Strider (2014)

Strider is a fast-paced 2.5D action-platformer reboot of the classic arcade/NES series, developed by Double Helix Games. I got to admit, this was my first Strider game and I loved it, though not enough to make me want to play the older titles, as much as I am a retro gaming fan. The MC is called Hiryu, a futuristic ninja slicing through a dystopian city controlled by the villainous Grandmaster Meio. The game excels in fluid combat, responsive controls, and stylish traversal, blending hack-and-slash intensity with Metroidvania-inspired exploration.

The bossfights are a standout to me, very cinematic, impressive and challenging. While the story is minimal and the environments can feel repetitive, the crisp visuals, tight gameplay loop, and satisfying upgrades make it a solid modern reinterpretation of a cult classic. Overall this makes up for a more interesting game for more modern audiences, and in my opinion, it's modernization was very well made and polished. It's short but sharp, ideal for fans of action and retro reboots, and action-platformers in general, one of the best that I've played of this genre.

However, it's worth noting that the game’s commitment to breakneck pacing and non-linear exploration comes with a few trade-offs. The progression, while enjoyable, can occasionally lead to moments of directionless wandering as you backtrack through the somewhat samey industrial and prison blocks of the world map. The level design, though functionally sound for showcasing the acrobatics, lacks the memorable architectural variety or atmospheric depth found in genre benchmarks. These elements don't significantly detract from the core fun, but they prevent the experience from reaching true greatness.

Overall, this title succeeds precisely where it matters most, delivering a potent power fantasy with impeccable kinetic flow. The thrill of seamlessly dashing up walls, deflecting a hail of gunfire with a well-timed slash, and dismantling a towering mechanized boss never diminishes. It is a game engineered for pure, undiluted action, smartly condensed into a package that respects your time. While it may not have the narrative weight or world-building longevity of some peers, its focused execution and polished modernization stand as a testament to how revitalize a classic concept with confidence and flair.

There's not a lot to say about Strider. It's a metroidvania hack-n-slasher with even less of a story than that description implies, and I finished it in about 5.25 hours (71% complete). It's fun though, the pacing is good and the mechanics, while clunky at times, build on each other well. It's relatively easy for about 98% of the game and then has a huge increase in difficulty for the final level (which was somewhat frustrating), and then calms down again for the (easily cheeseable) final boss, which was a weird choice. The music and graphics are very arcadey—looks like Metroid: Dread but blander, and without the incredible animations.

Overall it was enjoyable but kind of empty. That being said, if you're really into this type of game I could imagine hard difficulty providing a satisfying challenge for you, and I could see speedrunning being fun as well.

At first I thought it was something in Strider's core that kept it from being total fun, but Capcom manages to reinvent the ninja in a direction that maintains core combat and maneuverability all while being one of the most fun games I've played in awhile.

Telling a simple tale of Strider Hiryu's quest against Grandmaster Meio in Kazakh City, much is kept true to the original, but expanded into a full-out Metroidvania. All of Strider's skills and upgrades are well-placed and well used, whether it be a double jump, a dash technique, four different types of plasma weaponry, and three subweapon options. There's a plethora to work with and for the most part, they all work.

The city screams "evil Russian empire" stereotypes like it's going out of style, but it's surprisingly gorgeous. The detail seems simple, yet there's so much that was put into Kazakh City and each of its evil little inhabitants. They all pose some form of challenge with relentless gunfire and slowly become stronger as Hiryu progresses.

The shining star probably has to go to the bosses. The exploration in this game is short but sweet, but these bosses aim for Treasure levels of quality. Water mages, fighters of the wind, giant death bots, bounty hunters, and a familiar gorilla - all of them are expertly crafted and are a ton of fun to take on.

The difficulty is toned down in some areas, but all to make it more fun while maintaining a good challenge. No time limits, instant death pits, or super short areas - Strider (2014) is fully designed to take a different direction for the series and I am loving this direction.