History VideoGame / Strider

''Strider'' is a [[RuleOfCool stylish]] 1989 action / platforming game by Creator/{{Capcom}} about a {{ninja}} with an [[CoolSword incredibly badass sword]]. The game features our hero Hiryu as he takes on the Grandmaster, [[GalacticConqueror an entity from another galaxy that has decided to conquer the Earth.]] The arcade game was ported to many systems, including the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis, where it was one of the system's first {{Killer App}}s, and the first game to be released on an 8-megabit cartridge.

The game naturally inspired a number of [[FollowTheLeader imitators and similar games]], such as ''VideoGame/RunSaber'' and ''Shadow of the Ninja''. Two of these, ''[[VideoGame/CannonDancer Osman]]'' and ''VideoGame/MoonDiver'', were created by the same designer of the original and are considered its {{Spiritual Successor}}s. In 1990, the British company U.S. Gold produced an officially-licensed sequel titled ''[[VideoGame/StriderReturns Strider II]]'', which was originally released for various home computer platforms in Europe (specifically the Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum). The game was remade in 1992 for the [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Mega Drive]] with redesigned stages and play mechanics much closer to the original arcade game. This was that version that was released in North America under the title of ''Strider Returns: Journey From Darkness''. An 8-bit UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem version of ''Strider II'' was also released, with a corresponding American release for the UsefulNotes/GameGear under the ''Strider Returns'' title.

The series remained silent until 1998, where Hiryu was included as a playable character in ''[[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomClashOfTheSuperheroes Marvel vs. Capcom]]'' and its sequel ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom2''. Hiryu's speed, easily-chained combos, zone control, and full-screen LimitBreak made him a favorite of {{Scrub}}s and StopHavingFunGuys alike. Thanks to this newfound popularity Capcom [[Music/{{Prince}} partied]] with ''Strider 2'', released first in arcades in 1999 and later ported to the UsefulNotes/PlayStation a year later, where Hiryu once again faces the Grandmaster as well as a new foe, the renegade Strider Hien. Since then, Hiryu and his enemies have appeared in ''VideoGame/NamcoXCapcom''; notably, the Grandmaster gets the honor of being the last BigBad to be confronted before the biggest bad herself. While not present in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'' due to copyright issues, Hiryu did join the line-up of its UpdatedRerelease, ''Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3''.

* {{Bishonen}}: In ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom'' and beyond.

** DualTonfas: The weapon is tonfa-shaped. Hien can actually dual-wield his double-edged cypher as two separate weapons.

The game naturally inspired a number of [[FollowTheLeader imitators and similar games]], such as ''VideoGame/RunSaber'' and ''Shadow of the Ninja''. Two of these, ''[[VideoGame/CannonDancer Osman]]'' and ''VideoGame/MoonDiver'', were created by the same designer of the original and are considered its {{Spiritual Successor}}s. In 1990, the European-based company U.S. Gold produced an officially-licensed sequel titled ''Strider II'', which was originally released for various home computer platforms in Europe (specifically the Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum). The game was remade in 1992 for the [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Mega Drive]] with redesigned stages and play mechanics much closer to the original arcade game. This was that version that was released in North America under the title of ''Strider Returns: Journey From Darkness''. An 8-bit UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem version of ''Strider II'' was also released, with a corresponding American release for the UsefulNotes/GameGear under the ''Strider Returns'' title.

The series received a new sequel in the form of a open-world {{Metroidvania}}-style game in 2014 by Double Helix Games, overseen by the original developers at Capcom's Osaka Studio. Following the 2014 revival, Hiryu and some of his enemies would then go on to appear in the crossovers ''[[VideoGame/ProjectXZone Project X Zone 2: Brave New World]]'' and ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'', and his uniform was included as DLC in ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter Generations'' and its UpdatedRerelease ''Generations Ultimate''.

! Media In the Franchise:

* TheGreatPoliticsMessUp: The Soviet Union still exists in the 2040's and the country of Kazakhstan is referred by its former name of Kazakh SSR in both arcade and NES games, as well as the manga.

* ThemeNaming: In ''Marvel vs. Capcom'', Hiryu's moveset is heavily influenced by legendary swords and items ([[Myth/JapaneseMythology Ame no Murakumo]], [[KingArthur Excalibur]], [[Myth/NorseMythology Gram]], [[Myth/HinduMythology Vajra]]) and mythology in general ([[{{Gotterdammerung}} Ragnarok]], {{Ouroboros}}, [[Literature/TheBible Legion]]).

The game naturally inspired a number of [[FollowTheLeader imitators and similar games]], such as ''VideoGame/RunSaber'' and ''Shadow of the Ninja''. Two of these, ''[[VideoGame/CannonDancer Osman]]'' amd ''VideoGame/MoonDiver'', were created by the same designer of the original and are considered its {{Spiritual Successor}}s. In 1990, the European-based company U.S. Gold produced an officially-licensed sequel titled ''Strider II'', which was originally released for various home computer platforms in Europe (specifically the Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum). The game was remade in 1992 for the [[UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis Mega Drive]] with redesigned stages and play mechanics much closer to the original arcade game. This was that version that was released in North America under the title of ''Strider Returns: Journey From Darkness''. An 8-bit UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem version of ''Strider II'' was also released, with a corresponding American release for the UsefulNotes/GameGear under the ''Strider Returns'' title.

''Strider'' is a [[RuleOfCool stylish]] 1989 action / platforming game by Creator/{{Capcom}} about a {{ninja}} with an [[CoolSword incredibly badass sword]]. The game features our hero Hiryu as he takes on the "Grandmaster", [[GalacticConqueror an entity from another galaxy that has decided to conquer the Earth.]] The arcade game was ported to many systems, including the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis, where it was one of the system's first {{Killer App}}s, and the first game to be released on an 8-megabit cartridge.

In 2017 ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'' reintroduced Zeku (Guy's master from ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha 2'') as the last Season 2 character, and he returned not only with a design and moveset that leans ''heavily'' on Hiryu's, but his backstory strongly implies he's got a hand in the creation of the Striders organization, establishing ''Strider'' as being part of ''Street Fighter'''s ever-growing SharedUniverse.