The new plot in Strider follows closely to that of the original arcade release. In the futuristic setting of 2048, the world is ruled by the iron fist of Grandmaster Meio. A race of super advanced warriors known as the Strider are the only ones that can stand against the tyranny, and Strider Hiryu is the most skilled ninja of the entire group and has been given the mission of assassinating the Grandmaster and restoring peace to the world. Storyline is mostly an afterthought in Strider, so players should expect much rising action between the beginning of the game and its ending, and there aren't any surprises along the way either. Fans should expect to get plenty of action in the downloadable release and little else, just as the coin guzzling arcades of the past would have skipped any chance at a narrative as well.
Having no storyline does work in the favor of the tone Strider attempts to set from early on though. The game flies by, as players run from one area to the next, only momentarily stopping to cut up a few enemies that stand in the way or to search for items hidden just out of sight. The game mixes together elements of a steady sense of progression with the recycling of enemies and past bosses to add a definite feeling of nostalgia to the title such as players would find in classic action platformer series such as Castlevania. While Strider would never be confused for an RPG title, there are plenty of skills and abilities to find and unlock throughout the game that are necessary to continue through the game and defeat enemies but also to keep gameplay constantly evolving and interesting throughout the roughly 5-6 hours most players will spend in the game's campaign.
Strider Hiryu has a few different abilities to use in combat and navigation from the start of the game including a quick slashing katana blade that deals damage to enemies in a blur and abilities to run fast, climb walls and otherwise navigate and platform through the futuristic setting. Strider does a good job of breaking the game up into sections that are only accessible by defeating bosses and finding new abilities in the current part of the game. This may mean battling against a giant robot to unlock an ability to slide through low ventilation shafts or killing a soldier to access areas hidden beneath a sewer grate. Strider Hiryu is constantly gaining new abilities and getting stronger and this prevents gameplay from ever becoming stale even when enemies and environments tend to repeat at times.
Strider stars a ninja as the game's main protagonist, but fans shouldn't expect any stealth or attacking from the shadows in this game. The ninja guise is purely for aesthetic purposes, since players will be rushing in head-on with enemies armed to the teeth with guns, rocket launchers and other weapons, though the main character does look pretty cool when moving through the world. The futuristic setting allows players to gain access to some really cool new weapons and other equipment later in the game that have a variety of different effects including freezing enemies in place, gaining powerful new sword strikes or even using the sword to deflect incoming projectiles. Though the variety of moves available to players by the end of the game isn't as extensive as what players would find in a typical Mega Man game or other such release, most players will be satisfied by the ever growing arsenal of attacks in the game.
The old school charm of Strider isn't without its hiccups though. The game isn't nearly as difficult as older releases in the series, and the constant recycling of enemies with new color schemes does make combat tactics repeat far too often despite the game's willingness to continue introducing new moves. While Strider sets a nice pace from the onset of starting up the game for the first time, the blazing speeds at which the game is played means most players will finish the entire game in one or two sittings. The game is definitely fun while it lasts, but gamers on a budget may find a tougher time dropping $15 on the new release that is finished so quickly.
There also isn't a lot to do in Strider once the game has been completed. There are a few unlockables in the game that includes bonus concept art and other hidden goodies, but searching out the additional content will hardly appeal to all gamers. There are some additional difficulty settings that add extra challenge to the game, but it's still the same game with the same enemies and linear play style no matter how difficult or easy players choose to make the game. Strider is definitely good fun while it lasts, but players need to remember how little replay value the game has when deciding whether or not to make the purchase.
Despite a retro look and feel, Strider manages to exude a mostly strong presentation. The game is always played from the 2D perspective, though there are several instances of the game taking steps to make players feel as though they are exploring a 3D world. The environments are somewhat varied, but color patterns and some structures seem to repeat often just as the games enemies and bosses will be constantly fought throughout the game. Strider Hiryu has some good animations that makes the ninja outfit seem important to the game, even when gameplay doesn't portray very many ninja stealth tactics. The game has some decent themes and sound effects that feel authentic to the series and helps make the game more enjoyable too.
Strider isn't a must own by any stretch, but fans of the Metroidvania style of classic games will definitely find something to enjoy with this rehashing of a classic series. Strider sets a fast paced tone early on that finds players battling giant robots, heavily armed guards and a massive dragon all within the first 15 minutes of gameplay, and though some the of the environments and enemies seem to repeat throughout the game, Strider is an entertaining game while it lasts. Players won't find many reasons to come back and play the game after they've completed it once or twice, but it's a wild ride while it lasts that could give gamers something fun to do over the upcoming weekend while waiting for other big titles to release. Strider is available across nearly every platform, and the $14.99 price tag likely won't break too many budgets, so add the game to your download queue today!
Strider is now available for $14.99 and can be purchased for PlayStation Network, Xbox LIVE Arcade and Steam. Strider is rated E by the ESRB for Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood & Mild Language. For more information on Strider, check out the official Capcom website.
Game Features:
- Single Player
- Unlockable Concept Art
- Online Leaderboards
- Steam Trading Card Support
- Trophy/Achievement Support
Game Information:
Developer: Double Helix Games
Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: PlayStation 4 (reviewed), PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 & PC
Release Date: February 19, 2014
Score: 7 out of 10