Solo
Stats
Japanese:	ソロ Soro
Debut:	Game: Strider (CPS-1)
Voice Actors:	Shûichi Ikeda (PC-Engine) Hozumi Gôda (Strider 2) (credited as Hozumi Tokuda) Hideo Watanabe (Namco x Capcom)
Profile
Gender:	Male
Hair Color:	Bald
Eye Color:	Unknown (hidden by helmet)
Nationality:	Unknown
Affiliation:	Grandmaster Meio
Weapon:	Flamethrower with mounted Missile Launcher, handgun. Energy halos (Strider 2)
In-Game Information
Enemy Type:	Human
Hit Points:	3 HP (1)
Score:	500 PTS (1)

Solo (ソロ) is a recurring enemy, appearing in all versions of the first Strider coin-op as well as both its sequels. He was introduced because Isuke wanted to expand Strider's world by showing characters not related to either Hiryu or the Grandmaster, in much the same way the scene in The Empire Strikes Back in which Darth Vader contracts bounty hunters did^[1]. Moreover, his design is likely inspired by Star Wars character Boba Fett, which is made more blatant with their shared occupation as bounty hunters. Unsurprinsingly enough, Returns changes his name into Inferno, "the flame thrower wielding maniac".^[2]

A hired assassin and bounty hunter^[3], Solo's body is fitted with a reinforced armor that grants him free-flying capabilities and a speed boost that makes him hard to catch by ordinary human eyes. His speed level is such that he leaves after-images as he moves around. His weapon of choice are two: a large cannon-like weapon in his left hand, and a gun in his right one. His left hand weapon is a flamethrower with a built-in missile launcher on top^[3]. He later gets an upgraded form and new weapon in the form of energy rings he can create and throw at his enemies.

He's a ruthless and dangerous killer, and considers himself Hiryu's rival. He's, however, not quite on Hiryu's level of skill or ability.

Contents 1 Story 1.1 Strider 1.2 Strider 2 1.3 Strider Returns 2 Skills and Abilities 2.1 Attacks 3 Other Appearances 3.1 Game Appearances 4 References

StoryEdit

StriderEdit

Grandmaster Meio contracts Solo's services to eliminate Strider Hiryu as he's traveling Siberia's wilderness. Solo first ambushes Hiryu as he was making his way through a siberian plateau, but is unable to take him out. Later, together with fellow assassins the Kuniang M.A. Team, Solo attacks Hiryu as he's attempting to hijack an airship. Hiryu confronts and quickly defeats them all.

When Hiryu invades the Third Moon, Solo appears once again for a rematch against his rival, but he's once again unable to match Hiryu and faces total defeat.

Strider 2Edit

Solo is an Artificial Mutant prototype whose success eventually led into the creation and mass-production of similarly-built mutant fighters. Solo's services are contracted, likely by Light Sword Cypher, to join the Chinese Mafia's terrorist strike on Neo Hong Kong city. He confronts Hiryu in the rooftops of the city's wealthy district, inside a giant satellite dish. He first fights Hiryu while holding back and making no use of his stronger weapons. When it becomes obvious he'd be unable to win this way, he decides to fight "seriously", and activates his main weapon and energy halos. However, not even this is enough against Hiryu, and he is forced to retreat when his armor malfunctions.

Solo returns to greet Hiryu at the entrance port of the rebuild Third Moon in search of a rematch, now accompanied by a group of the Mass Production Solo robots. Much like before, he's unable to match Hiryu and is defeated, this time for good.

Strider ReturnsEdit

Note: This game has been removed from continuity.

Solo, or rather Inferno in this one, has apparently being contracted by The Master once again. He awaits Strider Hinjo at the end of the Forbidden Forest, awaiting in ambush in an abandoned warehouse building. He fails to defeat Hinjo and retreats. As usual, he's later confronted at the Master's base, the Prison Ship, right at Hinjo's starting point on its surface. Much like before, he's defeated again.

Skills and AbilitiesEdit

Besides his skills as a bounty hunter, Solo relies mainly in his armor and weaponry. His armor provides not only protection, but high-speed flight^[4]. Equipped with powerful jet thrusts on his back, he's capable of moving faster than the eye can see, leaving an after-image effect as he soars through the skies. Solo's primary strategy during combat is to remain airborne, outside the enemy's range, and attack with his weapons. Whenever he's close to be hit while airborne, he uses his jet thrusts to fly out of range^[5]. Though certain techniques force him to land, leaving him vulnerable to a counter-attack.

AttacksEdit

Solo relies mostly on his main two weapons, as well as weaponry built into his armor.

Flamethrower with Missile Launcher
A large, long-barreled weapon that's described as a flamethrower with a mounted missile launcher. Solo carries this weapon on his left hand, handling it with ease in spite of its size. In his Strider 2 upgraded armor, the weapon takes on a more futuristic appearance and loses its mounted missile launcher.

• Laser Beam: Solo descends to the ground and charges up his weapon, shooting a thin beam of energy forward, accompanied by a few fire waves and homing missiles. While one of Solo's strongest techniques, it leaves him vulnerable to a counterattack^[5].
• Plasma Blast: A variation of the above from Strider 2. Solo charges up for a few seconds and then unleashes a blast of energy straight in front of him. Solo seems to use it exclusively in the Third Moon battle, and only if he and Hiryu are around the same height.
• Three-Way Shot: Only seen in Strider 2. Solo can fire 3 bullets spread at three different angles straight ahead, in a similar way to his handgun.

Handgun
A seemingly normal handgun used by Solo as a side arm. In his upgraded armor, the handgun is actually built into his arm, and it needs to be activated before use.

• Three-Way Shot: Solo shoots three bullets spread at three different angles (straight, 30° up and 30° down) while in the air. He only aims it in a diagonal angle while hovering high up. In Strider 2, he can aim straight and up as well as down. This is also the only technique he has available while in his first form.

Armor Weaponry

• Homing Missiles: Solo shoots a barrage of homing missiles from the armor. The missiles home-in on Hiryu, traveling in erratic patterns and making them hard to dodge. Solo does this technique only while airborne and out of reach. Only seen in Strider.
• Energy Rings: An unique attack from Strider 2. Solo charges up energy until the rings on his shoulders release two floating discs of plasma, which he then commands towards his target. The discs have little homing capability, making them somewhat easy to avoid if seen in advance. It also leaves Solo open to attack while he's charging up.

Other AppearancesEdit

Game AppearancesEdit

Namco x Capcom
Solo appears as a minor non-playable enemy in this crossover game with Namco. His design is based in the original arcade version rathen than his Strider 2 self. Being an enemy character, he has a very limited set of techniques: his main attack consist of a missile barrage, while his special technique is a laser beam.

Much like his official story, he remains a contracted assassin by Grandmaster Meio with orders to eliminate Hiryu. He's characterized as being an actual robot, with his lines written in a monotone robot speech pattern, and a complete robot-like fixation to his main directive, "Eliminate Hiryu". He's first seen together with Strider Hien and Ton Pooh as the defensive force in the Third Moon, and remains mostly a support ally for either of them in following chapters. He's eliminated for good alongside all of Meio's supporters during Chapter 44.

ReferencesEdit

Strider Game Series
Games
Strider (Amiga • Mega Drive • Master System • Turbo Duo • Sharp X68000 • Playstation • Mobile Phones) Strider (NES) • Strider II/Returns • Strider 2
Characters
Hiryu • Grandmaster Meio • Solo • Kuniang • Hien Strobaya • General Mikiel • Captain Beard Jr. • Herzog Schlange • Admiral Wilhelm
Recurring Objects and Settings
Striders • Cypher • Climb Sickle • Options • Kazakh Federation Flying Battleship Balrog • Anti-Gravity Device • The Third Moon
Other Articles
Isuke • Moto Kikaku • Strider Hiryu (Manga) • Capcom Gamebook: Strider Hiryu