Strider Hiryu became one of Capcom’s iconic characters despite appearing in only a handful of games. He got his start in the arcade hit Strider in 1989, which was later ported to the Sega Genesis in near perfect fashion. He later appeared in Strider 2 for the PSOne, a sequel that offered the same classic gameplay while delivering a terrific new soundtrack and visuals. Outside of that, he starred in fighting games like the Marvel vs. Capcom series, but hasn’t seen much action until now.
As part of its San Diego Comic-Con festivities last month, Capcom revealed an all-new take in the Strider franchise through a seven-minute video that thrilled audiences. The game has a much larger world to explore set in a Metroidvania style, where new sections open up after clearing enemy soldiers and robots. You can watch the gameplay footage below.
The game is in development at Double Helix, the same team hard at work on Microsoft’s enhanced take on the Killer Instinct fighting franchise. However, several members of the original Strider team at Capcom’s Osaka office are on board, to make sure it feels like the classic Strider games of old.
In this new chapter, Strider once again finds himself up against The Grandmaster Meio, the main villain of the first two games. He has power over Kazakh City, leaving the citizens fearing for their lives. Strider, with sword in hand, vows to take back control by tearing Meio’s forces to shreds.
The first thing you’ll notice watching Strider in action is that he hasn’t lost any of his physical abilities. He still runs and jumps with the same grace in his previous adventures, with sword in hand. He can also climb along walls and ceilings, which is useful when the ground beneath him is laden with booby traps.
As for his offensive skills, Strider is as sharp as ever. His sword is capable of cutting most enemies down to size, and can also do sufficient damage to bosses, like the huge snake robot teased at the end of the video. On top of that, he can throw shurikens to destroy enemies from a distance. This is especially useful for out-of-reach cannons or would-be snipers.
Players can take advantage of power-ups throughout each level. They only last a little while, but help him get through tougher stages. Here’s a brief rundown of what each item is capable of.
First up is the Reflect Cypher. Once Strider arms this, he’s capable of deflecting enemy attacks – such as bullets or missiles – with a well-placed swipe of his sword. This is a valuable item when it comes to charging into a room full of guards, as you won’t be able to dodge every bullet that comes flying your way.
Next up is the Explosive Cypher. Once Strider charges this, his blade will literally catch fire, doing more damage to armored enemies and setting soldiers ablaze. This is good if you need to clear out a heavily guarded portion of the map.
Fans of the original Strider games will surely remember the Bot Power-Up. Once activated, these droids circle around Strider acting as a temporary shield while shooting lasers. These provide good offense and defense at the same time, so make sure to pick up the Cypher if you spot it.
After defeating a boss – Meio’s elite guard, the Vityaz-1 — Strider will gain access to the Charge Attack. You hold down the X button for a charge strike, which gives you double the range and damage. It also enables you to open certain gates to access new areas.
Other power-ups should appear, including the return of Strider’s robo-panther, which runs ahead and strikes enemies standing in his way.
Although the game is still in development – it isn’t due for release until next year – Strider has the best of both worlds. Fans will enjoy how the visuals and audio pay loving tribute to older games, as well as its gameplay. On the other hand, new audiences will love the open world exploration, as well as the power-ups and challenging boss encounters. This could be a huge hit for Capcom if its sword is sharp enough.
Strider releases in early 2014 for Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PC.
