1989: Capcom released into the arcade mainstream a futuristic side-scrolling action title in which a lone Strider by the name of Hiryu went on a mission across Russia (and eventually to the moon) to stop the evil Master from conquering the universe. Strider was an immediate hit, due in part to its huge, colorful graphics, imaginative level design and overall just being fun to play. Later that year, as Nintendo's newly-released Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) dominates the video game market, and Capcom ports over a completely different from the arcade version Strider game, making up an entirely new storyline and cast. Although not an action-oriented game like its predecessor, it does fairly well as an adventure title. Capcom turns its sights towards the struggling Sega Master System, and releases a less-than-average disappointing port of the amazing arcade game.
1990: The 16-bit Sega Genesis was first introduced into homes, and Capcom was one of the first compagnies to harness its advanced CPU, bringing home a near-perfect port of the Strider arcade game, which continued to thrill arcade-goers everywhere. Besides being the first 8-meg cartridge ever, the Genesis version of Strider went on to win several awards, including Electronic Gaming Monthly's 1990 Game of the Year, an incredible honor. Later that year, Sega and U.S. Gold team up to release Strider 2: Return from Darkness for the Genesis and Game Gear. Caught up in a sea of sequels, it gets overlooked and pales in comparison to the formidable first games.
Time passes, and Strider seems all but forgotten...
1997: Keeping in line with their new series of Crossover Fighting games, Capcom releases Marvel VS Capcom, an incredible two-on-two tag team fighter that combines dozens of different universes from both the Marvel and Capcom sides. Included as a playable character is none other than the until-recently ignored Strider Hiryu, whos new look and classic style instantly make him a favourite of fans of the series (not to mention his ability to flawlessly link 30-hit combos with ease..).
1998: Capcom begins releasing a series known as Capcom Generations, several compilation discs for the Playstation and Saturn containing classic series such as Ghouls and Ghosts, 1943 ad Street Fighter 2. Rumors of a Strider compilation pack arise, but nothing is written in stone at this point.
***Recent Strider News & Updates***
12/03/98- According to sources, Hiryu's latest appearance in Marvel VS Capcom has hit such popularity that Capcom is presently working on a new Strider arcade game along the lines of the original, but with 3D elements! Possibilities of a Dreamcast port are high, and I'll be sure to put up the latest info as I get it!
01/11/99- Supreme ruler of all game magazines, EGM officially announces all the information for the sequel (the same stuff I've had up for over a month...) and that it will be put on test very soon. On a related note, Capcom also revives Final Fight as a polygonal 2D fighter a-la-Rival Schools. Sadly, still no pics from the Strider sequel to put up.
01/16/99- PSM (the unofficial Playstation magazine) also announces Capcom's plans for a Strider sequel, as well as plans in the near future to port to the Playstation. Supposedly to be included with the PS port of the new Strider sequel will be a second disc containing a perfect port of the original Strider. We can only hope, right? Still no pics. :(
02/25/99- Videogames.com shows an official preview for the HOT Dreamcast port of Marvel VS Capcom, and I got all their pics containing Hiryu. Scheduled to be released on March 25th in Japan (lucky japanese..), it promises to be arcade-perfect in every way. Soon I'll need to make a new MvsC page for the Dreamcast version :)
03/03/99- Japanese Strider arcade ROM uploaded. Check it out on the ROMs page
03/12/99- Strider 2 movie and pics uploaded to new section devoted to Strider 2! Strider 2 is confirmed to be ported to the Dreamcast sometime in the future! Incredible thanks goes out to Sega-Otaku for everything!
04/25/99- The Blue Dragon has been given a new look. Also, new mp3s from the PC Engine Strider are being uploaded to the Multimedia page.
05/07/99- The Blue Dragon has been given permission to put up Zr-RIfle's Strider FAQ. Check it out in its devoted section here.
05/31/99- An excellent new midi of Strider Hiryu's theme in Marvel VS Capcom has been put up. Thanks to SinclairC for the donation! Check it out here!
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