STRIDER VS STRIDER (Arcade VS Megadrive) - how similar are they?
9Strider on the Megadrive is a pretty cool game, one that back in the day was described as 'arcade perfect' - but how close in reality is this conversion to the source? handily, i've made a video so you can see and hear for yourself:)
my take:
GAMEPLAY
Importantly, the games play - almost - identically (PAL MD version is closer still)
The MD version has the same bugs as the arcade version (although a couple are fixed/mitigated in MD)
Cant skip the mini boss on level one (MD)
MD has a better ending (not in video)
can't continue in Japanese MD game.
GRAPHICS
slight pauses and colour small amounts of colour palette switching oddness when MD loads new graphics as the levels progress.
Arcade has more background layers.
as is to be expected, arcade has more colour depth across backgrounds and sprites.
some colour choices look better on MD and Vice-versa.
Strider sprite is larger on MD relative to the other sprites.
Strider sprite (arcade) has more / different animation (example - sword slash).
MD has missing enemies in some stages even though they are on the cartridge (such as the T-rex on level 4 possibly for video memory and sprite limit reasons)
MD has missing / different or re-used images in cut scenes
MD has different / redrawn / simpler background tiles in multiple stages
MD intro and cut scene graphics are smaller pixel size than the arcade (cart memory reasons?)
SOUNDTRACK
The ROM on Capcom home arcade has broken / missing soundtrack for stage 3 and stage 5
the soundtrack has a higher pitch on Capcom home arcade than MD
Megadrive has missing speech on cut scenes
Japanese MD version has a repetitive Strider voice sample when sword is used.
the continue tune is on the MD cart, but you can't continue in the Japanese MD game.
its pretty bloody similar!
thanks for looking and subscribe if you like, like if you like. if you don't like then don't like and don't subscribe would be my advice.
Video review and opinion is copyright of RSG (retro spirits gaiden) 2025, original game is copyright of the respective copyright holders i would imagine.
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