Strider

Strider is a fast-paced hack-and-slash platformer set in a dystopian future where the mysterious Grandmaster Meio has seized control of the Earth from a space station. You take control of Hiryu, the youngest and most skilled member of an elite group of high-tech ninjas known as "Striders." Armed with a plasma-charged blade called Cypher, Hiryu must infiltrate the capital of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. The gameplay is defined by incredible mobility; Hiryu can climb walls, ceilings, and steep inclines with ease. Across five massive levels, you face a variety of enemies, ranging from cybernetic soldiers to a giant mechanical gorilla and a serpentine robot formed by a legislative committee.

Arcade

Released in 1989 by Capcom, Strider was a groundbreaking title built on the powerful CPS-1 (Capcom Play System) hardware. It redefined the action-platformer genre with its cinematic presentation, featuring large, fluidly animated sprites and digital voice synthesis. The arcade original is famous for its vibrant 16-bit color palette and parallax scrolling that creates a deep, layered sense of the futuristic Kazakh metropolis. It introduced iconic moments to gaming history, such as the dramatic leap from a glider and the gravity-defying battle aboard the flying battleship Balrog. The CPS-1 board allowed for a level of speed and sheer number of on-screen enemies that home consoles of the era struggled to replicate. Its success made Hiryu an instant icon and set a high technical bar for all subsequent home conversions.