Striker (video game)


Striker is a soccer video game series first released by Rage Software in 1992.
YearTitleSystemDeveloperPublisherRegio
1992StrikerAmigaRage SoftwareRage SoftwarePAL
1992StrikerAtari STRage SoftwareRage SoftwarePAL
1992StrikerSuper NESRage SoftwareElite SystemPAL
1993Ultimate SoccerGame GearRage SoftwareSegaPAL, Japan
1993Super NESRage SoftwareAtlusNTSC
1993World SoccerSuper FamicomRage SoftwareCoconotJapan
1993Ultimate SoccerMaster SystemRage SoftwareSegaPAL
1993Ultimate SoccerMega DriveRage SoftwareSegaPAL
1993StrikerDOSRage SoftwareRage SoftwarePAL
1993Eric Cantona Football ChallengeSuper NESRage SoftwareRage SoftwarePAL
1994StrikerAmiga CD32Rage SoftwareGBH GoldPAL
1995StrikerGame GearRage SoftwareSEGAPAL
1995StrikerMega DriveRage SoftwareSEGAPAL
1996Striker '96Sega Saturn / PlayStation / MS-DOSRage SoftwareAcclaimPAL
1999UEFA Striker/Sriker Pro 2000PlayStation, DreamcastRage SoftwareInfogrames North America
Infogrames Multimedia 		NTSC, PAL

Later also for the Commodore Amiga, Amiga CD32, Atari ST, PC, Mega Drive/Genesis, and Super NES. It was bundled in one of the Amiga 1200 launch packs. It was one of the first soccer games to feature a 3D viewpoint, after Simulmondo's I Play 3D Soccer.
In 1993 it was released in Japan by Coconuts Japan for the Super Famicom as World Soccer, while the French Super NES version of Striker is known as Eric Cantona Football Challenge, playing on the popularity of French forward Eric Cantona, while the North American Super NES release of Striker was known as . The Mega Drive and Game Gear versions were branded as Sega Sports Striker. They were published by SEGA and developed by Rage Software in 1994 and released in 1995.

Critical reaction

The game received a mixed reaction from the gaming press, with some condemning and others praising its extreme speed. For example, CU Amiga Magazine awarded the game 94% in its June 1992 issue along with the CU Amiga Screenstar award while German magazine Amiga Joker awards the game 64% in the September 1992 edition.

Ports/Sequels

A sequel, World Cup Striker, was released for the Super NES in 1994. It was basically a repackaged version of Striker, but slightly better. It was published in Japan by Coconuts Japan and in Europe by Elite.
A Game Boy game developed by Denton Designs was also released at the same time, in Europe it was released as Soccer, in North America as Elite Soccer, and in Japan as World Cup Striker.
Also, Striker Pro was released in Europe and North America for the CD-i. In 1995, Striker: World Cup Special was released for the 3DO. A game titled Striker '95 was in development for the Atari Jaguar but never released. An entry in the Striker franchise was in the works for the Panasonic M2 but it never happened due to the system's cancellation.
A year later Striker '96 was released for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn and MS-DOS. Striker '96 is known for being the first soccer game on the original PlayStation.
In 2000 Striker Pro 2000 was released for the Dreamcast and PlayStation.