Strider 2 is actually a two-disc set that includes two complete arcade conversions of the original Strider and its sequel, Strider 2. First and most importantly, let me say that Strider 2 is a short game.  Extremely short. You will beat Strider 2 in under an hour and a half unless you are a woefully incompetent gamer, and that includes a second time through with the hidden character.  That amount of game length probably equals a bitter trip back to the game store for a return for most of today's players.  However, saying the game is short is completely missing the point.  The best way to think about Strider 2 is to compare it to a game like Nights for the Sega Saturn, or even Capcom's own Resident Evil series to a lesser extent.  Although all of those games can be beaten very quickly (I know I beat Resident Evil 3 in about four hours, and Nights in under two, if even that long, but I consider both games to be excellent), they feature a grading system that encourages the player to go back and beat the game several more times, mastering it totally.  That is the total and absolute point of Strider 2 and, if that does not sound attractive to you, then everything else that is so great about the game will not impress you either. 

Strider 2 is basically a platform game in the "2.5" D style popularized on the 32-bit systems, such as Crash Bandicoot, Pandemonium, Clockwork Knight, and so on.  Although Strider appears to move in three dimensions, you can really only move left or right on a set plane.  For instance, one boss is a massive dragon with a circular platform surrounding it.  Strider can run left or right around the circle, appearing to rotate in three dimensions. However, this is accomplished by pressing left or right only, so its really only a two-dimensional game with the illusion of three.  By doing this, the control is immeasurably tighter than in a true 3D platform game, something needed for the fast and furious gameplay in Strider 2.  

Strider himself is no cute "kiddie" character like Mario or Crash, or even Megaman.  He's a futuristic ninja which most people will recognize as one of the better fighters from the Marvel vs. Capcom games.  He is able to stick to any surface, can slide past most attacks and, in this game, can use a boost ability that creates extra slashes which fly from his sword to attack normally out-of-range targets.  Also new to the sequel is the ability to execute double jumps.  There is no analog support, which is a shame, but the control is still extremely tight, and all the action is played out through the four buttons on the front face of the controller.  Control is one of the best aspects of the game.  It's easy to rapidly slide and jump past opponents, slashing them apart and moving on with blinding speed. 

There are five levels in the game, each of which is broken into six shorter stages.  Most of these stages have a boss battle at the end, the largest and most difficult of which is usually at the end of the sixth stage.  At the beginning of each level, the player is shown a neat diagnostic which shows the path Strider will take through the level, and his overall objective.  Nothing really important, but it earns points for style.  Many of the stages have branching paths and hidden power-ups to find, which adds to the length of the game.  After each level is a short cut-scene shown in amazingly drawn stills.  I am now convinced more than ever that Strider is, for lack of a better word, one of the coolest characters to ever grace a home console.  He has an incredible anime style to him.  Again, all of this style may amount to nothing in the eyes of many players, but you cannot fault the presentation of this game. 

Adding to the glossy look of the title are excellent graphics and music throughout.  The polygons are tight, and the stages have extremely colorful and varied looks to them, as do the enemies.  Slowdown is minimal for the most part, except when using a boost.  The graphical effect of colored slashes flying all over the screen is very impressive, but it causes massive slowdown, which is a shame.  The music is also excellent, perfectly suiting the mood of the game, and its one of the few soundtracks I would consider importing.  Sound effects are on the same level, excellent throughout.  

The only real problem with Strider 2 is the game's length.  Beating the game, which took me just over thirty minutes the first time through, will unlock a hidden character, who is arguable more powerful than Strider Hiryu.  The second time through with Strider <><>, I beat the game in just under twenty-five minutes.  I played again to explore the levels fully, which tacked on another half hour.  I think most people would then say the game is finished and that it's far too short.  I totally disagree.  I have beaten the game in around twenty minutes, and still received only a "C" rating on the grading scale.  "E" is the lowest.  You are graded on how many continues you use, how quickly you beat a level, and what difficulty setting the game is on.  In other words, the idea is to keep trying to beat the game, getting only necessary power-ups, not dying at all, and flying through the levels like a ninja would, quick but deadly.  I do not think I will ever tire of beating this game, its an incredibly fun experience.  If you are the type of player who sees the ending to the game and never plays it again, then avoid this one except as a rental.  

Also included to sweeten the deal is an excellent conversion of the original Strider game.  It’s a better version than the NES one, but not really much better than the Genesis version that was released quite a few years back.  This is mostly due to loading times which were definitely not present in the arcade or previous console conversions, and slowdown that might actually be worse than in the original versions of the game.  However, the graphics look fantastic for a game of Strider's age, and the game still has some of the most original levels and tightest control of any game, ever.  The original's inclusion here is more than a gimmick, because it’s a great game that is worth playing.  However, it, too, is rather on the short side.  

As stated, this is an extremely short game, but one that is meant to be played and beaten many times.