Capcom's Strider releases today, the first installment in the series in over 14 years. It's been a long time since Strider 2 hit the original Playstation but ol' Strider has managed to stick in our minds thanks to his appearances in the Marvel vs. Capcom games, most recently in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.
This new Strider reboot takes the classic sidescrolling arcade hero and sticks him in a Metroidvania-style game, and the reviews so far are all very positive. Some more than others, of course, but for the most part it seems that people are happy to see his return. There's at least one consensous seems to be unanimous- if you have a next-gen system, go for that edition. The Xbox One and PS4 versions offer higher resolutions and crisper framerates than their little siblings,
Here's what people are saying.
Game Informer - 8.75 out of 10 - "There is so much here for fans of the previous games. Strider controls fantastically and always looks like a total badass. He leans forward to sprint, kicking up dust in his wake. His attacks are simply a blur of death. In the rare event that he's standing still, he settles on a cool pose with his plasma scarf trailing dynamically behind him. He takes on favorites like the Ouroboros, the triplet fighting sisters, the mecha-gorilla, and several new characters in a plentiful array of entertaining boss battles."
Destructoid- 9.5/10 - "The game's frequent boss battles are an absolute highlight, especially when coupled with the interesting designs from the art team and the voicework. Some of them have an epic Bayonettascale to them with giant monsters, but there are also a number of satisfying humanoid fights on a smaller scale. It's insane how varied these battles are, as one of them even has elements of bullet hell shoot-'em-ups built into it."
Polygon - 8.5/10 - "Strider regularly shines in showing restraint amid that skill-based play. Learning the game, learning its language and tricks makes for a more rewarding experience. But Double Helix seems to know where to pull back, where to allow excellence, rather than demanding it with an iron fist."
IGN - 7.5/10 - "This reimagining of the original Strider establishes developer Double Helix's firm grasp on the essence of the joy of movement that makes Strider Hiryu such a great character. It lacks environmental variety and a sense of fairness when it comes to some of the boss battles, but it shows great potential for a revitalized series."
Gamespot - 8/10 - "From the moment you embark on your journey right up until the final deathblow, Strider is a blast to play. Controlling this agile ninja feels empowering right out of the gate, and each new upgrade brings with it an enjoyable new way to engage your foes. While his world is a little drab there's still plenty to explore even after the job is done. Strider is fun, pure and simple, and serves as a fitting revival of a classic video game hero."
Eurogamer - 7/10 - "Every Metroidvania game is a piece of ingenious clockwork, a series of compartments that must be unlocked by first acquiring the keys. There is a natural sense of awe felt as you pick its locks - an admiration of the designer who so cleverly arranged its errant cogs for you to find and replace. Strider is no different, a game that ingeniously takes the style and feel of its ancestors and uses this to decorate an entirely different type of game for a contemporary audience."
