Enjoyable review. I remember seeing this game in an arcade one time when it was new, and thinking it looked awesome (though I don't think I got to play it -- I was short on quarters). And I remember being impressed seeing that it came to Genesis. And yet having played it, I don't really like this game! It seems like it should be cool, and yet I don't find it that much fun to play.
You might have talked about this before in Sega Does, but the early (pre-Sonic) Genesis was sort of an odd console, so different from our memories of the latter-day Genesis. What were you buying it to play? I suspect there were at least 100 games on NES that were better than every title in its launch library. Against that backdrop, Strider seems like one of the first games that sort of offers an answer to that question, even if wasn't until Sonic that there was a real answer.
Most failed consoles had a crappy launch library (naturally), but it's interesting to think about the successful consoles with weak launch libraries. The PS1 strikes me as another one, even if not as bad as the Genesis. Its launch library offered no hint of the games that would define the console.
The NES, of course, launched with Super Mario Bros. in the US, but what about the Famicom? It launched in Japan with Donkey Kong, DK Jr., and Popeye. That's really weird to think about -- buying this thing in 1983 thinking of it as a home Donkey Kong machine. You'd be forgiven for thinking it wasn't that big an improvement over the Atari 2600 (which also had a Donkey Kong port), though I don't think Atari sold much in Japan.
Thanks Thomas! Yeah, the Genesis' early lineup was mostly arcade hits peppered with some random sports games and a myriad of shoot-em-ups. The system definitely leaned towards an older demographic until Sonic came along (even after, although games like Ecco and Toe Jam and Earl could also appeal to kids). Strider also leans to a more teenage/young adult audience as well.
The PS1's launch lineup is so... vague and unformed. And yet, the PS1 was super successful, pretty much from the get go! I guess Wipeout, Ridge Racer, and Jumping Flash really did bring all the boys to the yard.
Yeah, the Famicom really was Nintendo's own arcade port machine at first. To be fair, those ports of Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. were the best at the time. Those who got to experience the NES at launch were quite spoiled, what with the console's wide variety of *mostly* decent titles.
About the first Playstation launch: I wouldn’t call it weak, as there were titles that really stood out and made the console a hit from day 1:
Rayman
Ridge Racer
Soul Caliber
A few months before the console was about to launch here in Germany in September 1995, I applied for a job as a PS1 sales rep for Sony. I was invited to two interviews but didn’t get the job. 😎What I do remember, though, is the confidence from the Sony guys that this thing will be a big hit.
Sega made a good decision picking two great Capcom arcade games, this and Ghouls n’ Ghosts, to sell the Genesis as the system that would bring the arcade to your home. In retrospect it could’ve used some extra content like Sega’s later port of Mercs, but it was an impressive version for the time.
Definitely one of Sega's wisest decisions in the early days of the Genesis, no question! I'm not a Ghouls N Ghosts fan and Strider's definitely not everyone's cup of tea, but no one can deny that those games looked and sounded amazing.
Very nice review and nice choice of game to feature by the way! I remember playing Strider on the NES, probably shortly after beating Bionic Commando, but before I started playing Mega-Man. It was quite a memorable game; I remember the slide move that Strider could do. It seems like it was a bit more fun to play than Bionic Commando (maybe a little bit easier of a play too).
Thanks Steven! Yeah, Strider on NES is a whole different beast. It's fun, but if I'm not mistaken, you have to master the wall jump or you won't be able to progress. Still easier than Bionic Commando, though!
Enjoyable review. I remember seeing this game in an arcade one time when it was new, and thinking it looked awesome (though I don't think I got to play it -- I was short on quarters). And I remember being impressed seeing that it came to Genesis. And yet having played it, I don't really like this game! It seems like it should be cool, and yet I don't find it that much fun to play.
You might have talked about this before in Sega Does, but the early (pre-Sonic) Genesis was sort of an odd console, so different from our memories of the latter-day Genesis. What were you buying it to play? I suspect there were at least 100 games on NES that were better than every title in its launch library. Against that backdrop, Strider seems like one of the first games that sort of offers an answer to that question, even if wasn't until Sonic that there was a real answer.
Most failed consoles had a crappy launch library (naturally), but it's interesting to think about the successful consoles with weak launch libraries. The PS1 strikes me as another one, even if not as bad as the Genesis. Its launch library offered no hint of the games that would define the console.
The NES, of course, launched with Super Mario Bros. in the US, but what about the Famicom? It launched in Japan with Donkey Kong, DK Jr., and Popeye. That's really weird to think about -- buying this thing in 1983 thinking of it as a home Donkey Kong machine. You'd be forgiven for thinking it wasn't that big an improvement over the Atari 2600 (which also had a Donkey Kong port), though I don't think Atari sold much in Japan.
Thanks Thomas! Yeah, the Genesis' early lineup was mostly arcade hits peppered with some random sports games and a myriad of shoot-em-ups. The system definitely leaned towards an older demographic until Sonic came along (even after, although games like Ecco and Toe Jam and Earl could also appeal to kids). Strider also leans to a more teenage/young adult audience as well.
The PS1's launch lineup is so... vague and unformed. And yet, the PS1 was super successful, pretty much from the get go! I guess Wipeout, Ridge Racer, and Jumping Flash really did bring all the boys to the yard.
Yeah, the Famicom really was Nintendo's own arcade port machine at first. To be fair, those ports of Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. were the best at the time. Those who got to experience the NES at launch were quite spoiled, what with the console's wide variety of *mostly* decent titles.
Hi Thomas! 99% agreed :)
About the first Playstation launch: I wouldn’t call it weak, as there were titles that really stood out and made the console a hit from day 1:
Rayman
Ridge Racer
Soul Caliber
A few months before the console was about to launch here in Germany in September 1995, I applied for a job as a PS1 sales rep for Sony. I was invited to two interviews but didn’t get the job. 😎What I do remember, though, is the confidence from the Sony guys that this thing will be a big hit.
Hey Michael, I never knew that the PS1 launched in Germany the same time as the US? That's very cool.
Shame about the sales rep job, though.
Thanks for commenting!
Great game
Sega made a good decision picking two great Capcom arcade games, this and Ghouls n’ Ghosts, to sell the Genesis as the system that would bring the arcade to your home. In retrospect it could’ve used some extra content like Sega’s later port of Mercs, but it was an impressive version for the time.
Definitely one of Sega's wisest decisions in the early days of the Genesis, no question! I'm not a Ghouls N Ghosts fan and Strider's definitely not everyone's cup of tea, but no one can deny that those games looked and sounded amazing.
Very nice review and nice choice of game to feature by the way! I remember playing Strider on the NES, probably shortly after beating Bionic Commando, but before I started playing Mega-Man. It was quite a memorable game; I remember the slide move that Strider could do. It seems like it was a bit more fun to play than Bionic Commando (maybe a little bit easier of a play too).
Thanks Steven! Yeah, Strider on NES is a whole different beast. It's fun, but if I'm not mistaken, you have to master the wall jump or you won't be able to progress. Still easier than Bionic Commando, though!