Assault Suit Leynos
Overview -
The name 'Assault Suit Leynos' might not sound familiar to North American gamers, but it's actually a remake of the 1990 Sega Genesis title 'Target Earth.' The action shooter was applauded at the time for great music, a complex battle system and for having an actual storyline. Now over 25 years later, developer Dracue Software has remade the classic title for PlayStation 4.
Video Review
'Assault Suit Leynos' might not be super detailed like other 2D titles for PlayStation 4, but it does a really great job of evoking the original title's visuals. Everything from the backgrounds to the character designs has been redrawn and it looks much better. As someone who played the Genesis title (albeit sparingly), I got a real kick out of getting to see a modern day interpretation of what was going on. Those without nostalgia won't leave impressed, but it gets the job done.
Audio Review
One part of 'Target Earth' that has aged well is the music. Both the original arrangements and remixed versions can be played. There isn't a bad choice as both provide great fast-paced rock infused themes that are a perfect fit for battling dozens of mechas.
There's also full voice acting for all of the dialogue. This is great since mission objectives change depending on performance and this helped me focus on the action instead of reading subtitles. I was also pleasantly surprised by the acting quality, as the actors always appropriately conveyed a sense of despair when a ship was destroyed. This helped the story come to life, even if it isn't a particularly captivating tale in 2016.
Final Thoughts
Fans of 'Target Earth' will find a lot to like in 'Assault Suit Leynos.' It's just as rewarding as the Genesis original, and the game has never looked better. Those without a sense of nostalgia won't find as much here to appreciate though, as even on easy difficulty its extremely difficult. This is one remake that has stayed too true to the original, as it plays harsh by modern day standards.
