Japanese Strider NES prototype found... and it has LYRICS!!

[Wyrdwad]

Retro Reality recently uploaded this footage taken from an unreleased Famicom prototype of what we know as NES Strider:



There are a few notable differences (one of the big ones being the lack of crazy lag whenever an item or character pops up), but the one that stood out most to me? That extra text during the intro.

Because it's SONG LYRICS.

Like, timed to the opening theme.

And I'm a crazy enough S.O.B. to have transcribed and roughly translated them. Somebody needs to make a vocal version of this song, stat! Gamemusicfreak, spread the word!

-Tom

* * *

もえあがるぐれんのほのお
moeagaru guren no honoo
A flaring crimson flame

それはやつらのひとみのいろ
sore wa yatsura no hitomi no iro
is the color of their eyes.

すべてをころがし
subete wo korogashi
They take down all in their path,

しゃくねつにそめる
shakunetsu ni someru
leaving it smoldering in their wake.

ストライダー
sutoraidaa
Striders!

おまえはそのてで
omae wa sono te de
By your hands,

ストライダー
sutoraidaa
Striders!

なにをまもるのか
nani wo mamoru no ka
what is it you protect?

いまはもう
ima wa mou
Now is the time.

ひとすじのひかりさえ
hitosuji no hikari sae
Even if naught but a single beam of light

とどかないこのちじょうに
todokanai kono chijou ni
should reach this earth,

ザ・デンジャー・ゾーン・オブ・ダーク
za denjaa zoun obu daaku
The Danger Zone of Dark

あおきのをはせるものよ
aoki no wo haseru mono yo
shall be restored to its rightful blue by your hands.

[ParanoiaDragon]

If someone(Bonknuts) ever decided to port & update Strider on to the Turbo/PCE, like what he's doing for Mega Man 1, then I'd totally take a stab at both the music(for the entire game) along with me singing!

[Ninten]

Wish Strider NES had more polish, so it could easily be an NES classic. I liked the game, but it was sure buggy as hell.

[schlagwerk]

That's pretty awesome. It's like the only cinematic thing that Ninja Gaiden was missing, an OP with lyrics and everything.

And for some reason, seeing that the Japanese text balloons read traditionally (up to down, left to right) seems so much more elegant. Probably because they don't hog as much space.

[Fiel]

Well, holy molly, that is interesting and so awesomely hot blooded in just 5 minutes, too bad this wasn't the Strider NES people got, it seemed to even have a Mega Man brand thing going on judging by the theme. Even it isn't Strider-esque in the least apart from the costume and Strider himself, it could be a pretty nice game.

Now I hope some japanese dude remakes that song and sings it as well, only for JAM Project to take notice of it and make an infinitely better version of it.