Night Striker Gear Launches on Nintendo Switch and Steam

M2 released Night Striker Gear on October 22, 2025 for PC via Steam, with the Nintendo Switch version following on October 23. The title marked the standalone debut of the game, which previously launched exclusively as part of Operation Night Strikers' special edition in August 2025.

Directed by Hiroshi Iuchi. The legendary developer behind Radiant Silvergun, Ikaruga, and Sin & Punishment, Night Striker Gear continues the legacy of Taito's 1989 arcade classic Night Striker. Rather than a direct port or remake, the game represents a complete new work by M2's publishing brand M2 Shot Triggers, operating under the slogan "From restoration to creation."

Gameplay

Players control the INTER-GRAY, a flying transforming car reminiscent of classic Sega Super Scaler arcade titles like Space Harrier and Out Run. The third-person perspective takes players through cyber-futuristic highways while battling waves of enemies. The visual style is entirely composed of high-quality 2D sprites that scale and move with impressive smoothness, representing what M2 calls an evolution of scaling technology "where 3D graphics never happened."

Key features include: - All-new levels utilizing modern 16:9 aspect ratio - Sprite scaling pseudo-3D style faithful to the original - Branching pathways with multiple endings based on route selection - Two bosses per stage - Online leaderboards - Support for Micomsoft's Cyber Stick (reissued) USB controller

The GEAR System

The signature new mechanic is the GEAR System, which adds tactical depth without sacrificing intuitive gameplay. Destroying enemies builds the GEAR gauge. When full, this gauge enhances your standard firepower with faster rapid-fire and increased homing shot quantities.

Pressing the GEAR Change button transforms the INTER-GRAY into GEAR form, a powerful robot equipped with devastating homing shots. However, this state only lasts as long as your gauge holds, and upon returning to vehicle mode, you lose the firepower bonuses.

This creates a strategic risk-reward element: do you save the transformation for boss encounters, or deploy it against dense enemy patterns? The choice is yours, and mastering GEAR deployment is paramount to success on higher difficulties.

Combat System

Beyond the GEAR mechanic, Night Striker Gear features a refined combat system:

• Captain Enemies: Red-colored "captain" enemies lead enemy waves. Defeating a captain eliminates the entire wave instantly, a satisfying tactical choice when surrounded.
• Shield System: Players start with five shield points, replenished by defeating specific enemies or clearing stages.
• Wipe Out Bonuses: Destroying every enemy on a level unlocks the secret "G" zone. The ultimate challenge for completionists.

Game Modes

Night Striker Gear offers multiple ways to play:

• Normal Mode: The standard experience with three difficulty settings (Easy, Normal, Hard)
• Pacifist Mode: A unique challenge mode that removes all offensive capabilities, players must survive by dodging enemy fire alone, evoking classic bullet-hell gameplay without the shooting
• B-side Mode: Extended continuous gameplay without stage selection, testing endurance across all content
• Additional unlockable modes reward skilled players

Story

The narrative takes place in A.D. 2059 at Lotus Layer, an AI amusement park in the Middle East where important dignitaries have gathered for its opening. When the attractions mysteriously begin to revolt, the United Nations deploys Night Striker, an elite special action unit, to rescue trapped dignitaries and uncover the unfolding conspiracy.

Music

The soundtrack features cinematic compositions by Yukiharu Urita, formerly of legendary game music group ZUNTATA. The score blends contemporary interpretations of the original Night Striker themes with new symphonic arrangements, delivering what M2 describes as "cinematic sound" befitting the game's *Blade Runner*-inspired neon nightscape aesthetic. Steam users can purchase the original soundtrack separately ($10.99 / ¥1,500) or bundled with the game at a discount.

Critical Reception

Nintendo Life awarded Night Striker Gear an 8/10, praising it as "the shining apex of the Super Scaler concept" and highlighting the exceptional sprite work that remains crisp even when viewed up close.

Pricing and Availability

• Steam/Switch: $18.99 (¥2,800 in Japan)
• OST: $10.99 separately
• Languages: Japanese and English
• Rating: CERO A (all ages)

M2 launched alongside a promotional campaign offering prizes including a cyber controller, garage kits, acrylic stands, posters, and Steam gift cards up to ¥5,000, running through November 9, 2025.

Game Information

For more information, visit the official Night Striker Gear website.

For more Nintendo Switch releases, see Nintendo crushes Q2 2025 with record revenue.