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Strider 2 (1999 video game)

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This article is about the 1999 Capcom-produced sequel to Strider. For the U.S. Gold-produced sequel, see Strider II (1990 video game).
Strider 2
Japanese arcade flyer
Developer(s)Capcom
Publisher(s)Capcom
Producer(s)Noritaka Funamizu
Designer(s)Harumaru
Nezumi Otoko
Shoei Okano
Composer(s)Setsuo Yamamoto
Etsuko Yoneda
Platform(s)Arcade, PlayStation
ReleaseArcade
PlayStation
  • JP: February 24, 2000
  • NA: July 26, 2000[2]
  • EU: December 15, 2000
Genre(s)Hack and slash, platform
Mode(s)Single-player
Arcade systemSony ZN-2

Strider 2, released in Japan as Strider Hiryū 2 (ストライダー飛竜２, Sutoraidā Hiryū Tsū), and then as Strider Hiryū 1&2 (ストライダー飛竜1&2, Sutoraidā Hiryū Wan & Tsū), is a 1999 hack and slash game developed and published by Capcom for arcades. The game is a direct sequel to the original Strider and the second sequel to Strider produced, following U.S. Gold's 1990 noncanonical Strider II (Journey from Darkness: Strider Returns in North America), a game with which Capcom was not directly involved. The Capcom-produced Strider 2 makes no references to the Western-only Strider Returns/Strider II. The game was released for arcades in 1999 and was ported to the PlayStation in 2000.

Development

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A Capcom artist known as Harumaru redesigned the character for Strider 2, inspired by American comics he had found at a bookshelf of the Design Office (among them DC Comics, Mike Mignola, Simon Bisley, and Spawn by Todd McFarlane).[3] Hiryu's redesign for this game first appeared in 1998 crossover fighting game Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes.

In 2014's Strider Hiryu's scarf serves as a visual cue for the Cypher upgrade the player is using (Reflect, Explosive, Cold, Magnetic), changing colors accordingly.[4]

Gameplay

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Screenshot from the arcade version showing Strider Hiryu attacking an enemy.

While the graphics in Strider 2 now consist of 2D character sprites overlaid over 3D backgrounds, its gameplay remains similar to its 2D side-scrolling predecessor. The controls consists of an eight-way joystick and three action buttons. The playable character Strider Hiryu can now perform new actions in addition to the ones he had in the first game. Hiryu can walk, jump, crouch, slide, and climb walls and ceilings like he would in the original game, as well as dash by pushing the joystick left or right twice, do a double jump by pressing jump in mid-air, and do a backward somersault jump while sliding. When climbing a wall, Hiryu can perform a thrust jump by holding the joystick away from the wall and pressing the Jump button. Added to his regular sword attack, Hiryu can now do a "Savage Slash" technique in mid-air by pressing the joystick down and up in mid-air. In addition to the Attack and Jump buttons, the player can power-up their character by pressing the "Boost" button if they have at least one Boost item in stock. While in Boost mode, Hiryu can shoot Plasma Waves with his sword for a limited period until the Boost gauge under Hiryu's life gauge runs out. Throughout the game, the player can pick up power-up items such as health replenishments and extensions, a cypher extension, and additional boosts. The player can obtain various miscellaneous point items based on other Capcom games, such as the Yashichi and the Sakichi symbols from Vulgus and the "zenny" coins from Black Tiger and Forgotten Worlds, that will increase the player's score.[5]

The coin-op version of Strider 2 consists of five stages or missions, each with a different objective that is explained to the player beforehand. The first three missions can be played in any order the player wishes to undertake them, and are set in different locations on Earth (Hong Kong, Germany, Antarctica). The final two stages take place in the Flying Battleship Balrog and the space station Third Moon, both of which were locations in the original Strider.

Plot

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Around 2000 years after his defeat in the original game, the mysterious Grandmaster has returned once again to finish his plans and claim total control over the world.[6] However, Strider Hiryu, a Strider carrying the same codename of the man who slew the Grandmaster in the past, has also surfaced. According to Capcom, this version of Hiryu is a clone of the original Hiryu created by the Strider organization in order to reincarnate Hiryu back from the dead.[7] As one of the last survivors after the Striders were wiped out, he carries the mission to destroy the Grandmaster once and for all.[8]

Home version

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A home version of Strider 2 was released for the PlayStation in 2000 (a simple port, given the PlayStation's similarity to the arcade's Sony ZN-2 board[9]), which was released as a 2-disc set, with a second disc devoted to a direct port of the original Strider coin-op. Due to a labeling error in the American release, the Strider 2 discs were labeled as the original Strider, and vice versa.[citation needed]

Finishing both games and saving the achievements on the same memory card unlocks a secret level in Strider 2: "Mission 00", a waterfall stage.[10] Completion of all missions unlocks the former Strider Hien as a playable character, who wields two ranged cyphers; completion of the game using Hien unlocks the Boost skill for unlimited use in the game's menu.

Reception

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In Japan, Game Machine listed Strider 2 on their March 1, 2000 issue as being the fifth most-successful arcade game of the month.[22]

The PlayStation version of Strider 2 received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[11] James Mielke, writing for GameSpot, called it "a deliberate throwback to the arcade-dominant '80s" and "an excellent starter kit for the uninitiated, but for veterans of the series, it's like dinner without the dessert."[10] David Zydrko of IGN described it as "a must-have package for fans of arcade-style action games", adding, "if you don't mind the fact that it's a very short game, you owe it to yourself to add this game to your collection."[20] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 30 out of 40.[15]

References

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  1. ^ Akagi, Masumi (2006). アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編 (1971–2005) [Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971–2005)] (in Japanese). Japan: Amusement News Agency. p. 25. ISBN 978-4990251215.
  2. ^ "Strider 2™ Now Available". 2001-04-19. Archived from the original on 2001-04-19. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  3. ^ "「特A級ストライダー諜報局」". Capcom.co.jp. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  4. ^ "Strider Starts Out With All Of His Core Abilities And Has Touches For MvC Fans". Siliconera. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  5. ^ Capcom. Strider 2. Capcom. Level/area: Instruction card.
  6. ^ Capcom (February 24, 2000). Strider 2 (PlayStation). Capcom. Level/area: MISSION 05: Terminate the Grand Master. Grandmaster: Are you that Hiryu?! The one who appeared before me almost two thousand years ago before I took this world?! Are you going to finish what you couldn't do back then?!
  7. ^ Cork, Jeff (July 19, 2013). "Strider: We Get Answers about Capcom's New Strider Game". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on July 28, 2013. Retrieved 2020-09-08.
  8. ^ Capcom. Strider 2 (PAL ed.). Virgin Interactive. Level/area: Instruction manual, p. 3.
  9. ^ Broyad, Toby. "Sony ZN-2 Hardware (Capcom)". System 16. Retrieved December 20, 2009.
  10. ^ a b c Mielke, James (March 3, 2000). "Strider 2 Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Strider 2 for PlayStation Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  12. ^ White, Jason. "Strider 2 (PS) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  13. ^ Edge staff (May 2000). "Strider Hiryu 1&2". Edge. No. 84. Future plc.
  14. ^ "Strider 2 (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Ziff Davis. 2000.
  15. ^ a b プレイステーション - ストライダー飛竜1&2. Famitsu (in Japanese). Vol. 915. Enterbrain. June 30, 2006. p. 23.
  16. ^ "REVIEW for Strider 2 (PS)". GameFan. Shinno Media. August 3, 2000.
  17. ^ "Strider 2 (PS)". Game Informer. No. 87. FuncoLand. July 2000.
  18. ^ Kilo Watt (August 3, 2000). "Strider 2 Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 9, 2005. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  19. ^ Sanders, Shawn (August 2000). "Strider 2 Review (PS)". Game Revolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on October 12, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  20. ^ a b Zydrko, David (July 27, 2000). "Strider 2 (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved June 12, 2018.
  21. ^ "Strider 2". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Ziff Davis. 2000.
  22. ^ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 605. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 March 2000. p. 21.
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