Strider

Background

Strider is a series produced by both the game development company, Capcom, and the manga artist group, Moto Kikaku. Although a lesser-known series compared to other Capcom franchises, Strider is a classic series beloved by many fans around the world. It made its debut in 1988 with the manga known simply as “Strider Hiryu”, before a year later getting a video game adaptation in the form of “Strider” for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

The Strider series tells the story of a young man named Hiryu living on a futuristic Planet Earth, as he fights against several threats posed to the planet. As a Special A Ranking member of the Strider Organization, Hiryu is tasked with saving the planet again and again, oftentimes against an extraterrestrial entity known as Grandmaster Meio. Aside from the stories told through manga, the gameplay of the Strider series are hack-and-slash platformers.

Each installment in the Strider series is set within the same continual universe, with the only notable exception being “Strider (2014)”, which is a reboot/retelling of the main universe. Every game follows Hiryu, although other characters are rarely playable.

The main recurring rival of the Strider series is an extraterrestrial entity who appeared on Earth not long after Hiryu’s first few adventures. This entity is known as Grandmaster Meio, who is planning on wiping out all life on the Planet using his gigantic space station, the Third Moon. After wiping out the Earth, he would go on to collect his artificial lifeforms using a machine known as the Caduceus, and travel the galaxy in search of a new planet to overtake. Meio is assisted by a fallen Strider and Hiryu’s rival; a man named Hien.

Terms

• Strider: A group of highly-trained, freelance mercenaries who have no allegiance to anyone except their employer. Striders are masters of stealth and combat, with even the lowest ranking Strider equalling the power of an entire special forces unit. Ranks range from “C” Rank, to “Special A” Rank.

• Cypher: The weapon that denotes a Strider, these weapons are blades similar in appearance to a broadsword, but usually held with a reverse grip. The blades of the Cyphers are made of pure plasma energy, and give off massive volts of electricity. When charged or powered up enough, Cyphers are capable of launching projectiles.

• ZAIN Project: A large-scale project codenamed “ZAIN”, which had been under development for around 30 years. Using microchips implanted in the necks of their victims, the ZAIN Project would essentially brainwash the entire population of Earth. This project was created by a man named Faceas Clay, who planned on using it to take control over all of humanity, and take his place as the god of the Earth.

• Third Moon: A gigantic space station built by the devious Grandmaster Meio, which asserts power and dominance over the citizens of Earth. Using its Anti-Gravity Device, the Third Moon was able to be lifted into Earth’s orbit, hovering menacingly over the planet. With the Third Moon, Meio has the power to wipe out all life from the planet whenever he chooses.

• Caduceus: An artificial lifeform created by Grandmaster Meio, which is said to dwarf the entire planet. Used as a bio-organic weapon, the Caduceus’s purpose was to collect all of Meio’s artificial lifeforms from around the world, and carry them across the galaxy to a new planet; all the while the Third Moon would destroy Earth following its departure.

• Trick: A list of special abilities that can be acquired by Hiryu throughout his missions. These abilities, known as Tricks, grant him elemental techniques that he can either use by himself, or channel through his Cypher; ranging from fire and electricity, to restoring the user’s health and causing earthquakes.

• Options: A set of robots that are scattered throughout the world, and accompany whoever picks them up. Options are completely robotic, but resembling real-life organisms such as mushrooms, tigers, and birds. The main purpose of an Option is to not only protect the one who summoned them, but to attack their enemies as well.

Power of the Verse

The verse has characters ranging from around Wall level to Small Building level with Superhuman travel speeds and Massively Hypersonic reaction speeds; most characters who reach Wall level scale to the average strength of a Strider, whilst those who reach Building are generally the best of the best.

The verse becomes even more powerful with Strider CPS-1’s introduction of Grandmaster Meio and the Third Moon, which increases the verse's power to Multi-Continent level for the higher tiers. This verse’s general hax include Stealth Mastery, Plasma Manipulation, Energy Projection, Technology Manipulation, etcetera

Canon

The canon timeline of the games are fairly straightforward, as the chronology of the events is generally laid out in the manga, and in the case of the games you can usually base the timeline off of release order. The timeline below will thus be laid out as such.

There are, however, some misconceptions when it comes to the canonicity of the 2014’s Strider, as well as the mystery behind Main Timeline Hiryu’s age.

If you click Expand, you will see an explanation to both of these questions, and how they will be handled on this wiki:

2014’s Canonicity

Oftentimes, it is seen that Hiryu from both the original manga/games be lumped in with Strider from his 2014 game, although this is incorrect. Although the nature of Hiryu himself is quite mysterious and untold, there are things to be brought up that showcase why he cannot be put into one singular profile.

I will be citing article featuring Capcom directors James Vance and Andrew Szymanski

Many reasons why people will count Strider as canon with the rest of the series, is this following quote:

“But don’t consider this a reboot of the franchise or even Strider 3, it’s a retelling of the core Strider story.”

The quote directly states not to count Strider (2014) as a reboot of the series, but also not to consider it as a Strider 3. This seems confusing, almost contradictory, as it’s either within the same continuity or not. This question is thankfully answered in the following quote:

“. . . So for us [this new game] is a retelling of that, you know, those same events, in a new form.”

It’s directly stated to be a retelling of the Strider story. While it is extremely confusing that they say it isn’t a reboot, a retelling is essentially a reboot. The point they were likely trying to get across is that Strider (2014) isn’t replacing the old canon, but does have its own continuity. In other words, a retelling.

Other things giving away that this cannot exist within the same continuity would be the portrayal of the character Hien. In the original timeline, Hien was a fallen Strider who served under Grandmaster Meio and worshipped him as a God. In the 2014 timeline, Hien was simply a Strider who died attempting to infiltrate Meio’s Third Moon; a direct contradiction.

They are clearly two different continuities that run on their own canons, even if the creators refuse to call Strider (2014) a reboot.

Hiryu’s Age

Hiryu’s age throughout the series is a massive point of contention amongst fans, as it gets quite muddled and confusing in Strider 2. The major argument that arises between people is: Is Hiryu from Strider 2 a new Strider with the old Hiryu’s name, or is he the same man but two thousand years older?

I think there is reason to believe it is the latter, but to say it up front; there is no concrete answer. It is purely up to interpretation. All that can be done is to explain why Strider 2’s Hiryu will be considered the same Hiryu.

The major argument levied against him being the same guy (aside from him being two thousand years old) would be a statement from the Strider Hiryu Visual Chronicle, which states that the Hiryu who appears in Strider 2 shares the same codename as the Hiryu from previous titles.

This shouldn’t be seen as direct confirmation that they are the same guy, however. The quote specifically leaves it vague, stating that he has the same codename but not that he is a new Strider. It was intentionally left vague.

And truthfully, that is the only official material there is to solve this burning question, and it leaves it completely up in the air. So there needs to be something out there to at least lean it to one side or the other, so that a decision can be made.

The answer actually comes in the form of a quote from Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, spoken by Hiryu himself.

“I have fought the Grandmaster for a thousand years, dying a thousand death, as if my fate is forever bound to his.”

This directly confirms one of the two possible answers; Hiryu from Strider 2 is the same Hiryu from the previous titles, and has simply lived for nearly two thousand years.

Granted, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite is not an official source, nor is it canon to the main timeline, but it is simply the only actual answer given; since every official answer is painfully vague.

Main Timeline

• Strider Hiryu Gaiden (1988)
• Strider Hiryu Manga (1988) | Strider NES Adaptation (1989)
• Strider CPS-1 (1989)
• Strider 2 (2000)

Retold Timeline

• Strider (2014)

Non-Canon

• Strider II (1990)
• Strider II Master System (1993)
• Journey From Darkness: Strider Returns (1993)

Knowledgeable Members

• SuperSaiyan2Link

Characters

Strider Organization

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  Hiryu

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  Cain

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  Sheena

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  Mariya

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  Hien

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Kuniang Team

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  Tong Pooh

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  Pei Pooh

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  Sai Pooh

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ZAIN Project

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  Yggdrasil

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Otherworldly

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  Grandmaster Meio