Strider is undoubtedly a cool game, especially for one released in 1989. It's a non stop series of action set pieces with a heavy emphasis on awesomeness! In a dystopian near future where a mysterious dictator has taken over the world (he's totally an alien entity that plans to purge the world with fire) and as the youngest and greatest of the elite Strider organization, you are sent to take him out!
Strider's strongest point, I think, is its slick style. Strider Hiryu attacks with a plasma sword in lightning-fast swipes as he fights all manner of enemies—human, animal, and robotic. It's a globe-trotting adventure that eventually goes into space! I'm less enthused about how Hiryu controls. Yes, his attack is awesome but he walks pretty slow and can only run if he's going downhill. And I would kill for more precision in the jumping. Hiryu is either jumping straight up or doing an (admittedly awesome) aerial cartwheel that you cannot alter in the air. You do get a slide move, so bonus points for that.
Strider is a great game, no doubt. I don't want to give the impression otherwise, but my enjoyment was tempered somewhat by my occasional difficulties in getting Hiryu to do what I wanted. Thank goodness for infinite continues, right?
this is like seriously one of my favorite games of all time. there was a point where probably I could beat it with my eyes closed just listening to the sounds. love the music, the graphics, the anti-grav boss, everything. Great, great game.
Oh yeah, that was a really cool boss!
I remember Strider being a big deal for Capcom back then. I got to review the PSOne sequel at the newspaper. I didn't play their last one, though. They like to bring him back for cameos in other games like Marvel vs. Capcom and Project X Zone.
Strider is a really awesome character, so it makes sense
In middle school, we got to name the police department's dog. I was a Simpsons fan, so I volunteered Santa's Little Helper, but it's probably a good thing the kid who wanted to name him Strider after the character he played on his Genesis won.
Did you ever play the remake of this game? I've never played this one, but I think the newest Strider fixes a lot of mechanical things you mentioned. Plus it looks awesome.
I played the one on PSN from a couple years ago. Pretty good. Certainly not the best Metroidvania but it certainly did control well!
Honestly, I didn't consider it a Metroidvania. It had some backtracking, but to me it was an action-platformer first. WHich I guess Metroids are as well, but I don't recall Strider focusing all that much on exploration.
Man I love those colors. Games of that period looked so great.
I would love to get the Genesis version of this game. It's supposed to be pretty good. The NES version, on the other hand...
And the PS1 sequel is supposedly really good too!