page 22 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:AcaoGames BR 005.pdf_p22" defined multiple times with different content
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 File:CGtC UK 04.pdf, page 36 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CGtC UK 04.pdf_p36" defined multiple times with different content
  5. ↑ File:CVG UK 109.pdf, page 68
  6. ↑ File:CVG IT 01.pdf, page 30
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 File:EGM US 016.pdf, page 20 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:EGM US 016.pdf_p20" defined multiple times with different content
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, Virgin Books, page 98 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide Book UK.pdf_p98" defined multiple times with different content
  9. ↑ File:GamePro US 0017.pdf, page 124
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 File:HobbyConsolas ES 006.pdf, page 90 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:HobbyConsolas ES 006.pdf_p90" defined multiple times with different content
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 File:Joystick FR 010.pdf, page 108 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joystick FR 010.pdf_p108" defined multiple times with different content
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 File:MegaTech UK 01.pdf, page 80 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MegaTech UK 01.pdf_p80" defined multiple times with different content
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 File:MeanMachines UK 02.pdf, page 18 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachines UK 02.pdf_p18" defined multiple times with different content
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 File:PlayerOne FR 007.pdf, page 26 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 007.pdf_p26" defined multiple times with different content
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 File:Raze UK 04.pdf, page 15 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Raze UK 04.pdf_p15" defined multiple times with different content
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 File:Raze UK 08.pdf, page 24 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Raze UK 08.pdf_p24" defined multiple times with different content
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf, page 29 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf_p29" defined multiple times with different content
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 File:SegaForce SE 1992 02.pdf, page 21 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce SE 1992 02.pdf_p21" defined multiple times with different content
  19. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 227
  20. ↑ Buzz! Computers (UK) (+0:00)
  21. ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 49
  22. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 134
  23. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-16), page 30
  24. ↑ Famitsu, "" (JP; 1990-xx-xx), page 1
  25. ↑ GamePro, "December 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 124
  26. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 94
  27. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "December 1990" (JP; 1990-11-08), page 79
  28. ↑ Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 21
  29. ↑ Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 65
  30. ↑ Mega Play, "February 1991" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 43
  31. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 142
  32. ↑ Power Play, "12/90" (DE; 1990-11-16), page 156
  33. ↑ Sega Power, "June 1991" (UK; 1991-05-02), page 10
  34. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54
  35. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67
  36. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 86
  37. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 188
  38. ↑ User, "Ioúnios 1991" (GR; 1991-0x-xx), page 66
  39. ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "January 1991" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 54
  40. ↑ Video Games, "1/91" (DE; 1991-03-27), page 83
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, Virgin Books, page 158 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide Book UK.pdf_p158" defined multiple times with different content
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 File:HobbyConsolas ES 002.pdf, page 26 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:HobbyConsolas ES 002.pdf_p26" defined multiple times with different content
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 File:Joystick FR 021.pdf, page 169 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joystick FR 021.pdf_p169" defined multiple times with different content
  44. ↑ File:MeanMachines UK 06.pdf, page 62
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 File:PlayerOne FR 014.pdf, page 70 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 014.pdf_p70" defined multiple times with different content
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 File:SegaForce UK 01.pdf, page 60 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce UK 01.pdf_p60" defined multiple times with different content
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 File:SegaForce UK 18.pdf, page 74 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce UK 18.pdf_p74" defined multiple times with different content
  48. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Februar 1992" (DE; 1992-01-10), page 128
  49. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 145
  50. ↑ FX (UK) (+0:00)
  51. ↑ GamePro, "June 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 50
  52. ↑ Games-X, "10th-16th October 1991" (UK; 1991-10-10), page 32
  53. ↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-10-1x), page 102
  54. ↑ Mega Play, "May/June 1991" (US; 1991-0x-xx), page 42
  55. ↑ Mean Machines, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-03-01), page 50
  56. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 136
  57. ↑ Sega Power, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-05), page 24
  58. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
  59. ↑ User, "Fevrouários 1993" (GR; 1993-0x-xx), page 57
  60. ↑ Video Games, "3/91" (DE; 1991-09-06), page 77
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