Major Stryker

Major Stryker
Major Stryker
Major Stryker.gif
Gameplay of Major Strike, Episode 1, Sea Zone
Developer(s) Apogee Software
Publisher(s) Apogee Software
Platform(s) MS-DOS
Release date(s) January, 1993
Genre(s) Scrolling shooter
Mode(s) Single player
Rating(s) OFLC: G
Media/distribution Floppy disk, Download

Major Stryker is a 2D vertical scrolling shooter game written for DOS, by Apogee Software (now 3D Realms).

The game was originally distributed as shareware. It consists of three episodes, with only the first episode distributed as shareware, and the rest available commercially. The episodes are:

  • Lava Planet
  • Arctic Planet
  • Desert Planet

The game features PC Speaker and Sound Blaster sounds, and the AdLib music is similar in style to Bobby Prince's other songs. The game uses EGA graphics and draws three backgrounds ("triple-parallax scrolling").

Major Stryker was re-released as freeware on March 14, 2006.

Gameplay

There are three difficulty levels, each of which has drastically different levels of powerups, enemies, and enemy fire.

The only named characters are the titular hero and Fleet Admiral Yoshira, a very attractive, often flirtatious woman who briefs the character between levels, and seems to be in love with him as well.

Powerups available include laser powerups (boxes marked "00," "01," etc.,) which affect the pattern and number of shots fired; speedups; holding patterns, which stop the screen and release a fleet of enemies (which can be helpful in clearing an area if the player has a wide spread of shots;) screenwide explosions; and extra lives. Hostages can also be rescued.

At the end of each level, the player is awarded additional points on the percentage of enemies destroyed and the percentage of hostages rescued.

A player with upgraded firepower is lowered to single shots upon being hit; a player with basic firepower is killed instantly. Being crushed by a wall also causes instant death regardless of firepower. Three different types of shields exist: Two side shields that protect the left and right until it is damaged, two temporary small wave shields that rotate around the ship and a temporary invincibility orb shield.

See also

External links