Strider returns in a brand new adventure, complete with classic side-scrolling action, and lightning fast combat all in a massive interconnected world...

Strider originally started life as a 1989 Japanese arcade game. US Gold would later go on to produce home versions for the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, and ZX Spectrum.

In 2000, Capcom released a version for the PlayStation. In 2006 the original arcade version made up part of the Capcom Classics Collection on the PSP and Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. In 2010 a Japanese mobile phone version was released. And now, in 2014, it is being reissued as a downloadable game for the Playstation 3 / 4 consoles, Xbox 360 / One and PC.

For those that have followed this game franchise since the late '80s, you'll need no encouragement to buy the latest version - and equally, game soundtrack collectors will be pleased to learn that the game's score stays true, in part, so some of the original themes. Mollo has used old school synths to give some of the tracks a retro feel. It's a process that works well and allows some of the classic themes to be updated for the 21st century.

The soundtrack contains 20 track (46 min) and houses some of the game's original themes, which have obviously been updated. Personal highlights include: 'Kazakh City'; 'The Armed Fortress'; 'Techno Mage' (which sounds like they've sampled and electronically altered Sid James's laugh); 'Egypt'; and 'The Black Market'.

This is an interesting game score that won't disappoint old school gamers and won't be distracting for new fans.

7

Darren Rea