Too bad that you can't comment about ownership of the Hiryu character, Seth. It'd be nice to hear something definitive about that, for once.

Concerning how the next Strider should play, I have to point out that as much as I love the NES game and the manga that was it's inspiration, the vast majority of Strider fans and casual gamers remember him from the classic CPS-1 game. The cartwheel jump. The sword swing (SHING!). The frenetic run down the mountainside with bombs exploding behind you. People who remember Strider, by and large, remember the adrenaline rush of the arcade game, not the exploration of the NES version. There's nothing wrong with a little exploration, but if there is any, it should be done in the vein of Mega Man X, not the faux-RPG stylings that the NES version tried to pull off.

I think the PS2 Shinobi comes quite close to being a 3D Strider. It has that frantic energy and pacing, that visual style. If I were to make a current-gen Strider game, I'd start by looking at the PS2 Shinobi, take what worked, and discard what didn't.

What did work was the atmosphere, the character design, and the play controls. What didn't work, and what will be a hindrance in trying to create a sense of urgency in any 3D game, was the camerawork. Shinobi's camera never failed to pick the most awkward angle to follow Hotsuma, and God help you if you completed a TATE above an empty chasm. My suggestion? Find the guys who programmed the camera for Prince of Persia: Warrior Within and hire them. You NEVER had a problem with the camera in that game, and in fact, it told you exactly where you needed to go. You shouldn't have to be the main character AND the cinematographer at the same time.

As for enemy possibilities.... let's have some new ones. Meio's dead, as someone already pointed out. The Caduceus is destroyed. So are the Ouroboros and Emperor Dragon and Mecha Pon and Lago. Come up with new ones. That doesn't mean the series is painted into a corner, though. Who are these "Grandmasters" anyway? Why did Meio find Earth worthy of attention? Does it have anything to do with Hien's comments that he "created this world" in Strider 2? I'd start developing my story there, honestly.

Dec 29, 2008 -- 12:56PM, s-kill wrote:

I can't comment on any potential roadblocks, but I think Strider has enough juice to merit a next-gen sequel.    Here's a question for you guys though: Could a Strider in 3D recapture that same magic?  Would it have to invent new magic?  I'd love to see the giant mechanical Ape, or the politburo that turns into a giant robotic centipede w/sickle in 3d, but a lot of the best mechanics of the fights were very 2d-centric.  I can already think of cool ways you could recreate that in 3d, but what do you think as Strider fans?    best, Seth

I think a 3D version of a Strider game is the trigger that would respark the series. I'd love to see high resolution models, open world combat, 3D level design, etc.

When I saw the latest Prince of Persia game in action, the first thing the main character reminded me of was Strider. I'm looking forward to see this happen.

Best way for me would be Strider done like Bionic commando rearmed graphics style.... but gameplay of course with be 100% pure strider style. 3D graphics 2D gameplay.... I'd personally prefer 100% 2D but i think i'm a miniority.... seems alot of ppl like the 3D graphics 2D gameplay style.

I tend to agree with Dubindoh. I think it would be easier (far, FAR easier) to keep that Strider magic if it were 2D. It'd solve the camera issues and preserve the pacing, no doubt.

But I'd still like to see a 3D installment. I didn't think it was possible, but now the technology's mature enough to pull it off. I think you could keep the Strider magic without having to reinvent the wheel totally. It's not so much a matter of level structure as it is pacing. Sure, you'd have to lay out the level so the path is easily discernible, but that's something you'll have to do in any game.  The main problem would be motivating the player to keep moving forward.

I think some of Strider's gimmicks would work even better in 3D, honestly. Gravity reversal, wall-clinging, cartwheel jumping, big damn mecha bearing down on your position. It'd be just as exhilirating as seeing that bionic arm again. You'd just need to make new challenges that take advantage of the 3D medium, instead of trying to rehash the past.

Also, DMC and Strider are different enough in tone that they wouldn't necessarily have to compete with each other. Dante's a wise guy, and Hiryu's the (largely) silent badass. DMC takes place in gothic settings, and Strider is all about big, epic sci-fi. Keep the tone right, and you won't really have anything to compare to DMC, aside from game mechanics, possibly.

2d next gen strider,it better doing a 3d remake of the first one with the same gameplay but 3d graphics.Something like bionic commando rearmed.

But the new one if it ever made should be 3d.Franchise need to elvolve and with somebody like capcom,im sure it will turn great.At least,better than that awful final fight game on the ps2.

Gamers want in general 70 percent of the same thing and 30 percent of innovation.So a next gen strider could have a gameplay influenced by ninja gaiden while having gameplay feature that make it stood out from other games.By doing so,gamers will be interested and it sure it will sell.

Capcom should remake the first one and after that,make a new ones depending of the sucsess of the remake.