Flying Tortoise (フライングトータス) is the name given to the floating platforms visible in the original Strider, during the second and third stage. A redesigned variation of the airship is also seen in the fourth stage of Strider 2, serving the same purpose.
Another version, known as Skiff, is featured in the 2014 Strider.
Models[]
Strider[]
The Flying Tortoise is a type of airship used by the Kazakh Federation[1]. Full name "General Dynamics F-29 Flying Tortoise", it's a state-of-the-art small fighter aircraft developed by said American company.[2]
The Flying Tortoise is simple in design: a long and flat platform to stand on that flies with the use of a propeller fan installed in its undercarriage, powered by a 12-cylinder air-cooling "Rolls-Royce Erlin" engine[2]. It is also equipped with a 20mm vulcan cannon with an automatic tracking sight installed in the nose, but this is exclusively for showing off and is never actually used in battle[2]. Considered an extraordinary product with a 2-pilot deck capacity[2], it sees plenty of use with the Kazakh Federation's forces.
Hiryu encounters a fleet of Flying Tortoises in Siberia, an airship force carrying a group of Russian infantrymen and commanded by the Kuniang team out to ambush him[2][3]. Using them as stepping stones, Hiryu climbs his way through to reach the Sky Thunder Mk-II where he confronts the Kuniang team.
Flying Tortoises are also stored within the Flying Battleship Balrog: One appears carrying out a Mr. Elephant into the rear area of the ship, and one (labeled a "Executive Brand Catapult"[4]) is also used by Captain Beard Jr. in his attempt to escape the doomed warship.
Strider 2[]
A more advanced version of the original Flying Tortoise. These airships appear sturdier and better armored, now having a much heavier outside shell and even a cockpit in its front. Instead of a propeller fan, this model uses jet thrusters for sustained flight and lack the vulcan cannon from the original.
A large fleet of Flying Tortoise serve as the escort of the new Battleship Balrog, flying within its aerial "warning zone" and carrying a group of Balrog Marine Corps led by the Squad Leader. Much like before, Hiryu uses them as platforms in his attempt to reach the Balrog itself, eventually taking on the Squad Leader and using his personal airship to reach and infiltrate it.
Unlike the original, this time the Flying Tortoises can be attacked and eventually destroyed by Hiryu, or they can be shot down by Balrog Infantrymen attacking from the background.
Trivia[]
- The engine described in its backstory is the real life Rolls-Royce Merlin aero engine. The text, however, writes it as "Arlin" (アーリン) instead of "Merlin" (マーリン). Whether this typo was accidental or done on purpose is unknown.
- As the Mega Drive/Genesis conversion of Strider was handled by Sega, their redrawn version of the propeller sprites appear to have been reused, in part, slightly modified for inclusion in their 1994 Genesis game, Sonic & Knuckles. The propellers can be found at the very end of Mushroom Hill Zone's Act 2.
References[]
- ↑ Capcom (October 2006, PlayStation). Gamebook: Strider Hiryu (Japanese). Pg. 26. ISBN 4-86233-076-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Strider Development Staff (March 1989). "Strider Hiryu Characters Original Image Collection". Gamest (30). Pg. 98-99.
- ↑ Jones, Darran (March 2014). "The Story of Strider", section "Strider - The Director's Commentary". Retro Gamer (126). Pg. 37
- ↑ Staff (May 1989). "Strider Hiryu: Val-Rogue" (Japanese). Gamest (32). Pg. 4-5.