Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Future Games Show
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Newsletters
    • Total Film
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsarama
Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Future Games Show
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Newsletters
    • Total Film
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsarama
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Trending
  • PS5 State of Play
  • Ghost of Yotei
  • Battlefield 6
  • New Games for 2025
Don't miss these
Key art for Dying Light: The Beast showing Kyle Crane stunning an infected undead zombie in waist high water with a taser while raising a machete to finish the job - all while more infected hands reach out of the dense foliage towards him
Survival Horror Games Dying Light: The Beast review – "A playful sandbox of horror and mayhem with a surprising amount of depth"
Yakumo squares off against a DDO Commander boss in Ninja Gaiden 4
Action Games 6 hours in, Ninja Gaiden 4 has pushed me to my limit while giving me the tools to push beyond them – we are so back
Shinobi
Retro Retro Gamer magazine celebrates the history of Shinobi
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
Action Games Shinobi: Art of Vengeance review: "So close to being to a pitch-perfect revival of a classic series, but just can't quite line up the killing blow"
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Platforming Games Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound review: "Absolutely proves Ninja Gaiden deserved to be revived – I've never been happier to be right"
Onimusha: Way of the Sword preview screenshot from gamescom 2025
RPGs Onimusha: Way of the Sword is becoming my most anticipated game of 2026 but Sekiro fans should know it's not a difficult game – and that's OK
Yakumo fights the Courtesan boss in Ninja Gaiden 4
Action Games I was worried Ninja Gaiden 4 might tone down the extreme difficulty the series is known for, but Master Ninja mode has slashed those worries into 400 bloody pieces
Guy savage screenshot in metal gear solid delta
Metal Gear Metal Gear Solid Delta contains a remake of a minigame not seen since the PS2 releases, with Metal Gear Rising developer Platinum Games taking charge of it
Snake aims at The Fear in Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater while in forest camo
Metal Gear Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater review: "Little surprised me in this rigid remake, but it's still one of my favorite games of all time"
Devil May Cry RPG veteran behind Devil May Cry and Dragon's Dogma wants his next game to combine "the best of everything he’s worked on," but does not want it to be a Soulslike
Ash and the player clash blades in Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, a QTE prompt in the middle of the screen
Open World Games Close enough, welcome back Anthem – I'm loving that Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion has shifted gears to smaller, nimbler mech suit action
Phantom Blade Zero
Action Games Phantom Blade Zero director crafts enormous boots for himself, suggesting his action RPG is a blend of Dark Souls, The Witcher 3, and Baldur's Gate 3
A screenshot of PUCK eating an enemy during the upcoming Xbox Series X game, Shadow Labyrinth.
Games The best retro remakes and reboots out there aren't afraid to get weird with it – as Shadow Labyrinth being a dark and gritty Pac-Man game shows us
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater snake aiming pistol
Metal Gear If 20 years and a Metal Gear Solid Delta playthrough have taught me anything, it's that Snake Eater remains one of the greatest, stupidest games ever made
Pragmata screenshot
Action Games I've just played 30 minutes of Pragmata, and if you ignore the piggybacking child, this is Capcom bringing its classic shooter formula to the very front
  1. Games
  2. Action
  3. Strider

Strider reboot blends the series into a Metroidvania melting pot

Features
By Lucas Sullivan published 7 October 2013

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Hiryu loud and clear

Hiryu loud and clear

People seem to arrive at the Strider franchise in a multitude of ways. Some vividly recall the original arcade version, and the stunningly accurate Genesis port. Others remember Strider on NES, a large-scale platforming adventure that was completely different but just as awesome as the first. Maybe you know him primarily as a Marvel vs. Capcom character, or perhaps you're among the lucky few who played Strider 2. Whatever the case, the new, downloadable Strider reboot seems like it'll have something for everyone.

From the get-go, it's clear that this reimagining still retains the breakneck pace and difficulty of the originals. Strider (complete with his neon red scarf) arrives via high-tech hang glider, dashes with every movement, and can swing his sword as fast as you can mash a button. But, like the NES game, this Strider isn't just about running and killing from left to right. Instead of individual stages, Strider's new target--a base once again ruled by the sinister Grandmaster Meio--is one gigantic area divided into districts. This gives Strider a Metroidvania quality, where exploration is rewarded by hidden secrets and upgrades like new sword slashes or robot assist types.

And just like the original Strider games, this mission is no cakewalk. There's a temptation to simply run forward and slash your sword like mad, but such a mindless tactic will only result in repeated deaths. You'll have to temper your dashing with carefully timed swipes, which can deflect bullets back at your attackers. But we'd expect nothing less than demanding difficulty--this is a Strider game, after all.

Check out the following screenshots for more info!

Page 1 of 13
Page 1 of 13
Gotta love that classic metal hawk hang glider.

Gotta love that classic metal hawk hang glider.

Page 2 of 13
Page 2 of 13
Strider's sword slashes still give off that unforgettable "SHING!" sound.

Strider's sword slashes still give off that unforgettable "SHING!" sound.

Page 3 of 13
Page 3 of 13
Expect to fight multiple enemy 'bots at any given time.

Expect to fight multiple enemy 'bots at any given time.

Page 4 of 13
Page 4 of 13
Strider's upswing launches just as well in this game as it does in MvC.

Strider's upswing launches just as well in this game as it does in MvC.

Page 5 of 13
Page 5 of 13
Strider's still able to grapple onto walls with ease--great for exploring levels or evading enemies.

Strider's still able to grapple onto walls with ease--great for exploring levels or evading enemies.

Page 6 of 13
Page 6 of 13
That pose. THAT POSE!

That pose. THAT POSE!

Page 7 of 13
Page 7 of 13
Don't feel like closing distance to kill an enemy? Just puncture his face with a fistful of kunai.

Don't feel like closing distance to kill an enemy? Just puncture his face with a fistful of kunai.

Page 8 of 13
Page 8 of 13
Some opposition, like this shielded drone, require a slide-slash combo to take down.

Some opposition, like this shielded drone, require a slide-slash combo to take down.

Page 9 of 13
Page 9 of 13
Our demo ended with a boss battle against this colossal dragon, which we hacked into with impunity.

Our demo ended with a boss battle against this colossal dragon, which we hacked into with impunity.

Page 10 of 13
Page 10 of 13
Each of the game's districts is ruled over by a General, one of which may or may not be pictured here.

Each of the game's districts is ruled over by a General, one of which may or may not be pictured here.

Page 11 of 13
Page 11 of 13
True story: this battle sees Strider dueling with the Pooh sisters.

True story: this battle sees Strider dueling with the Pooh sisters.

Page 12 of 13
Page 12 of 13
You'll need to master the pinpoint timing of bullet deflection if you expect to get far.

You'll need to master the pinpoint timing of bullet deflection if you expect to get far.

Page 13 of 13
Page 13 of 13
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming PlayStation PS4 Xbox Xbox One Platforms
Lucas Sullivan
Lucas Sullivan
Social Links Navigation

Lucas Sullivan is the former US Managing Editor of GamesRadar+. Lucas spent seven years working for GR, starting as an Associate Editor in 2012 before climbing the ranks. He left us in 2019 to pursue a career path on the other side of the fence, joining 2K Games as a Global Content Manager. Lucas doesn't get to write about games like Borderlands and Mafia anymore, but he does get to help make and market them. 

See more PC Gaming Features
Read more
Yakumo squares off against a DDO Commander boss in Ninja Gaiden 4
6 hours in, Ninja Gaiden 4 has pushed me to my limit while giving me the tools to push beyond them – we are so back
 
 
Shinobi
Retro Gamer magazine celebrates the history of Shinobi
 
 
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance review: "So close to being to a pitch-perfect revival of a classic series, but just can't quite line up the killing blow"
 
 
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound review: "Absolutely proves Ninja Gaiden deserved to be revived – I've never been happier to be right"
 
 
Onimusha: Way of the Sword preview screenshot from gamescom 2025
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is becoming my most anticipated game of 2026 but Sekiro fans should know it's not a difficult game – and that's OK
 
 
Yakumo fights the Courtesan boss in Ninja Gaiden 4
I was worried Ninja Gaiden 4 might tone down the extreme difficulty the series is known for, but Master Ninja mode has slashed those worries into 400 bloody pieces
 
 
Latest in Action
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hollow Knight: Silksong sicko laughs in the face of the difficulty discourse, completes the metroidvania without taking a single hit because "it did not seem that bad"
 
 
Bioshock Infinite screenshot showing Elizabeth about to hit someone with a book
"I don't think it works super well": BioShock creator Ken Levine hasn't been involved in BioShock 4's development, and he's not sure if people would want him to "come in and punch things up" anyway
 
 
Hollow Knight: Silksong needle master cutscene
Team Cherry publishing boss advises concerned Silksong players to report scam ad spoiling the final boss and promising a magical world where you can download games without internet
 
 
Marvel's Wolverine
Wolverine's first gameplay trailer just reminded me why Wolverine is one of Marvel's best characters
 
 
Two bikers posing with a revolver and a motorbike in Grand Theft Auto 6 area Ambrosia
Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser confirms GTA 6 is "not going to be a story I wrote," but "I think it's going to be exciting"; "I think the world's probably had enough GTA from me"
 
 
Red Dead Redemption 2 screenshot showing the silhouette of a man with a cowboy hat on horseback, a glowing sun seen behind him
Red Dead Redemption 2 "was the best thing" that Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser worked on, not GTA 5: "The best single realization of open-world storytelling thematic consistency"
 
 
Latest in Features
Two military characters stand back to back in a Call of Duty Black Ops 7 map firing on approaching squads of enemies, with the GamesRadar+ Big Preview orange frame
I played Black Ops 7 multiplayer for 4 hours, and here's my 10 takeaways you need to know
 
 
Marvel Zombies
I've seen enough: Marvel Zombies proves the MCU should follow DC's lead on animation
 
 
Four characters in military gear stand next to one another with guns at the ready as they move through a maze of cargo containers and overgrown plants in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 - with the GamesRadar+ Big Preview orange frame
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's new Endgame mode "is the final proving ground" that could be so challenging you need other co-op teams to help you out
 
 
Silent Hill f
Silent Hill f's punishing Souls-inspired combat is a beautiful metaphor, but this better not ignite a new survival horror trend
 
 
A screenshot of the banner for the Steam Autumn Sale event in 2025.
I've spent five hours exploring the Steam Autumn Sale with our Games Editor, and these are the 10 best games on discount I'd recommend picking up while you still can
 
 
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 screenshot showing Henry examining a corpse, and only the victims feet can be seen
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2's best side quest transformed the RPG into medieval LA Noire, and now I wish Henry could keep on solving crimes
 
 
  1. Playing Ghost of Yotei and riding through an autumnal forest with red leaves
    1
    Ghost of Yotei review: "One of the first PS5 games to feel truly boundary-pushing, this hyper violent samurai revenge quest truly hooked me"
  2. 2
    Hades 2 review: "Impeccable combat and flawless characterization across a huge roster make for a follow-up that surpasses even its excellent roguelike predecessor"
  3. 3
    EA FC 26 review: "Ultimate Team's huge, divisive changes have me torn – FIFA's successor has moved away from serving football purists"
  4. 4
    Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles review: "Fantastic tweaks elevate a classic while leaving its spirit intact – this seminal tactical RPG has never been better"
  5. 5
    Baby Steps review: "If you craved a tougher hiking challenge than Death Stranding, this is for you – though prepare to get dropped from many great heights"
  1. Leonardo DiCaprio as Bob in One Battle After Another
    1
    One Battle After Another review: "One of the best studio movies in years and an instant classic"
  2. 2
    The Conjuring: Last Rites review: "Not bold or memorable enough for the Warrens' final chapter"
  3. 3
    Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle review: "Roars past Mugen Train as Demon Slayer's best adventure yet"
  4. 4
    The Long Walk review: "One of the best Stephen King adaptations ever made"
  5. 5
    Frankenstein review: "A classy, if somewhat safe, adaptation"
  1. Yelena Belova, Kamala Khan and Blade Knight in Marvel Zombies
    1
    Marvel Zombies review: "A fun expansion of the What If episode with delightful MCU Easter eggs and truly gross R-rated kills"
  2. 2
    Gen V season 2 review: "As strong as the first season, if not stronger"
  3. 3
    Wednesday season 2 part 2 review: "Ortega shines, but it's a zombie who steals the entire show"
  4. 4
    Peacemaker season 2 review: "Darker and sadder than the first year, but there's still a lot of fun to be had with the 11th Street Kids."
  5. 5
    Wednesday season 2 part 1 review: "Complex and exciting but weighed down by too many subplots"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...