Cannon Dancer makes me cry

[shinsage]

Questions for all the Strider-holics:
1. Is the Robopanther option random? Because I just played the whole game and I only got it once in the first level. Sucks because it's cool, too.
2. Has anyone ever read the manga?

Playing this on the CCC disc, I'm realizing now how many probs there are with the arcade version, but man, these ideas are just so amazing. If only there was more care put into the boss fights and jumping.

[zinger]

I have the manga on my HDD, but I can't read japanese.

[Kiken]

Questions for all the Strider-holics:
1. Is the Robopanther option random? Because I just played the whole game and I only got it once in the first level. Sucks because it's cool, too.

You have to have both Oroborous (the little robots, which are sorely missed in Strider 2) before you can get the panther.

Playing this on the CCC disc, I'm realizing now how many probs there are with the arcade version, but man, these ideas are just so amazing. If only there was more care put into the boss fights and jumping.

Jumping is a huge issue. In this regard, the MD/Genesis version spoiled me since Sega actually fixed a bunch of the problems with the jumping and rappling.

[shinsage]

Ah, that helps out, thanks.
I played some Strider 2 last night, and I've come to the conclusion that it's a re-telling of Strider. I know there's been confusion about the plot because of the last scene with the Grandmaster's dialogue, but I've been thinking that and the whole game itself is just an update of the original (since the SU no longer exists). In that regard, it makes me wonder if I'm right and if Capcom effectively retconned Strider 1 with its sequel.
I think about useless stuff like that too much.

[undamned]

I have the manga on my HDD, but I can't read japanese.

I have the manga on my shelf, but it does me about as much good as the ver. on your HD
Wonderful art, though.
-ud

[Stormwatch]

You have to have both Oroborous (the little robots, which are sorely missed in Strider 2) before you can get the panther.

No. Ourobouros (or "Annihilate Urobolos") is the first boss. The little robots are called Dipodal Saucers.

[BulletMagnet]

IIRC in Marvel vs. Capcom Strider's move where he summons the circling robot thingies is called "Uroburos" or whatever the heck it is.

[undamned]

Just got in contact w/ a dude that is a huge Osman fan and I asked him about a good strategy for Euro-Gam. He promptly replied by making me a vid and putting it up on the tube. How's that for service!

Here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9Sr5WTc3zPs

-ud

[CMoon]

Ah, that helps out, thanks.
I played some Strider 2 last night, and I've come to the conclusion that it's a re-telling of Strider. I know there's been confusion about the plot because of the last scene with the Grandmaster's dialogue, but I've been thinking that and the whole game itself is just an update of the original (since the SU no longer exists). In that regard, it makes me wonder if I'm right and if Capcom effectively retconned Strider 1 with its sequel.
I think about useless stuff like that too much.

I agree that Strider 2 is more or less a remake of strider 1. Although not quite the same you still most destroy the balrog and kill the grand master, though it is on a somewhat grander scale.

What are the problems with the arcade version and jumping?

[GaijinPunch]

Required reading for fans of Strider Hiryuu & Canon Dancer.
Interview with Kouichi Yotsui

[emphatic]

I really loved the 16 Bit SEGA port of it, and have unfortunately never played it more than very briefly in it's arcade form (MAME). It's nice looking and the acrobatics of it is a nice gimmick, but I prefer Rygar over any other side scrolling platformer. Ever..

[undamned]

Required reading for fans of Strider Hiryuu & Canon Dancer.
Interview with Kouichi Yotsui

Thanks, GP! Not as enlightening as I'd hoped (the interview focuses on his work as a whole, not just Strider & Canon Dancer), but still enjoyable to hear from this ghost! So, am I missing something or is Kouichi Yotsui not listed in the staff for Canon Dancer?
*goes off to finish his long overdue Osman article*
-ud

[GaijinPunch]

He uses an alias. You're more than welcome to to check out Cannon Dancer or Strider's Hiryuu's staff rolls to see.

[undamned]

He uses an alias. You're more than welcome to to check out Cannon Dancer or Strider's Hiryuu's staff rolls to see.

Well, from the interview it sounds like he was really the driving force behind Canon Dancer, but in the credits, Isuke is the game designer/planner for both Strider and Canon Dancer. So, I'm still confused.
-ud

[GaijinPunch]

Hmm.. I think you're confusing yourself, my friend.

He uses an alias.

Isuke is the game designer/planner for both Strider and Canon Dancer.

And the links I provided give real names of aliases (in the very few they're known) in brackets.

[Ed Oscuro]

I was uninspired by Cannon Dancer to be honest. Graphically quite pleasing but something was missing.. I just didn't find the charm in it.

This. Shinobi games always were my favorite, less so Strider-alikes.

For some odd reason I like Run Saber (RUNSAABER), though. I'll play through these again sometime to see which one I really like.

Honestly, never was very impressed with the control of Strider 1. Strider 2 didn't seem too bad though.

Edit: Watching this reminded me how many awesome moments there are in Osman that I've forgotten.

What's going on at the end of the game btw? The "karate tournament" is another arcade game I'm sure, but the other stuff..? A painting used as an artistic reference for something in the game? What's that at the very end?

[GaijinPunch]

Cannon Dancer takes a bit to get used to. You can't just fly through and whack everything like you can with Strider. CD takes a lot more strategy.

Loved Shinboi... something didn't click w/ Shadow Dancer.

[undamned]

Hmm.. I think you're confusing yourself, my friend.

He uses an alias.

Isuke is the game designer/planner for both Strider and Canon Dancer.

And the links I provided give real names of aliases (in the very few they're known) in brackets.

Wow, I'm super blind. Got it, now, thanks
-ud

[Specineff]

Loved Shinboi... something didn't click w/ Shadow Dancer.

And here I was, picking my brain apart about what kind of Chibi Ninja game "Shinboi" was, until I realized it was a typo, heh. (Not making fun of you, GP. It really threw me off for a few minutes.)

[Ed Oscuro]

Loved Shinboi... something didn't click w/ Shadow Dancer.

As the brilliant urzu402 or whatever his name is from Digital Press would say, the sprites are too big (as I remember). Or rather the camera's field of view is reduced so you get less maneuverability. I like the gritty atmosphere, but jeez, the end of the game doesn't make sense. Couldn't they have just hijacked a Buran? Or maybe tweaked an o-ring? Don't remember exactly what their plan was, but it was dumb.

Also, Super Ninja Kun should get another playthrough. I ought to actually play these damn games CAREFULLY instead of going "hwee dis luks cool, BUY IT NOW" and forgetting about it. I don't have that one, though, and still want it

[GaijinPunch]

Haha -- whoops.
Freudian Typo.

[GaijinPunch]

Scion posted a mail interview w/ Yotsui Kouichi hereinterview: the latest thing I've been working on. It was slow going due to real life but a fun little project. The format gave the subject a lot of room to talk "colorfully" which is always a pain in the ass when translating. I think it works though. Enjoy.

[Ed Oscuro]

That's quite interesting. Now I'll be looking around at more classic Capcom games to see which ones have art tiles with that distinctive look (as seen in The Speed Rumbler) - an awful lot of them, I think.

Haha, what he says about arcade games and poetry having their own rules - not being better or worse - is an idea dear to me. In fact I recently made similar comments before a poetry reading. When somebody has spent a lot of time with an artistic discipline, and has learned how to overcome feelings they are constrained by their medium, they will come to understand this innately.

I wonder if Capcom hasn't lied about Strider not being a commercial success though...of course, I would feel that the director of the game certainly has the right to share any details for historical preservation, since they do not get residual payments as in artistic media that put more focus on their artists, but this is a cultural consideration. Personally I would put posterity before ethical feelings toward a former employer, but that's easy to say as an outsider knowing nothing of the situation internally.

[GaijinPunch]

My guess is the IP has been fruitful... at least somewhat, but maybe the arcade game wasn't. There's a lot of games that are now held dear, but made shit in the arcades.

[Ganelon]

I don't think Strider Hiryu the game is all that popular except amongst us sidescroller fans although the character certainly seems to be a fan favorite everywhere. It's interesting that Isuke thinks Strider Hiryu 2 is different when it seems to be the ultimate vision of what he was trying to originally accomplish by taking advantage of the technology at the time to set up a hyper-controllable sidescroller focused on being a cool, agile ninja.

[Ed Oscuro]

It's interesting that Isuke thinks Strider Hiryu 2 is different

I'm not really all that surprised. Oftentimes a developer wants to go one direction, but hardware or other compromises force another direction; then the people who like said compromises are vocal fans, develop sequels, etc. and suddenly what seemed broken originally becomes "canon"

[GaijinPunch]

I think it's good when a creator isn't satisfied... as long as it doesn't burn them out.

[Ganelon]

My comment was a jab on the fact that I don't recall an instance where a creator left, someone else took over the product, and the creator has been full of praise of the product that the new guy was pumping out. 3D Ninja Gaiden, Rockman, Gundam, etc. Even though in some instances, the new product seem to follow the same style as the old.

Then again, some people seem to like the original but didn't enjoy Strider Hiryu 2 (can't understand why, hopefully not because of the graphics mishmash), maybe it didn't do as good a job as I'm convinced it did.

[jonny5]

My comment was a jab on the fact that I don't recall an instance where a creator left, someone else took over the product, and the creator has been full of praise of the product that the new guy was pumping out. 3D Ninja Gaiden, Rockman, Gundam, etc. Even though in some instances, the new product seem to follow the same style as the old.

Then again, some people seem to like the original but didn't enjoy Strider Hiryu 2 (can't understand why, hopefully not because of the graphics mishmash), maybe it didn't do as good a job as I'm convinced it did.

no...strider 2 is the awesome!! you are right about that!!

[Mortificator]

Cool translation, bro.