The 16-bit era of video games gave rise to the most celebrated arcade shooting games of all time. On the SNES, games like Phalanx, Gradius III, and UN Fighter introduced tremendous, challenging gameplay with sharp visuals and incredible soundtracks. On the SEGA Genisis, as well as the SEGA CD, game such as Truxton, Robo-Aleste, and Silpheed introduced new mechanics and dynamics to shooting gameplay. Among them was a special series of video games, introduced onto both platforms in different titles. From Masaya Games came the Assault Suit Series. The series introduced players to piloting a mech in various level scenarios. Unlike most shmups, the game was a side-scroller with unique elements.
In 1990, Masaya Games released Assault Suit Leynos for the SEGA Genesis. The game introduced players to their assault suits, fighting an intense war against the first human explorers, who have become cyborgs and seek revenge against the Earth government for sending them on a seemingly fruitless quest of planetary explorations. The game allowed players to control an assault suit, as well as pilot their suit in various levels. Also, players could outfit their weapons, especially considering the nature of the mission at hand. Players could operate in space and fight in different environments, such as a space station, mountains, and an underground base. The ultimate goal is to head back to Earth and take it back from the enemy force.
In 1993, Cybernator arrived for the SNES. Once again, a 16-bit sidescrolling shmup, players took to their assault suits in events, preceding the war in Target: Earth. As a massive Civil War engulfs the Earth, players stop at nothing to take down the oppositional forces. While similar to Target Earth, Cybernator introduced power-ups for the weapons, instead of choosing an arsenal at the beginning of each stage. Your weapon was a multi-launcher and could switch between Vulcan bullets, beam lasers, and homing missiles. The game also features similar, but completely different levels, from an asteroid field to a burning capital city. The game was also known for its soundtrack for the time. Both games were lauded for their presentation and gameplay, which has been tremendously influential on future mech combat games, as well as shmups.
Released in July this year, Assault Suit Leynos was published by Rising Star Games and is a full remake of Target: Earth. The developers, Dracue Software, worked on Workhound EX and used their interesting mix of animations and gameplay to fully bring this classic to life. The result is one of the best arcade shooting games that players can play this year, as the remake fully embraces the game’s historical nature, and makes the game incredible.
The plot in Assault Suit LEynos remains the same as Target: Earth. A massive cybernetic force emerges from the depths of space and penetrates the solar system. A number of Earth’s forces are decimated in swift military actions. However, deep in the Solar System, on one of Jupiter’s moons, a reserve force stands by, oblivious to the chaos around them, until the enemy turns their sights on them. Seeing this declaration of war, the assault suits of Jupiter stage their counterattack in a one-shot effort to save the Earth.
Players will utilize their assault suit, an advance mech capable of dishing out a solid amount of firepower while offering significant protection and maneuverability. Players will need to jump, use their shield, maneuver their boosters, and of course, fire their primary weapons to successfully defeat the enemy and rank up their high score. The starting level will have you defending your base from an invading force, which includes a destroyer-class ship and a variety of assault suits. The second level will have players defending a convoy en route to an escape shuttle. The following levels include wiping out a space fleet, destroying an underground base, and securing the leading point on an assault.
Players will unlock a variety of weapons and options for their suit. This includes armor plating, bazookas, grenade launchers, and missiles.Additionally, armor plating will be unlocked and can be selected as well. Choosing your tools and weapons is paramount for survival, especially on higher challenges. Each level will present its own challenges, enemies, and various ranges in difficulty. After getting the hang of the game, the game opens up into an absolutely hardcore and wild experience.
The game evokes a combination of old and new. For me, it felt as if I was six years old again, fighting the enemy head-on in the Assault Suit. Assault Suit Leynos is quite fast but incredible to look at. Machines guns, lasers, and bazooka shells pop off the screen, flying across towards the enemy The enemy comes in a variety of forms, but their defeat and subsequent explosions are absolutely satisfying. As the game is quick, I found myself jumping, boosting, shooting, and defending myself all at the same time. Switching weapon on the fly, I was able to forge my own tactics, such as using the shotgun to take down enemy soldiers in the front. The gameplay, while simple and easy to master, is met with the great challenge of the enemy. From tank-like mechs to massive battleships, Assault Suit Leynos doesn’t hold back on the challenge. In level three, in particular, I found myself defending the mothership against a massive wave of enemy forces, which included assault suits, massive war machines, and even a highly-dangerous battleship, all the while protecting myself from the dangers of atmospheric entry, as the battle took place just above the Earth. Assault Suit Leynos is a tremendous experience! The result is a highly rewarding game that will greatly satisfy arcade enthusiasts and shmup aficionados.
The gameplay, while simple and easy to master, is met with the great challenge of the enemy. From tank-like mechs to massive battleships, Assault Suit Leynos doesn’t hold back on the challenge. In level three, in particular, I found myself defending the mothership against a massive wave of enemy forces, which included assault suits, massive war machines, and even a highly-dangerous battleship, all the while protecting myself from the dangers of atmospheric entry, as the battle took place just above the Earth. Assault Suit Leynos is a tremendous experience! The result is a highly rewarding game that will greatly satisfy arcade enthusiasts and shmup aficionados.
The presentation of Assault Suit Leynos is absolutely stunning as well, evoking that sensation of side-scrolling visuals from the 16-bit era of games, while also having a modern spin on how the game looks. Visually, the game absolutely nails the colors and looks of arcade games of the early 1990’s. The animations and illustrations appear to have been painted or hand-brushed screen. Each level as multiple layers, with plenty of activity happening in the background as well and the foreground. The particle effects are tremendous as well, as the fire of your heavy machine gun has a distinct visual feel. When using the machine gun, as well as the other weapons, they feel strong and look fantastic, making a satisfying feel for the eyes, especially when engaged with difficult hostiles.
Assault Suit Leynos features originally composed music for the game, which again evokes a culture from decades ago. Around the time of Target: Earth, mech anime, such as Robotech and Gundam Wing, filled the televisions screens, with their incredible orchestrations, jazz, and guitars. Assault Suit Leynos features an amazing soundtrack that emphasizes the stakes at large, as well as the tenacity of the battle that you will encounter. The story is told in Japanese with subtitles, giving life to the situation at hand.
Assault Suit Leynos is a wonderful update on an incredible, historical video game. It maintains its roots while spinning a new view for modern gamers. From its incredibly polished gameplay to its nostalgic presentation, Assault Suit Leynos is a great game for old and new gamers alike.
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