Strider II
Strider II — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Strider II on?
- Strider II was released on Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum, Atari ST/STE, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.
- When did Strider II release?
- Strider II was first released on December 31, 1990.
About Strider II
Strider II is a European-developed sequel to the original Strider, originally released for various computer platforms. The game is still plagued by shoddy programming and uninspired gameplay, product of the higher-ups being only interested in getting the game "written and out as fast as possible"
Summary via IGDB.
Strider II on Wikipedia
Strider II, is a 1990 action-platform game published by U.S. Gold and originally released for various computer platforms. It is a European-developed sequel to Capcom's arcade video game Strider, which U.S. Gold previously ported to home computers in Europe.
Source: Wikipedia (text under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Game details
- Developer
- Tiertex
- Publisher
- U.S. Gold
- Game modes
- Single player
- Themes
- Action
Details via IGDB.
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Period reviews | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sega Master SystemDetails ↓ | 1993 | $11 | $29 | — | 11 reviews | Low (look-alike) |
| Sega GenesisDetails ↓ | 1993 | $19 | $42 | — | 76% | Low |
The cheapest way to own it loose is the Sega Master System version ($11).
Also released on: Commodore C64/128/MAX · ZX Spectrum · Atari ST/STE · Amiga · Amstrad CPC · Sega Master System/Mark III · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.
Prices are per version and are not interchangeable, and neither are the reviews: conversions in this era were often built by a different studio than the original, so a score earned on one machine says nothing about how another plays.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Master System · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-28
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a month
- Complete: about once a month
- Sealed: about once a year
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-28.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $2.91 in Jan 2021, $6.81 five years ago, and $10.93 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2021 | $2.91 | $17.65 |
| Jan 2022 | $14.68 | $17.22 |
| Jan 2023 | $15.56 | $16.78 |
| Jan 2024 | $13.96 | $30 |
| Jan 2025 | $8.38 | $29 |
| Jan 2026 | $9.07 | $23 |
| Oct 2026 | $10.93 | $29 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number |
|---|---|---|
| Europe / PAL | April 1993 | 29005-50 |
- Region
- EU
- Released
- 1993
- Authenticity
- Low
The Sega Master System version
A European-made Strider sequel at a modest price.
Strider II is a sequel to Capcom's arcade Strider, developed in Europe and published by U.S. Gold under license from Capcom. Tiertex developed the Master System version, which came out in Europe in April 1993. Because the controller has fewer buttons, shurikens are thrown while the player is standing still.
How it was made
Tiertex developed the Master System version, and U.S. Gold published it.
What the press said at the time
| Sega Pro Issue 19 | May 1993 | 75% |
| Sega Pro Issue 20 | June 1993 | 75% |
| Sega Pro Issue 21 | July 1993 | 75% |
| Sega Pro Issue 22 | August 1993 | 75% |
| Sega Pro Issue 23 | September 1993 | 75% |
| Sega Pro Issue 24 | October 1993 | 75% |
| Sega Master Force Issue 5 | November 1993 | 74% |
| Sega Pro Issue 25 | November 1993 | 75% |
| Sega Pro Issue 26 | December 1993 | 75% |
| Sega Pro Issue 28 | February 1994 | 75% |
| Sega Pro Issue 43 | April 1995 | 65% |
“Even on Easy, Strider's a tough cookie! … This one will take ages to crack!”
“Very similar to the originál Strider in that the main character is a tad slow, but iťs challenging. Run-of-the-mill graphics and little to inspire.”
“Very similar to the originál Strider in that the main character is a tad slow, but iťs challenging. Run-of-the-mill graphics and little to inspire.”
“Very similar to the originál Strider in that the main character is a tad slow, but iťs challenging. Run-of-the-mill graphics and little to inspire.”
In the sales charts
In 2 sales charts, July 1993 to August 1993; highest position #3.
Show all 2 placings
- #3 in the HMV Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 21, July 1993
- #4 in the HMV Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 22, August 1993
Sales charts as printed in the magazines of the time.
Before you buy
This is a European cartridge. Loose it sits a little below the middle of the European-only games, and a complete copy costs much more than a loose one. The look-alike risk is low. Check that the manual is there, since it is the part most often missing from a complete copy.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release | $20 | $66 | $162 |
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a month
- Complete: about 2 times a month
- Sealed: about once a year
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-29.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $1.48 in Jan 2008, $17.55 five years ago, and $18.99 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | $1.48 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $3.44 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $3.00 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $2.25 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $9.50 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $5.10 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $6.99 | $15.42 |
| Jan 2015 | $10.38 | $25 |
| Jan 2016 | $10.00 | $22 |
| Jan 2017 | $12.50 | $19.99 |
| Jan 2018 | $15.27 | $25 |
| Jan 2019 | $10.02 | $29 |
| Jan 2020 | $14.93 | $30 |
| Jan 2021 | $13.34 | $37 |
| Jan 2022 | $25 | $42 |
| Jan 2023 | $21 | $50 |
| Jan 2024 | $15.90 | $40 |
| Jan 2025 | $13.23 | $35 |
| Jan 2026 | $14.99 | $33 |
| Oct 2026 | $18.99 | $50 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Barcode |
|---|---|---|
| North America | 1993 | 743175790368 |
| Europe / PAL | March 1993 | — |
- Region
- NA+EU
- Released
- 1993
- Authenticity
- Low
The Sega Genesis version
A middling Strider sequel built in Europe, worth owning mostly if you want the whole series.
Tiertex developed the Genesis version of Strider II, published by U.S. Gold under license from Capcom. In Europe it came out in March 1993 as Strider II. North America got it in 1993 as Journey from Darkness: Strider Returns, and the manual there calls the hero Hinjo rather than Hiryu. It plays like the first Genesis Strider, with the slide and the ability to move under ceilings.
Video Games & Computer Entertainment described it in April 1993 as an 8-meg sequel with five action-packed levels and the Grand Master Meio back to threaten the planet. The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly found it a decent but disappointing sequel.
What the press said at the time
| Sega Pro Issue 36 | September 1994 | 76% |
“once you get used to the frustrating controls, you'll have Strider climbing, swinging, jumping and shooting like a pro.”
“once you get used to the frustrating controls, you'll have Strider climbing, swinging, jumping and shooting like a pro.”
“This action-packed platformer follows the tradition of the original, although it's been totally revamped for a more modern feel. Unfortunately, there are no passwords, so it's going to be a fair while before you finish it.”
In the sales charts
In one sales chart, September 1993; highest position #10.
Show the placing
- #10 in the HMV Mega Drive chart — Sega Pro, Issue 23, September 1993
Sales charts as printed in the magazines of the time.
Before you buy
Among US carts it sits above the middle. Loose, the European cart usually costs about the same as the US one, while a complete European copy usually costs more. Look for it under the US title, Journey from Darkness: Strider Returns, as well as Strider II. A complete US copy means the case, cartridge and manual.
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