Major Stryker
Encyclopedia
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:
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.
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.
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
, by Apogee Software
3D Realms
3D Realms is a current video game publisher and former video game developer based in Garland, Texas, United States, established in 1987...
(now 3D Realms
3D Realms
3D Realms is a current video game publisher and former video game developer based in Garland, Texas, United States, established in 1987...
).
The game was originally distributed as shareware
Shareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
. 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
Sound Blaster
The Sound Blaster family of sound cards was the de facto standard for consumer audio on the IBM PC compatible system platform, until the widespread transition to Microsoft Windows 95, which standardized the programming interface at application level , and the evolution in PC design led to onboard...
sounds, and the AdLib
AdLib
Ad Lib, Inc. was a manufacturer of sound cards and other computer equipment founded by Martin Prevel, a former professor of music and vice-dean of the music department at the Université Laval...
music is similar in style to Bobby Prince's other songs. The game uses EGA
Enhanced Graphics Adapter
The Enhanced Graphics Adapter is the IBM PC computer display standard specification which is between CGA and VGA in terms of color and space resolution. Introduced in October 1984 by IBM shortly after its new PC/AT, EGA produces a display of 16 simultaneous colors from a palette of 64 at a...
graphics and draws three backgrounds ("triple-parallax scrolling").
Major Stryker was re-released as freeware
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
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.