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Hiryu is impossible to describe, because everyone that has seen him is dead.
Image Credit: Samir Torres
Twenty-five years is a long time for a ninja to stay alive and relevant.
After more than a decade of waiting, fans of Capcom‘s slash-fest will finally dive head-first into a new Strider adventure. Sure, it’s a high-definition reboot of the original arcade game instead of a sequel, but it’s better than nothing.
Hiryu’s debut in 1989 left a big impression on gamers with its big, colorful sprites, fast-paced combat, and teeth-grinding difficulty. Yet, 11 years went by without a new entry in the series (Strider 2), and then 14 more years for the Double Helix-developed “Strider HD.”
So, what exactly has Hiryu been doing for the past 25 years?
Check out the gallery below for a retrospective of Hiryu’s few starring roles as a master assassin, plus his part-time gigs as a street brawler, trivia guru, and trading card model.
Hiryu’s first directive as a Strider takes him across the world in search of Grandmaster Meio, a mysterious and powerful being set to conquer our planet. Capcom ported Strider to home consoles like the TurboGrafx-16 and Genesis. The NES version, though, is different from the arcade game – focusing less on action and more on exploration.
Fans of Strider were deeply disappointed by this mediocre “sequel” published by US Gold. The game was rushed to capitalize on the success of the original, resulting in dull visuals, poor controls, and a general lack of polish. It also replaces Hiryu with Strider Hinjo, who is depicted holding a gun in the cover art. Why did you let this happen, Capcom?
This Japan-only quiz game has cameo appearances from many popular Capcom characters like Captain Commando, Mike Haggar, Mega Man, and Hiryu. Say, isn’t that Ken Masters’ boat in the background?
Hiryu’s speed and agility made him a fan-favorite among Marvel vs. Capcom gamers. His updated character design was welcomed by hardcore Strider fans and has since become Hiryu’s default look. Ton Pooh, a follower of Grandmaster Meio, made it into the game as an assist partner.
The spiky-haired ninja also guest-starred in all three titles of the SNK vs. Capcom collectible card games: Card Fighters’ Clash (1999) and Card Fighters 2 Expand Edition (2001) for the Neo Geo Pocket Color, and Card Fighters DS (2007) for the Nintendo DS.
Finally, a true sequel developed by Capcom. Hiryu faces Grandmaster Meio and his minions once again, but this time our hero must also battle a fellow Strider called Hien. The game mixes 2D sprites over 3D backgrounds and a few polygonal enemies like tanks and helicopters. New special moves and power-ups keep the action more intense than ever.
The fearless Strider returns to one of the most successful arcade series of all time. He is playable right from the start, unlike other characters that need to be unlocked.
Another title never released outside Japan, Namco x Capcom is a tactical-RPG in the vein of Final Fantasy Tactics, but with a crapload of Namco and Capcom characters. Hiryu joins the adventure halfway through the game, and must battle other Strider characters like Hien (pictured), the Pooh sisters, Solo, and Grandmaster Meio.
Hiryu didn’t make it into Marvel vs. Capcom 3 due to licensing problems with Moto Kikaku, who share the Strider copyright with Capcom. But fan demand eventually persuaded Capcom to resolve the issues and add the high-tech assassin to Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3’s roster.
After a failed attempt to resurrect the franchise in 2009, Capcom and Double Helix have finally forged a new Strider. The reboot mixes the fast-paced hack-and-slash combat of the first two games with exploration as well as upgradable weapons similar to Epic’s Shadow Complex.
