Line #10 VideoGame/MajorStryker


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/major_stryker.png]]
2	''Major Stryker'' is a 2D VerticalScrollingShooter game for DOS [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer PCs]], released in 1993 by Apogee Software (now 3D Realms). Originally the first episode of the game was distributed as shareware, and the rest were issued commercially. The game was re-released as freeware on March 14, 2006, and can be found [[https://www.dosgamesarchive.com/download/major-stryker/ here]].
3
4	Like most such games the story is basically an ExcusePlot: in the wake of WorldWarIII, Earth is invaded by aliens called the Kretons. The initial Earth counteroffensive is a disaster, and the majority of Earth's soldiers are captured. Earth's last hope is the hero of [=WWIII,=] Major Stryker, who is sent through the wormhole the Kretons came through to strike back.
5
6	Each planet consists of four zones, each consisting of two levels with a theme plus a boss. All the bosses in the game have different designs and the three end-of-episode bosses are all multi-stage.
7
8	The game features a PC Speaker and Sound Blaster sounds, and AdLib music similar in style to Creator/BobbyPrince's other songs; it was the first game published by Apogee to include the famous Apogee Fanfare. The game uses EGA graphics and draws three backgrounds ("[[MotionParallax triple-parallax scrolling]]").
9
10	!!This game contains examples of:
11	* AlienInvasion: The Kreton timed their invasion just right as the Earth just got off WWIII.
12	* AliensAreBastards: The Kretons seem to be a collection of different alien species bent on conquering the Earth.
13	* AsteroidsMonster: Each episode has a boss that splits into two smaller versions of itself when you've damaged it enough.
14	* BossOnlyLevel: Each episode is divided into four levels, with three stages each. The third stage is a one-on-one battle with the boss.
15	* EarthShatteringKaboom: Destroying the mothership at the end of each episode results in catastrophic damage to the planet, visible from space. The Lava Planet has a significant fraction of the planet's surface explode in a volcano, the Ice Planet cracks and shatters, while the Desert Planet simply explodes.
16	* ExcusePlot: It's covered in about four screens of text and pictures, and considering the resolution of 320*200, you're not going to fit much text on one screen.
17	* GatlingGood: Gatling cannons are usually found in pairs, most of the time on Bosses' ships.
18	* {{Hypocrite}}: One Boss alien angrily calls you out for destroying his city. Really, who attacked the Earth in the first place?
19	* InsectoidAliens: One alien Boss looks like an insect with three eyes while another has two.
20	* InvincibilityPowerUp: The bubble, which makes you invincible and able to defeat enemies by ramming them.
21	* LizardFolk: One alien Boss looks like a lizardman.
22	* LoadBearingBoss: Despite only being approximately the size of an aircraft carrier, destroying the motherships at the end of each episode results in the destruction of the planet, though slightly differently each time.
23	* MissionControl: Fleet Admiral Yoshira briefs you before entering each zone. It's mostly just for flavor, as your goal is always the same: get through two stages and then defeat the boss. Occasionally there's some mildly useful advice, though, such as a warning that you're entering a zone of reduced visibility.
24	* MotionParallax: The superimposed three backgrounds are generated through triple-parallax scrolling.
25	* OneHitPointWonder: With no weapon upgrades, one shot and you're toast. With them, you can take one hit without dying, at the cost of the weapon upgrades.
26	* RecurringBossTemplate: There are three such templates, each used once in each episode, though with differences. For instance, each episode has a boss which [[AsteroidsMonster splits into two smaller copies of itself]] for its second phase.
27	* ShoutOut: One Boss's face looks like [[Franchise/StarWars a Stormtrooper from a galaxy far, far away]].
28	* SingleBiomePlanet: Subverted. The three planets are named "Lava Planet", "Arctic Planet", and "Desert Planet", but the stages reveal that the first two planets have a mix of biomes, including oceans and temperate grasslands.
29	* SmartBomb: Called "Zap Bombs", they deal 2 HitPoints of damage to all enemies on screen and eliminate all projectiles.
30	* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: At the end of the first two episodes, Yoshira tells you that the planet you just defeated isn't the Kretons' "stronghold", so you should head to another planet.

Context VideoGame / MajorStryker