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.

Master System

Released in 1991, the Master System version of Strider is an impressive technical achievement for an 8-bit console. Developed by Tiertex and published by Sega, it attempts to recreate the sprawling levels of the arcade original within the constraints of a 4-megabit cartridge. While some sacrifices were necessary—such as the removal of certain mid-level bosses and simplified background layers—the core "Strider feel" remains intact. Hiryu’s sprites are surprisingly large and well-animated, and his signature climbing abilities work flawlessly. The Master System's superior color palette compared to other 8-bit machines allows for a vibrant recreation of the futuristic Soviet settings. Despite some flickering when many enemies are on screen, the game remains fast and challenging. It stands as one of the most ambitious arcade ports in the Master System's library, pushing the Z80-based hardware to its absolute limits.