STRIDER™ / ストライダー飛竜®

Great Hack and Slash type game. The levels are not overly complicated, the fighting is straightforward, and the abilities are easily understood. Overall I enjoyed the gameplay and it was an easy game to hop in and out of.

The only issues I had with the game is that the enemies would respawn right away after the area they were in was off screen. Sometimes it felt like I was being punished fro exploring an area to ultimately have to backtrack and fight the same enemies again. Additionally, the story was mediocre at best, I knew what was going on but there were no really in depth characters and some bosses I had no clue why I was fighting.

Overall still a very fun game to jump in and out of, does not take long to beat and is exactly what you expect out of a hack and slash.

During Capcom's dark age that lasted between 2012 and 2017, this reboot of Strider was probably the best title to come from the, at the time, struggling company.

Strider 2014 was created from the combination of the arcade classic, Strider 2, and the NA-only released Strider for the NES. Strider 2014 retains the same idea from it's arcade predecessors for it's gameplay: the game is simple to play and can be very satisfying especially when mastered. Returning from the NES title are the "search-action" elements, Upgrades you will find aside from the basic stuff are the repurposed options from the original Strider and new ciphers, which are used to not only progress in the game, but to add more possible strategies for the combat. One thing that is completely new is this temporary double-damage state that Hiryu can achieve if you max out the meter next to your HP. As you inflict damage, the meter increases; however, getting hit lowers it and will entirely empty if you take too long to add damage. I wanted to spotlight this mechanic as well as the slight HP and energy gain per kill because the game is encouraging and rewarding aggressive, but not quite reckless play. I think it works well - even with the bosses.

I also want to compliment the game's art direction. It gives me kinda this American comic book vibe, similar to that of Sucker Punch's InFamous or the 2007 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film though these are from my own experience. It is different from what came before, but I do think it fits given the events on paper, and the existing characters made the transition perfectly fine unlike Bionic Commando or DMC: Devil May Cry. It also helps that Strider never really settled on a single style with each title bringing something new. The only major gripe I have with this game visually is that it sometimes zooms in on character models for some of the cutscenes. It can remind you that this was a budget game that was made over a decade ago now.

The only other major gripe I have with the game is the map. While the game does have a waypoint to your main objective, this only appears if you are in the area or an adjacent area, Beyond that, nothing. You also can't mark points-of-interest, exits/entrances to areas aren't labeled, and not every area has a shortcut or fast travel of some kind. My first playthrough probably took an hour or two more than it should've due to this. I also wonder if not having iframes for a game like this did more harm than good in some instances.

Definitely pick this up on a sale. The gameplay and design are both a proper evolution to the series. I have seen arguments made against this title, but I find that this one looks and feels great to play. Moreso than many titles in this genre.

Ignore the negative reviews. This game is amazing.

If you ever played the originals this will feel very nostalgic.

Strider is a fun, fast-paced action game. There are some Metroidvania elements like upgrades gating off sections of the world, but for the most part it's super linear. The map is also pretty useless for navigation, as it doesn't actually tell you what is connecting to what which leads to an absolutely frustrating endgame if you do try to run around collecting items and upgrades.

Buy it on sale. Good Steam Deck time killer.

sonso

Good

Man this game is fun fun fun it's like a little mini-Metroid.

If I was 10 and had nothing else to play, I would go outside and pretend to be a future ninja and have more fun than playing this painfully average mobile game trying to be something more than it is and actually being less.
Why is this aesthetic even a thing? What about the Overwatch chunky childlike pastel and neon art style is remotely appealing? I'm sorry but this isn't for me and it's probably not for you either if you like actually cool games like Ninja Gaiden or Castlevania, this is just a passionless project with unbalanced gameplay and disappointing everything.
Forget the refund, I want 37 minutes of my life back.
2/10 - at least it runs smoothly, but it's like, a turd that floats is not a good substitute for a boat.

Belongs in every Strider fan's collection.

The good
- Responsive controls and smooth movement. (This is important considering the previous Strider games.)
- Secrets everywhere for you to collect character and world art/info.
- Interesting updates to known characters.
- Incorporates concepts from the NES game.
- Some very nice attentions to detail with the world you explore, giving it life.
- Remixed and expanded tracks from the original series with an ambient quality to them.

The neutral
- A "Metroidvania".
- If only it was pixel-based.
- It doesn't really capture the excitement of the original (arcade/Genesis) where you are always quickly thrown into strange environments and facing off with unique and bizarre creatures. Other's experiences may differ though.
- Meio's boss fight doesn't even throw his genetic creations at you like in the original; not even one piranha!

The bad
- Enemies with shields that need you to quickly switch your cypher type temporarily will get annoying fast.
- Meio's 2nd form with the gravitrons and their funky controls.

The western developers Double Helix deserve alot of credit for respecting the source material and apparently they worked very closely with Capcom Japan to develop this. For instance, the character designs were primarily Capcom Japan designed (with Sho Sakai who also worked on Strider 2 [1999] and Manami Yoshino).
Also, check out the "Capcom Database" website for alot of information about this game.

Underrated metroidvania ninja game.

fun game!

Excellent game, music, gameplay, design, i would really recommend for anyone searching for a first metroidvania.
It is also not too hard, not too easy, just right !

Sooo Much Fun if you Love Ninja Games! I give it a 11! Would be dope if Ninja Gaiden and Strider Link up in a New Game/Universe! As Long Lost Brothers! They can create a 2 player coop mode with both characters at the same time like the double dragons but double NINJAS! would be Legend! :o)

It's a nice game.

I used to play the original strider as a kid, probably poured thousands of bucks into it, just to beat it.
This new age strider game is both a blast from the past, a well as a new breath of fresh air.
possibly the best 2D ninja game out right now imho

Just beat the game, instant classic, hardcore Metroidvania! I initially began playing it back in 2014 on my PS4, but got stuck in the game (map system isn't the easiest in this game). Anyway, 10 years later, I decided to do some Strider the other day, focused and beat it finally. I haven't played the earlier NES and PS1 Striders, but I'm genuinely impressed. I wish Konami gave Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (SotN), this stellar treatment. This is how you make an instant classic. It'd be great if Capcom makes a sequel for this Strider game, just keep it Metroidvania, old school and develop it in-house next time.

Strider Hiryu returns in this 2014 remake/reboot of the classic Strider games! Set sometime in the distant future, the evil Grand Master Meio is threatening total world domination and only Hiryu, the best and youngest member of the Striders, can stop him.

Gameplay is fast-paced and intense. 2D action and exploration platforming will keep you on your toes from start to finish as you race through each area slicing through Meio's army of robots as you go. Combat is fun, with a variety of tools and upgrades for your Cypher, your primary weapon, that allow you to fight your way around each of the unique and memorable parts of Kazahk City. A variety of enemy types and interesting boss fights will offer a fun challenge and test your abilities throughout the game. A surprisingly interesting story plays out as you explore and meet new characters along the way, most of them Meio's generals who do everything they can to stop you, but a few unlikely allies as well, all of them further made great with wonderful voice acting. Graphics are excellent, flashy, colorful, and perfectly capture the unique feel of each area and every character. Sound is amazing, the sound of Hiryu leaping around and cutting down everything in his path blending well with the voices of the robot hordes trying to coordinate a defense against your assault. A pulse-pounding soundtrack rounds out the great features of this game and really help you get into the role of Strider Hiryu perfectly.

I don't really have any gripes with this game, but I must warn that it can be quite challenging at times, especially on the Hard difficulty. Navigating the ten different areas of the game can at times be a bit daunting, and you will likely need a guide to help you find everything. Nonetheless, this is an amazing 2D Action/Exploration Platformer and well worth your time and money!

This might’ve been alright upon release in 2014 when the market for this stuff wasn’t so saturated but 10 years after the fact there isn’t exactly a lack of well made games in this Metroid inspired vein and I can’t help but to think you’d be better off playing a better one. The controls are sloppy, the combat isn’t particularly satisfying and the world is annoying to navigate.

Maybe the studio didn’t feel comfortable making a proper arcade style sequel to Strider 2 or maybe Capcom didn’t think it would sell but in hindsight, even if that didn’t fully stick the landing, it would’ve been a more interesting effort.

Oh look, another fricking DRM added way after release!

An amazing Metroidvania with really quick and addictive combat that flows well. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a new one to play!

As a metroidvania, this game aged rather poorly; Maybe I feel this way due to playing it right after doing 4 other excellent games in the genre; But overall progression, map design and such just felt lackluster and weirdly padded, with exploration being punished (such as a rather easy sequence break that will make you miss the solo fight and miss out on an important upgrade until much later).

Doesnt help that 90% of the abilities you unlock are basically new fancy ways to trigger switches/open doors and not new ways to traverse the levels or fighting enemies (no, elemental sword effects dont count)

Feels like it would be a much better game as a traditional level based experience.

This is by no means a bad game, it's just very mediocre. You really have to be thirsting for a game to play to play this, because I can think of a dozen better games to play or just wanting to start up something in my backlog instead.

The movement feels fast and good, until you climb something which is way too slow. But nothing you do in this game feels very impactful. The combat doesn't really feel like you're hitting much and whenever you enter an area it is respawned with trash mobs which are so boring to fight that I'd rather just run past them.

It looks far more spectacular in the trailer than what it feels like playing it. AGain, it's not a bad game, it's just has no pull for me.

cool ninja do a slashy thing :D

100% achievements in 34.4 hours.

very underrated

I love this game! It's tough and just has good gameplay. An old classic redone for modern times.

Buy it when 5 bucks or less, and if you love Metroid Dread 2.5d style.

Delete the russian bots

Decently fun platformer that is kinda in the vein of a Metroidvania -- more so the former than the later, as there isn't really equipment juggling involved. Rewards exploration and backtracking, but not to such an extent that gets tedious IMO. Love the aesthetics and art design; I remember the originals fondly, and this is a good spiritual revival to that in many ways. The gameplay balance of control fluidity to challenge is pretty good. That said I've not yet tried at higher difficulties yet... Either way, if you like Metroidvanias and can get this on a sale, I'd say it's worth checking out.

I absolutely would have recommended this in the past but Capcom decided to leave Enigma Protector in. Do not buy until they remove it.

metrovenia game with great abilities and fun gameplay one of few metrovenia i enjoyed and finish twice from how good it is.
9/10