System: Sega Mega Drive
Release date: 1993

Strider II on the Mega Drive is a fast, flashy and fun ninja platformer that still delivers a decent rush. This Strider II Mega Drive sequel sends the acrobatic assassin Hiryu dashing across the globe to slice up another mad scheme from Grand Master Meio. With wall-running flips, a glowing plasma Cypher blade and plenty of robotic mayhem, this Strider II on the Mega Drive follow-up tries to bottle the lightning of the original arcade hit. In 2025, does this Strider II Mega Drive ninja platformer still cut it, or has the edge gone a bit blunt?

Gameplay: Dash, Slash, and Cypher Strike

Strider II on the Mega Drive puts you back in control of Hiryu for five fast-paced stages that take you from snowy Russian fortresses to ancient-looking pyramids, mechanical cities and military bases. You dash, wall-jump, flip and slash your way through hordes of enemies using the excellent Cypher blade, while picking up shurikens and the occasional helper drone for extra firepower.

The controls in this Strider II Mega Drive title are still very good today. Hiryu moves with real agility – sliding under lasers, clinging to ceilings and chaining attacks together feels slick and satisfying. Each stage is stuffed with verticality, traps and set pieces that keep you on your toes. Boss fights are often big and bombastic, with multi-form mechanical beasts that test your timing and patience in equal measure.

The short fuse? The levels themselves are quite brief, and some end before you’ve really got going. Difficulty can spike out of nowhere with cheap off-screen attacks and projectile spam that flatten you in seconds. Power-ups are pretty thin on the ground, and the very linear design means there’s not much room for exploration or alternative routes. It can feel like it’s over just as you’re getting into the swing of things, and a few cheap deaths will have you restarting from the beginning of the stage in this Strider II Mega Drive ninja platformer.

Still, when you’re flying through a level, wall-running and carving up robots, it captures that exciting Strider feeling very well.

Graphics: Cyberpunk Pixels with Edge

Strider II on the Mega Drive looks decent for a 1993 title. Hiryu’s sprite is nicely detailed with smooth animations for all his flips and slashes. The environments have decent variety – swirling snow effects, gloomy pyramids and glowing futuristic bases all do their job.

Bosses are large and imposing, especially the mechanical rhino and later biomechanical horrors. There’s plenty of parallax scrolling and some nice visual touches. Everything is bright, colourful and full of that early-90s Capcom energy that still holds up well today in this Strider II Mega Drive release.

Sound: Synth Beats That Pulse

The music is a highlight in this Strider II Mega Drive title, with upbeat electronic tracks that suit the fast-paced ninja action. Each stage has its own energetic theme and the boss music ramps up the tension nicely. Sound effects are solid too – the Cypher blade has a pleasing hum and slash, explosions pack a decent punch, and enemy deaths sound satisfying.

It all adds to the sense of speed and excitement in this Strider II on the Mega Drive ninja platformer.

Replayability: A Ninja Path Worth Retreading

There’s a fair bit of replay value here in this Strider II Mega Drive title. Learning the best routes, mastering the tougher sections and going for high scores or no-death runs gives you reasons to come back. The game is short enough for a quick blast but challenging enough to keep you coming back to improve. Hard mode turns the difficulty right up for proper masochists.

It’s not endless, but it’s very moreish once you click with Hiryu’s movement in this Strider II 1993 Mega Drive release.

The Retro Looney Verdict

Strider II on the Mega Drive is a fast, flashy and fun ninja platformer that still delivers a decent rush. It’s got brilliant movement, some cracking boss fights and that cool cyber-ninja vibe that made the series popular. Yeah, the short stages and occasional cheap deaths can frustrate, but it’s all part of the old-school challenge.

Not quite as legendary as the first Strider, but a solid Mega Drive title that’s well worth a play if you fancy some acrobatic blade action. Grab your Cypher and get slicing. This Strider II Mega Drive ninja platformer captures that pure sense of speed and style that defined the series. From the smooth wall-running to the satisfying sword combos, it remains an enjoyable slice of 90s action that holds up better than you might expect. A proper underrated gem in the Mega Drive library.

Don’t forget to check out my other Mega Drive Reviews!