Strider II

From Sega Retro

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StriderII title.png

Strider II
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: U.S. Gold
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
T-79036
Sega Mega Drive
EU
79036-50
Sega Mega Drive
AU
FSTR11SMC
Sega Master System
EU
29005-50
Sega Master System
AU
Sega Master System
BR
026250
Sega Game Gear
US
$39.9539.95[5] T-79048
Sega Game Gear
EU
79048-50
Sega Game Gear
PT

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Strider II, known as Journey from Darkness: Strider Returns in North America (although initially it too was known as Strider II) and also being the Game Gear version title in all regions, is a sequel to Strider, released for the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System and the Sega Game Gear in 1993. It should not be confused with the later release of Strider 2 which was developed in-house by Capcom - Strider II was developed by U.S. Gold, who, at the time, had the rights to the Strider license outside of Japan.

Even though game received average to positive reviews when it was first released, today Strider II is considered the black sheep of the series. Many fans consider Strider II as a poorly done satire of the original due to fundementaly flawed level designs, lackluster story and bad gameplay plagued with intense slowdowns.

Capcom removed the Strider Returns as part of the original Strider canon.

Strider Returns' "Story"

(Following Shakespaeran level of writing is taken from the manual of the US Version)

This guy is like a bad habit, he just won't go away. Now this Evil Master Dude and his legions of nimrods are poised above the planet in a space station, ready to make the planet one big black hole. Not only that, those blasted automadions (space slang for funky robot type guys) have captured Lexia (Not the car, the babe!) and holding her prisoner aboard their space station.

Don't it just make your blood boil? Doesn't it make your skin crawl? Does it make your face turn red with anger? Hold on, get a grip! We've been in this kind of fix before. Okay, okay, you're right, probably not this bad. But hey, this is a video game there's always a good guy somewhere. Get with the program!

It just so happens, that on the island Moralos (you remember the secret base of famous Striders) there is just the guy you are looking for. The most pumped up Strider of them all Hinjo, is just waiting to punch these guys' light out. Go ahead, grab that control pad and give it a shot, sounds like a piece of cake... Wrong! This baby's not your every day space walk in the park! Strider's back and the fun is about to begin. Rumble on Strider Dude!

Magazine articles

Main article: Strider II/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

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Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #15: "October/November 1993" (1993-xx-xx)
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Mega Drive print advert in Consoles + (FR) #23: "Septembre 1993" (1993-0x-xx)
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Print advert in Todo Sega (ES) #5: "Agosto 1993" (1993-0x-xx)
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Mega Drive print advert in Sega Force (SE) #1993-06: "6/93" (1993-09-30)
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Artwork

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
91 №21, p100/101/102/103
50 [8]
44 [9]
69 №33, p68/69
53 №45, p58
82 №22, p60/61
83 [10]
Sega Mega Drive
67
Based on
7 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[11]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
67
[12]
Consoles + (FR)
91
[13]
Electric Brain (UK) PAL
50
[8]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
68
[14]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
72
[15]
Game Power (IT) PAL
39
[16]
Joypad (FR) PAL
73
[17]
Mega (UK) PAL
44
[18]
Mega Force (FR)
86
[19]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
57
[20]
Player One (FR) PAL
69
[21]
ProGames (BR)
100
[22]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
53
[23]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
82
[24]
Sega Force (SE)
86
[25]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
83
[26]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
74
[27]
Video Games (DE) PAL
77
[28]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
70
[29]
Sega Mega Drive
70
Based on
20 reviews

Strider II

Mega Drive, US
StriderII MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Striderii md us cart.jpg
Cart
Strider II MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
StriderII MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
StriderII MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
84 №20, p142/143
69 №31, p98
58 №40, p58/59/60
75 №17, p28/29
79 №5, p22/23
75 [30]
Sega Master System
73
Based on
6 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR) PAL
84
[31]
Digitiser (UK) PAL
70
[32]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
70
[33]
Mega Force (FR)
75
[34]
Player One (FR) PAL
69
[35]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
58
[36]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
75
[37]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
75
[38]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
79
[39]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
75
[40]
User (GR) PAL
70
[41]
Video Games (DE) PAL
20
[42]
Sega Master System
68
Based on
12 reviews

Strider II

Master System, EU
StriderII SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
StriderII SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Strider II SMS EU Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, AU

Master System, BR
StriderII SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
StriderII SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
68 [43]
70 [44]
72 №38, p118
76 [45]
Sega Game Gear
72
Based on
4 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Console Mania (IT) PAL
81
[46]
Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL
68
[7]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
70
[47]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
70
[48]
Mega Force (FR)
83
[49]
Player One (FR) PAL
72
[50]
Sega Master Force (UK) PAL
76
[45]
Video Games (DE) PAL
20
[51]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
70
[52]
Sega Game Gear
68
Based on
9 reviews

Strider II

Game Gear, US
StriderII GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngStriderII GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
StriderReturns GG US Cart.jpg
Cart
Strider II GG US Manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, EU
StriderReturns GG EU Box Back.jpgNospine.pngStriderII GG EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
StriderReturns GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, EU (Kixx)
StriderII GG EU Box Front Kixx.jpg
Cover
StriderReturns GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 b8f0915a
MD5 8336c9a48390889fb3e17cd6f9471ae1
SHA-1 f9d58bd9a5a99f2fd26fb411b0783fcd220249a4
256kB Cartridge (EU)
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 1ebfa5ca
MD5 d9393afce9cc368eb1b0217cff994c8e
SHA-1 ed5d1fc5ba8a47992551b0d577c1a6a06d0f7ac2
256kB Cartridge (US/EU)

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Sega Force, "March 1993" (UK; 1993-02-04), page 39
  2. GamePro, "July 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 56
  3. Sega Force, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-01), page 75
  4. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (DE; 1993-03-26), page 23
  5. 5.0 5.1 File:GamePro US 051.pdf
  6. GamesMaster, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 18
  7. 7.0 7.1 Computer & Video Games, "March 1993 (Go! Issue 17)" (UK; 1993-02-15), page 20
  8. 8.0 8.1 Electric Brain, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-26), page 36
  9. Mega, "February 1993" (UK; 1993-01-21), page 46/47 (46)
  10. Sega Force, "March 1993" (UK; 1993-02-04), page 38/39 (38)
  11. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 294
  12. Aktueller Software Markt, "Dezember 1993" (DE; 1993-11-08), page 160
  13. Consoles +, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 100
  14. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 40
  15. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 98
  16. Game Power, "Settembre 1993" (IT; 1993-0x-xx), page 89
  17. Joypad, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 86
  18. Mega, "February 1993" (UK; 1993-01-21), page 46
  19. Mega Force, "Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 82
  20. Mega Fun, "08/93" (DE; 1993-07-21), page 76
  21. Player One, "Juillet/Août 1993" (FR; 1993-07-10), page 68
  22. ProGames, "Julho 1993" (BR; 1993-0x-xx), page 18
  23. Sega Power, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-01), page 58
  24. Sega Pro, "August 1993" (UK; 1993-07-08), page 56
  25. Sega Force, "4/93" (SE; 1993-07-08), page 12
  26. Sega Force, "March 1993" (UK; 1993-02-04), page 38
  27. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 189
  28. Video Games, "11/93" (DE; 1993-10-27), page 118
  29. VideoGames, "September 1993" (US; 1993-0x-xx), page 46
  30. Sega Force, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-01), page 74/75 (74)
  31. Consoles +, "Mai 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 142
  32. Digitiser (UK) (1993-05-07)
  33. Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1993" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 54
  34. Mega Force, "Mai 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 96
  35. Player One, "Mai/Juin 1993" (FR; 1993-05-10), page 98
  36. Sega Power, "March 1993" (UK; 1993-02-04), page 58
  37. Sega Pro, "March 1993" (UK; 1993-02-11), page 28
  38. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
  39. Sega Zone, "March 1993" (UK; 1993-02-11), page 20
  40. Sega Force, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-01), page 74
  41. User, "Septémvrios 1993" (GR; 1993-0x-xx), page 57
  42. Video Games, "2/93" (DE; 1993-01-27), page 105
  43. Computer & Video Games, "March 1993 (Go! Issue 17)" (UK; 1993-02-15), page 20/21 (20)
  44. GamePro, "October 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 139 (143)
  45. 45.0 45.1 Sega Master Force, "Autumn 1993" (UK; 1993-09-16), page 36
  46. Console Mania, "Febbraio 1994" (IT; 1994-0x-xx), page 107
  47. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 44
  48. GamePro, "October 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 141
  49. Mega Force, "Janvier 1994" (FR; 1994-01-08), page 124
  50. Player One, "Janvier 1994" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 118
  51. Video Games, "3/94" (DE; 1994-02-23), page 103
  52. VideoGames, "September 1993" (US; 1993-0x-xx), page 64