14 DAY TRIAL // Capcom is engineering a reboot of the popular arcade classic Strider, currently in development by Double Helix Games.
Capcom producer James Vance clarified some notions regarding the long-awaited remake, during an interview with VG247.
“An average first time player will probably finish the game in around 7-8 hours, but much more time will be required to unlock every secret, additional game mode and explore every nook and cranny of the game world,” he said regarding the upcoming title.
Strider Hiryu will be highly skilled and combat-ready from the get-go, as opposed to other titles where players start with no skills and weapons. His core abilities and Cypher sword will have several upgrades available, introducing new gameplay elements that will expand on the hero's agility and the game's verticality.
The three main focuses of the development process have been the protagonist, Strider Hiryu, the unique particularities of the Strider universe and the extreme agility of the hero.
The most important thing was getting Hiryu right, and an extensive amount of time has been invested in his model and animations, until everything was “satisfactory down to the last detail.”
Many bosses will make a return in Strider, such as Mechapon and the Ouroboros, and many new ones will be introduced, along with three difficulty modes and a brutal challenge for the game's veterans.
“It's very important, particularly for an action centric game, to be willing to tweak, re-create or remove mechanics and concepts so that the final product looks and feels right,” Vance commented on the fact that many of the game's assets were scrapped and rebuilt when they didn't feel good enough.
Capcom scheduled the Strider reboot for a February launch, in Japan, for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.