Fast Striker

Last updated
Fast Striker
Fast Striker arcade flyer.jpg
Developer(s) NG:Dev.Team
Publisher(s) NG:Dev.Team
Designer(s) René Hellwig
Timm Hellwig
Artist(s) Antone Pires
Steven Wen
Composer(s) Christian Werdehausen
Ronny Leuendorf
Platform(s) Dreamcast, iOS, Neo Geo, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
Release
  • WW: June 30, 2010
Genre(s) Scrolling shooter
Mode(s) Single-player
Arcade system Neo Geo MVS

Fast Striker is a video game developed and published by German developer NG:Dev.Team in 2010 for the Neo Geo MVS. The player flies a space fighter craft through vertically scrolling levels to shoot waves of enemies. The game was later ported to Dreamcast, iOS, Neo Geo AES, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita.

Contents

Fast Striker was developed in conjunction with HUCAST's DUX over the course of six years after the Hellwig brothers founded NG:Dev.Team and development of their first video game, Last Hope , was completed. The team went with a different approach for their vertical-scrolling shooter project compared to the level memorization focus of Last Hope, emphasising fast-paced reflex action and an elaborate scoring system. The staff also received support from German shooter communities during beta testing, advising from Twinkle Star Sprites designer Yoshiyasu Matsushita and approval from SNK Playmore.

Fast Striker was met with mixed reception from critics. Reviewers praised its fast action, scoring system, techno soundtrack, speed, and adjustable difficulty levels that alters each playthrough but others criticized the gameplay, monochrome visual style, pacing and short length, as well as the lack of additional options on the PlayStation versions.

Gameplay

Neo Geo version screenshot. NEOGEO Fast Striker.png
Neo Geo version screenshot.

Fast Striker is a science fiction-themed vertically scrolling shoot 'em up game in which the player take control of a space fighter craft through six increasingly difficult stages in order to defeat an assortment of enemy forces and bosses. [1]

At the start, there are three difficulty modes to choose from (Novice, Original and Maniac), each one hosting unique scoring systems. [1] [2] In Novice mode, the enemies' color palette are altered to make them more visible and the player collects golden stars to gain points. In Original mode, the ship has a shield that can be activated for a brief protection time period against incoming enemy bullets and holding the down the spread fire button will also perform a short burst of rockets. [1] [2] Maniac mode introduces new strategies to obtain higher scores and the player can activate "Grind Mode" by concentrating the ship's laser on a large enemy, turning green and destroyed enemies will give high scores. [1]

Development

Fast Striker was developed by NG:Dev.Team in conjunction with HUCAST's DUX over the course of six years as their second project, after the brothers René and Timm Hellwig founded the company and development of Last Hope was completed, though René stated they considered game development as a hobby at the time. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] In various interviews, René stated that the team went with a different approach to the project, focusing on fast-paced reflex action and emphasis on an elaborate scoring system when compared Last Hope, which was more bulky and required players to memorize the level. [4] [5] [6] [8]

The team developed Fast Striker using a Neo Geo development kit and also took more time to test the game, with German shooter communities Triggerzone and Daddelking participating in the game's beta testing phase. [4] [5] [6] [9] Twinkle Star Sprites designer Yoshiyasu Matsushita also tested and liked the title, giving the team advices to improve the project. [4] [5] [6] René claimed that the team also got quality approval from SNK Playmore for their project but did not get a license due to complications with reviving the Neo Geo platform. [4] [5] [6] The title employs computer-generated imagery for stages, runs at 60 frames per second and displays up to 180 simultaneous enemy bullets on-screen. [8] The music was co-composed by Christian Werdehausen and Ronny Leuendorf. [1] [10] Antone Pires and Steven Wen served as character artists. [1] A two-player mode was planned but scrapped due to technical issues. [11]

Release

Fast Striker was first released by NG:Dev.Team for the Neo Geo MVS on June 30, 2010, while a limited edition included a soundtrack album. [10] [12] [13] At 1560 megabits of data, it is one of the largest game developed for the Neo Geo platform. [14] The MVS release supports software updates via a USB port and employs an anti-piracy system using proprietary hardware. [8]

A Dreamcast conversion dubbed Fast Striker 1.5 featuring an "Omake" game mode was first announced in publications such as Joystiq and Spanish magazine GamesTribune, [14] [15] before going gold in December 2010 with a tentative release date of December 21 of the same year. [16] [17] [18] The Dreamcast version was released on December 28, 2010, in a Japanese-style DVD packaging as three editions; [12] [15] [18] [19] a regular edition, a deluxe edition limited to 1000 copies featuring an alternate cover art and a soundtrack enclosed with the game, [20] as well as a pack containing both editions. An iOS version based on the Dreamcast port was released in North America on March 27, 2011, and later in Europe on April 22 of the same year. [21] [22] In 2013, a Neo Geo AES version limited to 150-200 copies was also released. [23]

In October 2018, Eastasiasoft published Fast Striker worldwide on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita via PlayStation Network. [24] [25] [26] [27] Eastasiasoft also published a physical edition for both PS4 and PS Vita via Play-Asia in a special cardboard box with embossed art on the front. [12]

Reception

Fast Striker received "mixed or average" reviews, according to review aggregator site Metacritic. [28] However, according to NG:Dev.Team co-founder Timm Hellwig, sales of the game only totaled to 60% of Last Hope before it. [34] ReVival's Cyril Denis regarded the game as "an excellent shoot'em up which, if only for its vertical scrolling using the entire width of the screen, deserves Dreamcast owners to take an interest in it." [33] Carlos Oliveiros of Spanish magazine GamesTribune  [ es ] praised the art design, techno soundtrack, enemy variety and adjustable difficulty but criticized the Dreamcast conversion for being a straightfoward adaptation of the Neo Geo MVS original, monocromatic stage visuals and lack of a two-player mode. [11] Retro Gamer 's Darran Jones and Stuart Hunt commended its fast-paced action, attack formations, bosses, intricate bullet patterns, music, mechanics and scoring system. [32]

Jeuxvideo.com 's Dominique Cavallo criticized the graphics for being unpleasant, techno soundtrack and overall length. However, he praised the scoring mechanics, gameplay and adjustable difficulty levels that alters each playthrough. [29] MAN!AC's Matthias Schmid commended the Dreamcast version for running at a consistent framerate, the addition of "Omake" mode from revision 1.5, thought-out scoring system and soundtrack but criticized the visuals and stages for their monotonous colors and abundance of bullets during gameplay. [30] Likewise, Spanish publication RetroManiac commended NG:Dev.Team for balancing their game to cater to a wider audience, praising the scoring system, visual presentation, speed and music, stating that "Fast Striker is a pretty remarkable shooter that emphasizes dodging shooting patterns on us, eliminating bosses, and mastering our weapons system. [21]

Vida Extra's Oscar Bouzo criticized the PlayStation Vita conversion for its lack of additional options and "ugly" 3D stage design but commended the release for the bosses and gameplay differences each difficulty mode offers. [35] In a similar manner, Push Square 's Nathanial Eker criticized the PlayStation 4 port for its Neo Geo-style graphics for the "ugly" color palette, lack of extra options and basic gameplay, though he gave positive remarks to the soundtrack. [31] Oprainfall 's Nick Benefield gave the title a positive outlook on PS Vita, praising the upbeat music, bosses, visuals and gameplay but criticized the power-up system. [12]

Related Research Articles

<i>Metal Slug</i> (1996 video game) 1996 video game

Metal Slug is a 1996 run and gun arcade video game originally developed by Nazca Corporation and released by SNK for the Neo Geo MVS. It is the first installment in the eponymous series. Set in 2028, players assume the role of Peregrine Falcon Strike Force soldiers Marco Rossi and Tarma Roving on a fight against the Rebel Army led by Donald Morden and overthrow his coup d'état to prevent a New World Order.

Homebrew, when applied to video games, refers to games produced by hobbyists for proprietary video game consoles which are not intended to be user-programmable. The official documentation is often only available to licensed developers, and these systems may use storage formats that make distribution difficult, such as ROM cartridges or encrypted CD-ROMs. Many consoles have hardware restrictions to prevent unauthorized development.

<i>Twinkle Star Sprites</i> 1996 video game

Twinkle Star Sprites is a 1996 competitive scrolling shooter arcade game originally created by ADK. It was ADK's last production for the Neo Geo platform. The gameplay, which can be characterized as a combination of a fixed shooter and a versus puzzle game, uses combinations of shots, as well as timed power-ups to attempt to damage the opponent. These attacks also serve as counters to the opponent's attack.

<i>The King of Fighters 99</i> 1999 fighting video game

The King of Fighters '99: Millennium Battle is a 1999 fighting game developed and published by SNK for the [[Neo Geo] MVS] arcade and home consoles in 1999. It is the sixth installment in The King of Fighters series, introducing a new story arc known as the "NESTS Chronicles" which is centered around a young man named K', who is formerly associated with a mysterious yet threatening organization known only as NESTS. The game introduces several changes to the established KOF format, most notably an assisting character labeled "Striker". The game was ported to the Neo Geo CD and the PlayStation. Dreamcast and Microsoft Windows versions were also released under the title The King of Fighters' 99: Evolution whose stages were remodeled in 3D.

<i>Garou: Mark of the Wolves</i> 1999 video game

Garou: Mark of the Wolves is a 1999 fighting game produced by SNK, originally for the Neo Geo system and then as Fatal Fury: Mark of the Wolves for the Dreamcast. It is the eighth installment of the Fatal Fury series.

<i>The King of Fighters 2000</i> 2000 video game

The King of Fighters 2000(KOF 2000, or KOF '00) is a fighting video game that was produced by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home consoles in 2000. It is the seventh installment in The King of Fighters series for the Neo Geo and the final game in the series SNK produced before the original company's bankruptcy. The game was ported to the Dreamcast and the PlayStation 2 in 2002. The game's story, a sequel to The King of Fighters '99 and the second part of the "NESTS Chronicles" story arc, focuses on a new tournament held by the commander of the Ikari Warriors, Heidern, who seeks to capture and interrogate former NESTS agents K' and Maxima into revealing crucial and critical information about the NESTS cartel. The gameplay retains the Striker system of the previous games in the series, but the assisting character can also cooperate with the playable character to generate combos.

<i>The Last Blade 2</i> 1998 versus fighting game video game

The Last Blade 2 is a video game developed and released by SNK in 1998. Like its predecessor, The Last Blade, it is a weapons-based versus fighting game originally released to arcades via the Neo Geo MVS arcade system, although it has since been released for various other platforms.

<i>Aero Fighters 3</i> 1995 video game

Aero Fighters 3, known as Sonic Wings 3 in Japan and Europe, is a vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game released in 1995 by Video System. The Neo Geo AES version was not released in North America, but the Neo Geo MVS and Neo Geo CD versions were released in North America. The game was later released for Nintendo Switch in 2018 by the eventual copyright holder for the game, Hamster Corporation.

<i>Last Hope</i> (video game) 2006 video game

Last Hope is a single-player horizontally scrolling shooter for the Neo Geo AES, Neo Geo CD, and Dreamcast systems. It was developed by German developer NG:Dev.Team in 2006. While the Neo Geo version was self-published, the Dreamcast version was released by RedSpotGames in January 2007 as an unlicensed title. In 2009 the Dreamcast version received a reprint in the form of a director's cut called Last Hope: Pink Bullets which addressed several gameplay-related issues. A Neo Geo version of Pink Bullets was released in February 2011.

Rafael Dyll is a German composer, arranger and sound designer for computer and video games.

<i>Gunlord</i> 2012 video game

Gunlord is a 2012 single-player run and gun video game developed and published by German indie NG:Dev.Team for the Neo Geo MVS. It is the first run and gun title from NG:Dev.Team and their third game overall. Taking place after the events of Last Hope, the player assume the role of Gordian Gaiden facing against an evil lord called "The Master" on planet Kairos II while searching for his wife Vanessa, who went missing after defeating the evil empire. Inspired by 16-bit titles such as Turrican, the game originally started development in 2003 but was postponed for various years until the project was resumed in 2010, lasting eighteen months in production.

<i>Andro Dunos</i> 1992 video game

Andro Dunos is a scrolling shooter arcade video game developed by Visco Corporation and originally published by SNK on June 15, 1992. It is the first title to be created by Visco for both the Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and Neo Geo AES (home) platforms. Andro Dunos, along with 1996's Breakers are the only two Visco developed games to be officially licensed for distribution on the Neo Geo AES platform. All other Visco games were only released on the Neo Geo MVS arcade platform.

<i>Power Spikes II</i> 1994 video game

Power Spikes II is a volleyball arcade video game developed by Video System and originally published by Taito on October 19, 1994. A follow-up to Hyper V-Ball on Super Nintendo Entertainment System, it was first launched for Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and later ported to Neo Geo CD. It is the final installment in the Super Volleyball series. It is also the only volleyball game released on the Neo Geo.

<i>Xeno Crisis</i> 2019 video game

Xeno Crisis is a 2019 multidirectional shooter homebrew video game developed and published by Bitmap Bureau for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It was later ported to Dreamcast, PlayStation Vita, Neo Geo, Neo Geo CD, Nintendo 64, GameCube, and Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The premise takes place in Outpost 88, a scientific research facility overrun by aliens. The facility sent a distress signal, leading Commander Darius dispatching space marines John Marsh and Sarah Ridley to confront the aliens. Gameplay revolves around players defeating enemies, rescuing survivors, collecting in-game currency for upgrades, and facing against bosses.

<i>Super Sidekicks</i> (video game) 1992 video game

Super Sidekicks is a 1992 soccer arcade video game developed and published by SNK. It is the first installment in the eponymous series and the second soccer game released for Neo Geo MVS, succeeding Soccer Brawl (1991). Featuring an arcade-style approach to soccer compared to other games released at the time, the title allows players to choose any of the available game modes with AI-controlled opponents or other human players with the team of their choosing. Its gameplay uses a simplified two-button configuration.

<i>Neo XYX</i> 2013 video game

Neo XYX is a 2013 single-player vertically scrolling shooter video game originally developed and published by German indie NG:Dev.Team for the Neo Geo MVS. It is the third shoot 'em up title from NG:Dev.Team and their fifth game overall. Controlling a space fighter craft, the player must fight endless waves of enemies while avoiding collision with their projectiles and other obstacles.

NGDEV, formerly NG:Dev.Team, is a German video game developer and publisher. Founded in 2001 by brothers Timm and René Hellwig, it is known for developing 2D homebrew games with arcade gameplay for the Neo Geo and Dreamcast.

<i>Razion</i> 2014 video game

Razion is a 2014 horizontally scrolling shooter video game developed and published by German indie team NG:Dev.Team for the Neo Geo. It is the fourth shoot 'em up title from NG:Dev.Team and their sixth game overall. Controlling a space fighter craft, the player must fight endless waves of enemies while avoiding collision with their projectiles and other obstacles.

<i>Magical Drop II</i> 1996 video game

Magical Drop II is a 1996 puzzle video game developed and published by Data East for the Neo Geo arcade and home platforms. It was later ported to Neo Geo CD, Super Famicom, and Sega Saturn. It is the second entry in the Magical Drop series. In the game, the player takes control of one of several characters, battling against computer-controlled opponents before facing the villainous Empress in a final encounter. Gameplay is similar to its predecessor Magical Drop (1995) albeit with improvements; the objective is to clear the screen of constantly advancing colored 'drops' via a character placed at the bottom of the playfield, which can grab drops and make them disappear by putting them as a column of three or more drops of the same color. Two players can also participate in a competitive versus mode.

<i>Ghost Blade</i> 2015 video game

Ghost Blade is a 2015 vertically scrolling shooter video game developed and originally published by German studio HUCAST Games as an independent commercial release for the Dreamcast. It was re-released between 2017 and 2018 by JoshProd. A high-definition version titled Ghost Blade HD was also released for PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Controlling one of three fighter crafts, the player fights to protect Mars against the corrupt artificial intelligence Shira. Its gameplay consist of five stages, with players gathering collectible items and defeating enemies to build combos and maintain a high-score, while avoiding collision with their projectiles and obstacles.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Fast Striker user's manual MVS LE (Neo Geo MVS, WW)
  2. 1 2 Brown, Peter (December 3, 2012). "German Studio NG:DEV.TEAM Keeps the Spirit of the Neo Geo Alive - The Neo Geo scene continues to thrive thanks to the dedicated Hellwig brothers, who in 2000 began developing original games for SNK's 16-bit powerhouse". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2021-01-06. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  3. HeavyMetalMe; Reichert, Nick (May 11, 2008). "Behind The Scenes With DUX: The Upcoming Dreamcast Shooter". Racketboy. Archived from the original on 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Rene Hellwig interview". DCEmulation. September 9, 2010. Archived from the original on 2013-07-04. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Zia, Bilal (September 9, 2010). "Interviews » NG:DEV.TEAM Interview with René Hellwig". Dreamcast Scene. Archived from the original on 2013-12-20. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Perez, George (September 9, 2010). "NG:Dev.Team interview with Rene Hellwig". SEGAbits. Archived from the original on 2015-01-29. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  7. McFerran, Damien (June 4, 2012). "Never Neglect the Niche: NG Dev Team on developing for dead systems - Germany's indie darlings speak exclusively about their new Neo Geo game, Gunlord". Eurogamer . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 2021-01-07. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  8. 1 2 3 Caoili, Eric (April 22, 2010). "Fast Striker: New Neo Geo MVS Shoot'Em Up". GameSetWatch . UBM plc. Archived from the original on 2021-01-05. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  9. Nafria, Ramón (June 20, 2019). "Indispensable: Gunlord X — Hablamos de este juego independiente que hace poco ha salido en Switch y su relativa importancia". Vandal (in Spanish). El Español. Archived from the original on 2021-01-17. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  10. 1 2 "FAST STRIKER Original Soundtrack". vgmdb.net. VGMdb. Archived from the original on 2010-09-03. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  11. 1 2 3 Oliveros, Carlos (February 2011). "Análisis - Dreamcast: Fast Striker - El mayor cartucho de Neo-Geo, ya en Dreamcast". GamesTribune  [ es ] (in Spanish). Vol. 1, no. 24. GTM Ediciones C.B. pp. 72–75. Archived from the original on 2021-01-03. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Benefield, Nick (December 7, 2018). "REVIEW: Fast Striker". Oprainfall. Archived from the original on 2021-01-03. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  13. McFerran, Damien (May 30, 2011). "Wooden SNK Neo Geo CMVS • Page 2 - You know you wood". Eurogamer . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  14. 1 2 Oliveros, Carlos (December 2010). "Avance - Dreamcast: Fast Striker - El último juego de Dreamcast... por ahora". GamesTribune  [ es ] (in Spanish). Vol. 1, no. 22. GTM Ediciones C.B. pp. 46–47. Archived from the original on 2010-12-09.
  15. 1 2 Fletcher, J.C. (September 1, 2010). "Fast Striker is the new Last Dreamcast Game Ever". Joystiq . AOL. Archived from the original on 2010-09-05. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  16. "Fast Striker 1.5 gone gold release date is 21th December 2010". NG:Dev.Team. December 2, 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  17. "Fast Striker 1.5 - Dreamcast "bullet hell" shooter goes gold". GamesIndustry.biz . Gamer Network. December 8, 2010. Archived from the original on 2021-01-05. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  18. 1 2 Shadev, Ishaan (December 12, 2010). "The Dreamcast Has A New Bullet Hell Shooter Coming". Siliconera . Curse LLC. Archived from the original on 2020-08-07. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  19. Perez, George (August 31, 2010). "Fast-Striker: New Dreamcast game coming out". SEGAbits. Archived from the original on 2012-07-24. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  20. D'Andrea, Marco (May 10, 2012). "Fast Striker". illusionware.it. Archived from the original on 2013-10-16. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  21. 1 2 3 "Review: Fast Striker (Dreamcast/Neo•Geo) - Sólo para auténticos campeones". RetroManiac Magazine (in Spanish). No. 4. RetroManiac. August 2011. pp. 88–89.
  22. Shadev, Ishaan (March 28, 2011). "Fast Striker Strikes Out On iPhone". Siliconera . Curse LLC. Archived from the original on 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  23. Hannley, Steve (August 12, 2013). "Fast Striker ($750+ Neo Geo AES Game) Temporarily Back in Stock". Hardcore Gamer. Hardcore Gamer LLC. Archived from the original on 2013-10-08. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  24. Howard III, Gerard (October 3, 2018). "Fast Striker Is Rushing to the PS4 and PS Vita". PlayStation LifeStyle . Mandatory. Archived from the original on 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  25. Bouzo, Oscar (October 3, 2018). "Fast Striker, el shmup antaño exclusivo de Neo Geo y Dreamcast, saldrá en breve en PS4 y Vita". Vida Extra (in Spanish). Webedia. Archived from the original on 2021-01-05. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  26. Imai, Shin (October 4, 2018). "ドイツ人が作ったネオジオ向け弾幕STGが『Fast Striker (高速ストライカー)』がPS4とVita向けに発売 - 中古価格は高騰していただけに嬉しい知らせ". IGN Japan (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. Archived from the original on 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  27. Nagaoka, Yori (October 4, 2018). "「Fast Striker」が、PS4/PS Vita向けにクロスバイ対応で登場 - 巨大なボスとのバトルを含む6つのステージや4つのゲームモードを搭載". GAME Watch (in Japanese). Impress Corporation. Archived from the original on 2021-01-05. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  28. 1 2 "Fast Striker for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. October 16, 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-01-03. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  29. 1 2 Cavallo, Dominique (March 11, 2011). "Test de Fast Striker sur NEO par jeuxvideo.com". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Archived from the original on 2021-01-03. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  30. 1 2 Schmid, Matthias (April 20, 2011). "Fast Striker – im Test (Neo Geo)". MAN!AC  [ de ] (in German). Cybermedia. Archived from the original on 2021-01-03. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  31. 1 2 Eker, Nathanial (October 18, 2018). "Fast Striker Review (PS4) - Strikingly boring". Push Square . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 2021-01-03. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  32. 1 2 Jones, Darran; Hunt, Stuart (March 3, 2011). "Retro Rated - Reviews: Fast Striker (Dreamcast)". Retro Gamer . No. 87. Imagine Publishing. p. 99.
  33. 1 2 Denis, Cyril (November 2010). "Test: Fast Striker (Homebrew)" (PDF). ReVival (in French). No. 46. ABCD Dire. p. 26.
  34. Barnholt, Ray (May 12, 2011). "Keeping the Dream Alive: The Men Behind Dreamcast Homebrew". Gamasutra . UBM Technology Group. pp. 1–3. Archived from the original on 2018-01-11. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  35. Bouzo, Oscar (October 16, 2018). "Análisis de Fast Striker: el matamarcianos de Neo Geo está ahora al alcance de cualquier bolsillo (PS Vita)". Vida Extra (in Spanish). Webedia. Archived from the original on 2019-08-03. Retrieved 2021-01-03.