So, as you may recall, Capcom released Strider in the late 80s, at the pinnacle of arcade gaming as we knew it. But what’s interesting is the history surrounding sequels to the game following that. We had Strider Returns on the Sega Genesis, which was awful and laden with slowdown; we had Strider 2 on the PS One, which was a pretty good follow-up with a 2.5-D visual approach; and, of course, there’s the 2014 open-world adventure, produced by Double Helix Games and continuing to be a triumph after all these years.

But one unofficial sequel you might have missed is Cannon Dancer Osman, which wasn’t really Strider 2 per se as much as a spiritual successor, with most of the same developers on board. Like the Capcom classic, it’s all about defeating weird enemies while using powerful techniques and agility when the going gets tough. And boy, does it get tough.

ININ Games, a company familiar with resurrected old-school favorites (go look up their treatment of Taito’s amazing The Ninja Warriors), has brought this classic out of the shadows for a new generation to enjoy. But how well does it hold up?

It’s the End of the World As We Know It, And I Feel Butt-Kickery

The plot to Cannon Dancer is pretty much nonsense, as you’re given the daunting task of saving the world without even so much as a machine gun. No matter, as your character can whip butt with a number of kicks and other super-powerful moves. You’ll need them too, because the whack-a-doo bosses that come your way will definitely pose a challenge.

We won’t lie, both Cannon Dancer and its Osman old-school edition (both in the title, hence the name) are tough cookies. However, ININ has wisely thrown in a few cheats, like the ability to rewind in real time, or even activate rapid fire or invincibility if the going gets too tough. For that matter, it’s also kept the original gameplay intact, so you can have a ball figuring out your way through a level, dodging certain obstacles and unleashing super attacks (which should be used sparingly, might I add).

It’s a lot of fun, just like the original Strider, though some people may be thrown for a loop over the lack of a tutorial. No matter – once you’re thrown in, you’ll find a lot of good adventure here. I just wish it had a museum sort of feature attached to it, but I’m guessing it wasn’t included for legal reasons. Sigh.

A Sweet Looking Dancer

ININ has done a great job giving Cannon Dancer the modern day treatment. While maybe not nice and neat as its other HD endeavors, it still looks great, using original arcade coding to bring its impeccable level design and animations into fruition. Plus you can tweak different view options, playing however you see fit.

The game also features some terrific sound effects, as well as some fun music on the same level as Strider. It could’ve used a little more goofy voice acting (I miss the “YOU DARE FIGHT ME?!”), but it’s not bad at all. And worth whipping out the headset for.

Overall, it’s pretty sharp, considering it’s a long-lost arcade title that we thought would never see the light of day.

Stride On

Cannon Dancer Osman could’ve used a slight bit more polish on the visual front, as well as a mode that talked to the developers about what inspired its origin. But, even without these, it’s one heck of a game. It’s a lot of fun to play (even if you have to cheat a little to beat it), and looks and sounds fantastic, with the help of ININ’s love for the material.

For those of you that love an old-school challenge – or anything remotely related to the greatness of Strider– consider this Dancer worth throwing some money at.

RATING: 4/5