The Return of Hiryu

[Firefly00]

Announcement trailer

Area 1 gameplay

Spoiler for Press Release text:

THE ORIGINAL ASSASSIN RETURNS WITH THE REVEAL OF STRIDER®
The Ultimate Ninja Hero Comes to Current and Next Gen Platforms Early 2014


San Diego, Calif. – July 18, 2013 - Capcom, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today confirmed that the ultimate ninja, Strider Hiryu, will return in Strider®, a brand new title in development for Xbox One®, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Xbox 360®games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®3 system and PC. An intense side-scrolling action platformer, Strider’s action begins in the expansive metropolis of Kazakh City, a mix of ornate Russian architecture and hard-edged futuristic high-rise buildings with sprawling energy cables and pipework. Players freely explore the city and beyond, gaining new abilities and items which in turn open access to a truly massive and expansive interconnected game world.

Remaining true to its roots, Strider features the same franchise hallmarks of fluid, lightning quick combat and ground-breaking free-flowing traversal that inspired many of today’s third person action titles. Strider further builds upon this pedigree by endowing the player with a vastly expanded arsenal of moves and weapons to acquire and use, while slicing their way through a massive, interconnected and rich game world.

The year is Meio: 048, on an alternate dystopian future of Earth. The whole planet suffers under the oppressive, iron-fisted rule of the mysterious and omnipotent Grand Master Meio. An expert in sabotage and assassination, Hiryu is the youngest ever recruit to attain a Special A-Class in the hellish Strider training program, and is the only man capable of achieving the mission to eliminate Grand Master Meio.

Perform breakneck acrobatic jumps and mid-air flips while slicing through enemies with Hiryu’s indestructible ‘Cypher’, a plasma charged weapon that can take on a number of properties. Alternatively, use the climb sickle to gain the high ground, and hit them with a surprise Kunai attack, or call on support allies for some extra muscle when the going gets tough.

From cybernetic soldiers to immense bio-mechanical creatures, Strider’s varied enemy types guarantee unique and engaging combat challenges that will see players quickly utilizing their various weapons, items and skills to gain the upper hand. The addition of plasma cypher variations and ranged weapons, such as the Kunai, provide further depth to combat.

Strider is being developed by Double Helix Games in conjunction with Capcom and is scheduled for digital release in early 2014.

So you have the original jump-slash-and-climb gameplay, mixed with a bit of Metroidvania exploration and wrapped up in new aesthetics? I for one will be keeping an eye on this.

[Blackbeard D. Kuma]

I'm looking forward to this. The Strider franchise has always been lots of fun. More depth added to the gameplay is going to make things even better. Maybe this game is also a sign of more classic revivals to come.

[Kirito]

An upcoming Strider game sweet. Double Helix is on a roll this year. First Killer Instinct and now Strider... what next a console version of a Megaman Legends game (hopefully 3) or a new Breathe of Fire game? Who knows, but will keep an eye on this because the Strider series does interest me.

Now on a rather pessimistic note: Cashcom announces day one DLC down the line. Called it!

[Freeter]

Can we rename the thread to Strider? It'll make it easier to find and people won't make dupe threads later.

[Firefly00]

Originally Posted by Clarami

Who knows, but will keep an eye on this because the Strider series does interest me.

In which case, I believe this article would be right up your alley.

[kenjiharima]

Reminds me of the old PS2 Strider game only 3D, hope the familiar Strider characters and bosses will make an appearance.

[Frailty]

Originally Posted by Freeter

Can we rename the thread to Strider? It'll make it easier to find and people won't make dupe threads later.

I agree with this

Originally Posted by kenjiharima

Reminds me of the old PS2 Strider game only 3D,

2.5D to be exact since Strider is a sidescrolling game.

This game can easily become a Megaman Zero game. Too bad it's over

[Firefly00]

And Capcom has seen fit to show IGN a more substantial look at 'Area 1', complete with the full Ouroboros battle...

Among the noteworthies:

• the demo is a custom build, with a denser population of upgrades; conversely, enemy difficulty (particularly Ouroborous) was nudged upwards;
• the slide attack is now an acquired powerup... and, of course, allows you to get through certain small openings;
• kunai (the projectiles Hiryu uses in the previous demo) and some of the special Cypher upgrades (like projectile eflec) are regulated by an energy reserve

Overall, IGN's (specifically, Marty Silva's) take is positive, but some concern is raised about just how well the devs will nail the Metroidvania aspect.

As interested as I am to see how DH reinvigorates a certain set of martial-artist triplets and the resident Fett-analogue, I am also curious as to what if any nods might be made to locales as the Balrog and 'Third Moon'...

[Firefly00]

I'll just leave it here...

And yes, it looks like Ouroboros isn't the only returning boss...

[Firefly00]

Source: GameInformer.com

Strider Hiryu will be sprinting onto consoles on the 18th (coincidentally, the same day EDF 2025 is scheduled to deploy). Further, it will come with a pair of extra game modes - survival challenge and checkpoint race - and the ability to customize Hiyru's color scheme. This latter encompasses a list of presets, as well as allowing players to color various components independently.

Amusingly, one of the presets is inspired by Strider Hien; for all we know he might be an unlockable alternate model of his own...