YEAR: 2000

HARDWARE: R3000A 32bit RISC CPU

DEVELOPER: Capcom

PUBLISHER: Avalon Entertainment

Strider 2 for the PSX was a faithful, if not overly spectacular, rendition of the arcade sequel. It was a 2-disc set; each copy of Strider 2 came bundled with a bonus disc containing a pixel-perfect translation of the original arcade game. Additionally, the PSX port includes a bonus level, Mission 00: Guyana Guaykinima Falls, the "waterfall level."

This double-disc set is a must for any Strider fan. It's the closest to a "Strider Collection" release that Capcom's ever given us.

In order to play Mission 00, you have to beat the original game and save it onto a memory card. This will unlock the waterfall level. Also, in the course of the game, you will run across a rogue Strider named Hien. If you beat Strider 2, you can unlock Hien as a playable character. Hien's weapon is a double-ended cypher which he can throw like a boomerang. His attacks are more powerful than Hiryu's, but he can only throw two cyphers at a time. Once both of them are in flight, he is defenseless.

Compared to the arcade, the PSX version is lacking some frames of animation; however, the ZN-2 arcade board this game ran on was simply a more advanced PSX board. The only thing that set it apart from a PSX board was the fact that it had more RAM and a better graphics card. In theory, playing the PSX port on a PS2 would provide a near-arcade experience, but I'm told that this isn't quite so. I guess nothing can make up for the fact that the PSX version is lacking animation frames.

Still, the fact that this set contains both the original game and the sequel is too good to pass up. Grab it if you get the opportunity.