Assault Suit Series Retrospective: These Games Were Way Ahead of Their Time
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 พ.ย. 2024
- Join me, Kei-Nova, on an extraordinary adventure through the expansive history of the Assault Suit series. Spanning over 33 years across multiple platforms, this series may not be widely recognized, but its impact is undeniable. From the awe-inspiring Assault Suit Leynos to the forward-thinking Assault Suits Valken, these games have often gone unnoticed, despite their brilliance. It's time to shine a spotlight on them.
As we explore every single release in-depth, I'll share my thoughts and insights with you. Together, we'll uncover the untapped potential and hidden treasures of the Assault Suit series. Join me on this exciting journey through gaming history as we leave no stone unturned.
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The games in this video are:
Assault Suit Leynos/Target Earth (GENESIS)
Assault Suits Valken/Cybernator (SNES/SUPER FAMICON/eSHOP/SWITCH)
Assault Suits Valken REMAKE (PS2)
Assault Suit Leynos 2 (Sega Saturn)
Assault Suits Valken 2 (Playstation)
Assault Suit Leynos REMAKE (PC/PS4)
MUSIC CREDITS:
Retrofuturistic Space Atrium by Jesse Spillane is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License.
Sci Fi Jungle_Lisa Hammer.mp3 by Lisa Hammer is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
You got a lot of stuff wrong with Cybernator. Weapon upgrades aren't really random, you find them in containers around stages and after you destroy a certain number of enemies, that vary by stage. Also, there is totally an aim lock, they call it hold, you can even set a control option to shoot/hold if you want. Also with weapon upgrades, any upgrade you pickup will upgrade the weapon you are equipped with.
Anyway, if you want a game similar to this series but not, check out Hardcore Mecha, which I see others have mentioned.
ANother game that's in the vein of the Assault Suit series (but you'll have to hunt down through piracy because it got delisted from steam) is Armored Hunter Gunhound EX
Also to get the good ending you dont need to "kill every enemy in a stage"... you just have to prevent the asteroid fortress crashing on earth, prevent the missle to get away in stage 5 and destroy all AA guns in stage 6 before they can damage your carrier to much.. basically mission objectives for the stages
The whole impression of his review of Cybernator is "this guy just sucks at this game." 😅
$150
Man did I wish this line to continue. I only played Cybernator, actually bought it way later as a teenager on a flee market, because I only borrowed it and didn't complete it when I was a kid for my SNES.
They really do need to keep it going, I totally agree! Maybe the re-release of Assault Suits Valken/Switch on Switch will help with that?
@@KeiNova I thought the same thing. Let's hope.
I have a great fondness for the Assault Suit series, the mech suits themselves (especially the Leynos), but also the setting which for me combines some of the better elements of the Gundam franchise and the Armored Trooper Votoms franchise, two anime IPs that inspired the developers of Assault Suit Leynos and Assault Suit Valken. (I am really glad that the series in general skips on anything like Perfect Soldiers)
I really wish this franchise had been more successful and continued, perhaps also getting its own 3D releases in the style of the Gundam games on the Playstation or the Armored Trooper Votoms game on the PS2.
And that it had its own manga's or anime series.
BTW, if not mentioned yet, some of the developers would be involved in the development of the Front Mission series, and couple of them worked on the Front Mission spin off Gun Hazard.
This is the reason why the two games may feel very similar to you when you decide to play Front Mission Gun Hazard.
In a way Gun Hazard is a more refined version of Assault Suit Valken with more locations and additional mechs and equipment.
Edit: a while back I bought the models of the Leynos and the Valken released by Plum. Looking forwards to see them assembled.
I really wish this series had continued as well. Sadly, I think that perhaps the titling of the originals might have been why it wasn't brought over. Not a lot of people know that Target Earth of Cybernator are censored versions of Leynos and Valken, so the audience wouldn't have been there. I really found some new favorites doing this video, and I totally understand your love for it!
I'd love to get those model sets. Sadly, they are very expensive - at least from what I've seen. I sadly have to keep on with my Gundam model kids for now.
@@KeiNova This one of those cases in which a re-naming of a series resulted in a game franchise not getting more awareness, putting an undeserving early end to it.
The Plum models are indeed expensive and I had to think for a while if I really wanted these as I also would like to have bought the AT Votoms figures from Max factory.
I don't have an interest in the designs from Gundam (not really sold on the gladiator and samurai like looks) so I did not have the difficulty in have to choose from three different production lines.
The size of the AT Votoms figures and how expensive they have become made me choose the Assault Suit line.
I see that online stores are taking preorders for the Leynos 2 Saturn Tribute for Switch and PS5 for $25 to $28. I’m tempted to dip my toes into this as I liked the original game on the Genesis.
I did not know that was coming out. Thanks so much for the info. Leynos 2 is probably the best entry.
I am really looking forward to this. Ever since I saw a longplay of Leynos 2, it’s been on my list of “watch for remakes.” I probably could’ve figured out some way to emulate it, but given how much of a pain it was to set up a PS1 emulator, I wasn’t interested.
I remember playing Target Earth as a kid and how that game felt so different from everything else. Ally troops and ships coming in to assist and actually doing something, not just background pieces. The way they could take damage and die independent of a scripted event, and combined with the constant waves of enemies, it felt like you were actually in a warzone. You were just one of countless soldiers that all could have been the hero. Now if only they'd make a modern game in this style with twin stick controls
I hate to say it, but it would honestly make for a great multiplayer experience.
@@KeiNovaFun fact, if you plugged in player 2, they could take over control of NPCs
Sick series tbh. Btw, Assault Suits Leynos 2 is getting a modern port to all systems in City Connection's Saturn Tribute series, due 2024 I believe
Oh god, I really hope so! I'd love that.
It has been on Steam (in English) for a couple months now. The PS and Switch releases are out in Japan.
Love these games been a fan since Cybernator, I'm lucky enough to own a few model kits, and bought a Saturn just to import and play Leynos 2.
If you liked these, check out Front Mission Gun Hazard for Super Famicom, and Ranger-X for Genesis
I am definitely interested in Gun Hazard, I just am trying to review the whole series (hopefully) in a handful of videos. Ranger-X I've never heard of before, thank you! Added it to the Trello.
Leynos is really ahead of its time, its movement, story, environment, bosses, sophisticated weapon systems, anime style.
Certain was, and I have to say - I need to do a newer and better video on this series.
@@KeiNova a remastered Leynos 2 is comig out soon.
I looked into that and sadly, it's only coming to JP Switch Store as part of their 'Saturn Classics' lineup. @@dschdsch4388
@@KeiNova I think it's coming out in the u.s. I will let you knof if I know in detail.
@@dschdsch4388 Yeah hopefully the in game dialogue and mission objectives are translated.
I so vant the entire Assault Suit Series in a big collection on the Switch, especially Assault Suit Valken 2 and Assault Suit Leynos 2.
Me too, I'd love a translation of both and to be able to experience the whole 'saga' properly, so to speak.
Same here, as well as digital versions of any guides and art books.
Sounds like something for M2 to do
06:04 - Jake was drafted into the marines when he was 22 and war broke out when he finished training. His motivation was simply to do his job as a soldier and survive the war.
Thank you, I appreciate the information. This is an older video done on massive time constraints, I may do it again.
@@KeiNova I'd be very interested. Particularly what you'd have to say about ROMs that try to restore features from the original Japanese version of ASV, like restoring parts of the story, and not having the action stop for dialogues
A good look over the series. I recently brought the remake on the switch and I'm getting there. Keep up the good work Nova.
It's hard as nails, but weirdly, as I said, isn't actually the first english translation as it says. I hope you enjoy it, it's a remaster of the SNES Valken/Cybernator and that game looked amazing. Nintendo seems to really want that game; they even had it re-released on the eShop of the Wii and Wii U for a long time. I just don't think the 80-page guidebook, some extra lines, and portraits really make it worthwhile or different. The game they really need to bring back is Leynos 2, that thing was a gem!
@@KeiNovaI bought cybernator on the snes after renting it once. It was a really good game.
@@KeiNovaIn the Japanese version, I believe the president 86's himself by painting the wall behind him red & grey matter.
@@KeiNovaUm, I could be wrong, but I remember there being an aim lock button on the snes.
Cybernator on the Super Nintendo was the my introduction to the series and damn, what a challenging yet defeatable game! I spent hours as a thirteen year old moving through it and learning from each defeat.
I don't think I had enough time here, I was pretty green with videos and decided to beat a ton in one week and record and script. It didn't really give the games a proper opinion.
@@KeiNova don't get me wrong, I think your video was great and you introduced me to games in the series that I didn't know existed. Well done all around and keep at it, you've got talent.
Ah, Cybernator. I still remeber every secret and boss strategy. Lovley game.
This channel has huge potential, don't drop it please.
I'm not, I promise! I just hurt my back and got sick all at once this week. I have a video being posted tomorrow night.
Assault Suit Valken on ps2 was release in Europe too. We can select both the PAL 50hz or NTSC 60hz when starting the game
Only in Europe and Japan actually, never in North America.
Big Big-Wedge vibes; fantastic retrospective.
Thank you so much, I worked really hard on this one! And yep! The mecha stuff is still going to be coming strong :) Really happy you enjoyed!
I saw that assault suit leynos 2 is now on pc, xbox, and other platforms now.
I'm going to have to get it and practically redo this whole video 😂
Assault Suit Leynos 2 looks dope!! (i have those aesthetics over ps2 Valken style any day, btw)
ASL2 was amazing, honestly. I have no idea why it wasn't brought over - even as a platformer, it outclasses so many other games at the time and long after. A shame, really!
@@KeiNova It is pretty tough though. I have been playing it but unlocking extra weapons is tricky.
Great stuff. If you like these kinds of games, you should try Gigantic Army, Hardcore Mecha and allegedly, Front Mission Alternative was the spiritual successor to Assault Suit Valken on SNES. Metal Warriors by LucasArts is also a banger on SNES. If you can find it, Dracue's Gunhound EX is a much better take then their followup, the ASL remake.
Thank you for all the suggestions, I've wrote them all down. Its so cool to see so many people into mecha games! I wish there was more of us.
"Front Mission Alternative" The game you're thinking of is Front Mission: Gun Hazard. Alternative was a real-time tactics title for the Playstation.
@@spyrelle3970 Thanks! You're right on.
@@Sklabah No worries.
I have to second all these. Metal Warriors in particular is very interesting because you can get out and change mechs, kind of like Shogo or Titanfall. It completely changes how the stages are played and adds an interesting strategic element that no series, as far as I know, has capitalized on.
I have all these on my steamdeck. The remake included. I also have the remake of PS5. I bought it twice.
That's really cool. The stramdeck seems like a great device.
Metal Warriors on the SNES which, although NOT part of the Assault Suit series looks a lot like those games and in many ways fixes the issues associated with them. I started with Metal Warriors and now in trying to play some of the Assault Suit Leynos/Vulkan games I struggle with some of the control and design choices of these games. I recommend Metal Warriors if you like these games and want something a little more accessible.
I'm actually thinking about getting to this one soon, seems like a fun one.
I've always found Valken 1 easier than Leynos 1 because you can just block the majority of the damage coming your way (RIP the auto-scrolling sections) and you can lock your aiming in place. Then again, I grew up with Cybernator, just like how you grew up with Target Earth.
Also, although enemies do randomly drop energy chips in Valken 1, the majority of the chips you will get are from the same boxes that will always be in the same spots. The game's difficulty curve DOES expect you to find most of them though (you want at least enough to upgrade the Vulcan and Laser).
I'm going to be perfectly honest, I never thought to use the shield for those auto-scrolling sections and that would have made life way easier. I couldn't seem to lock my aim in place at all, I tried everything. Not even in the PS2 version.
@@KeiNova You can't use the shield during the auto-scrollers, but most of the projectiles in them don't hurt you much. For the missiles in stage 2 you can either shoot them down or manipulate them to crash into the bigger asteroids, that way you only need to tank the lasers.
You just need to hold L to lock your aim, that should definitely help you kill the stage 2 boss quicker.
The saturn verison of assault suit leynos 2 is on Steam btw.
Yes, I really need to grab it soon!
My bro talking about Leynos, have a follow!
Appreciate it!
Not sure what kind of version you have, but the Leynos remake does have achievements on Steam. 35 of them.
That's also kinda odd that your LG just instantly ran out of ammo. Sounds like a bug that I've never seen.
When I downloaded it, there wasn't any achievements. I thought it was weird. Now, looking at it - you are right, there are 35 achievements now? Strange!
@@KeiNova Perhaps it was patched?
@@Chaosian it may have been
I appreciate this retrospective, but I think you’re seriously missing the fun of Valken/Cybernator. I suggest spending a lot more time with it. There’s a secret weapon in the game that makes it a lot easier to complete.
To get it, you simply have to beat the first boss without destroying any other enemies on the stage, including the gun turrets at the end. Your score will be 2,800. If it’s any higher you’ve done it wrong and it won’t unlock.
You can even make it upgradable, if you can defeat only the second stage boss without accidentally getting any points in that stage as well. This is a lot more difficult and involves a very specific route. It’s tough, but I’ve done it myself.
There’s a lot more to say about Valken/Cybernator, but this comment is long enough Check out the developer interview on the Switch version. He talks about the original vision for Valken, and if they’d been able to complete THAT game it really would’ve been revolutionary for the time.
I have to agree, this retrospective is lacking. I just haven't quite got the time to get back at it. When I was writing this, I had packed on all the games in a short amount of time. I plan on giving the games individual attention sooner or later, I've just got a lot of titles I'm going through. Though, often people want me to keep my old stuff like this up - so I decided. to.
Thanks so much for watching and I'll follow that secret weapon tactic when I play, I never even knew about it, but I'll give it a shot for sure. I'll probably also play the Switch version next time around.
@@KeiNova I didn’t know about the secret weapon, either, and I’ve been playing the game since it came out. I could be wrong, but I don’t think it was known until much later. I mean it wasn’t even in Nintendo Power or anything. And I don’t remember anyone ever posting it in a GameFAQ when I first got into emulation in the mid to late 90s.
Loving your channel and I've subscribed. As far as Genesis goes I highly recommend you check out Ranger X. Criminally underrated mecha action game
I have been suggested that before! So, I'm definitely going to be checking that out and a lot of genesis mech games. Honestly, didn't expect there to be so much coming from Sega Systems.
There is an aiming lock button in Valken/Cybernator, though.. If you don't know about it, no wonder you had trouble with it.
Still, nice video!
I'm thinking about redoing all of this and exploring the games properly. I think I might have just been overwhelmed by playing so many games at once to appreciate all the features.
In Japan, the PS2 remake of Assault Suits Valken is considered a kusoge.
Really? I'd never have guessed. Those who know of the game seem to see it as one of the best Mecha platformers ever.
Wait I'm pretty Valken did have an aim-lock button, it should be L since R is your shield
And for the Good Ending, you only can't fail missions but you don't have to destroy every single enemy to get it
It isn't quite aim-lock. AS Valken still moves when you push it, the direction is locked but the character wasn't. I still need to re-look at these games because this video showed how green I was at the time and I didn't exactly have the time to really give these games 100 percent attention all-round. Still keepin' it up for... posterity, I guess.
Nice video. I'm a big fan of the series. I love the ASL remake tbh. I would love a port of ASL2 on Switch.
The ASL remake is pretty okay, it had a lot of issues but I ended up ranking everything to max so it shows how much I played it lol I think I was rank 65 in the video! Haha xD.
Playing through the series though, I became a huge fan. I really hope we get ASL2 as well, it's the best one
about Cybernator/Valken it is easier than you make it sound, but most of the difficulty comes from being underpowered unless you know where to seek out all the gun power upgrades in every stage and know the best order to pick them up, so you are completely right about it feeling unbalanced unless you know exactly what to do. It is a very arcade-y game compared to Target Earth. Lots of trial and error and memorization.
All of that sounds extremely stressful and more difficult than even I could hope to think. That being said, I need to replay the game and do a more fleshed out review and I'm going to fully take your advice into consideration (as in, I'm probably going to use it). Thanks so much for the comment!
This was a good video, I had considered something like this myself after seeing how cool Leynos 2 looked, but the games are pretty tough. Not much to add besides consider checking out the Heavy Gear games, they're similar in the high action, faster pace of Assault suits
I'll give them a look, thank you for the suggestion.
Metal Warriors is my favorite SNES game of all
Thats awesome, I'm happy for you.
Mech content? Yes sir I like your stuff, newly subscribed!
Thanks, and certainly will be improving as time goes on.
If you like valken you'd likely really like front mission gun hazard, also on super famicom, there was a huge overlap in developers
I've got so many suggestions for that, I really need to find it and cover it ASAP. Thanks for the suggestion, it might have teetered me towards a review in the coming weeks.
@@KeiNova its one of those games id really like to have a modern rerelease of. The soundtrack is really really good too, that squaresoft 16 bit ost is to die for. Your best bet as a westerner is probably going to be finding the Aeon Genesis fan translation. It leans heavy on the RPG side.
cybernator looks like front mission gun hazard
It really does, I agree.
Cool video! Target Earth might be my fav Genesis game....i know it was pretty popular in Japan, but unfortunately underrated here in North America (maybe because it's pretty hard?)...i find using control mode B makes for excellent gameplay (it's just so intuitive, i'm not sure why it wasn't the default control setting). I tried Cybernator (i have it on my hacked SNES Classic), but it just didn't grab me like Target Earth did. Glad to see someone else who appreciates Target Earth (also, it's excellent box art could've been the album cover for a heavy metal album lol).
Yeah, Assault Suit Leynos/Target Earth was really a hidden gem for me. It has a lot of features one wouldn't expect from a game released so long ago. I'm glad you enjoyed it as well and I totally agree about that cover! I might try the other control scheme, I haven't yet.
@@KeiNova " I might try the other control scheme" - ya, it allows you to fix the angle of your gun, so you can just set it what angle you want and leave it there, and then adjust (for different parts of the level) as needed....doesn't change the 'zero gravity levels' control much, though.
Good vid,🤔🤔 But why wasn't "Metal Warroirs" on Snes wasn't mentioned in this vid?
It isn't part of the Assault Suit series.
@@KeiNova Mmm, I see.🤔🤔🤔
@@Tsarisgreat Its on my backlog though, I'll be checking it out sooner or later!
Assult suit 2 is now on steam with english translation!!
I know! I really can't wait to get the money to buy it!
@@KeiNova I think it's only 20 bucks or close to that. Fucking get it lol
@@derickmiller6875 don't have $20, friend! Got kids and it's back to school time. 😂 When I have it, I'll get it!
@KeiNova so do I. No excuse, lmao. Times are hard. Get when ya can, dude.
Laynos 2 coming to the west, soon!
Yeah! Already released! Soon as I get the money, I'm re-doing all of this video!
@@KeiNova I think a review on the new release will be more than enought.
Good audio. Good editing. Good topic choice. Decent speaking voice. Yeea keep it up man. Love muh mechs and this is grade A gunpla/ plamo building advice. May I suggest a look at the aleste series aka musha on Sega genesis?
Gunpla/plamo building video*.
Oh and I'd say try to make your thumbnails more unique to their subject. I like your thumbnail but it all looks like a purple mass.
Thank you for the compliments, I'm working on some better voice overs. My health just failed as I was getting into the swing of things. Definitely can work on these thumbnails, and I'll look up the Musha/Aleste games. I have seen Musha at one point or another, I think.
front mission gun hazard and gigantic army
I am planning on doing a big thing on the Front Mission series in multiple parts as soon as I can find a legit english patch for FM1 that doesn't crash the game.
I actually enjoyed Leynos remake for the PS4. You should have delved a little bit into the universe of the series. Albeit not very different compared to those of any Sunrise's IPs, it's still worth getting into. Pity we won't get that Valken remake for playstation. :/
I should have delved into the Universe more, definitely. It was just hard to play through five games in a week and do a full-dive on any one of them. I also was completely burnt out by the end. I didn't like the PS4 version at all at first, but it grew on me a bit as I wrote this review. It is still really flawed though, and stiff as can be. The unlockables made no sense, and most of them should have just been game features. The art was also not too great. Its just my views on it, I'm glad you enjoyed. I just wish it would have been less cartoony.
You think Cybernator is an awful title for a 90s mech video game?!?
Definitely, but I understand the market they were aiming for.
I thought Metal warrior from Lucas Art was the sequel to Cybernator
Nah, but it was a great game nonetheless
@@KeiNova I know that now .
But back then ,they were very similar games with similar game play .
I enjoyed both
watch "AD Police: The man who bit his tongue"..... xP
I just looked it up and I'm not sure if you were joking, but it looks like something I'd see.
@@KeiNova Yeah, the man in the "robocop suit" kind of looks like an assault suit Vulkan. hehehe
90% off on the PlayStation store right now.
The remake, yes. Can confirm.
Massive limitations of the Genesis..what?! You do realize the Genesis was on par with the Snes, right? No, your first assessment was correct in that the year was 1990, and the Genesis was barely a year old. The best we had by that point was Ghouls n' Ghosts and maybe the "impossible port" Strider. Both games were drop-dead gorgeous in their day but were severely upstaged by the beginning of 1991...when Sega met Nintendo head on but I digress...
Now, if we're being fair here, I think we should be comparing games from the same year under 16-bit war dynamics. I would say Thunder Force IV (1992) vs. Assault Suit Leynos (1992) would be more fitting. Both games are stone cold stunners. What do you think?
Addendum- I grew up with a Sega Genesis/Sega CD and Snes. As a teenager, I was about who brought me the best games. Sorry, when you talked about the Genesis in 1990 as some severely limited thing, it really rubbed me the wrong way. I would have done the same thing if you had said something similar about the Snes.
When I make a game about the SNES, which was released two years after the Genesis, I'll make sure to mention it. But, compared to anything now - yeah, it was serious limitations. Compared to PC. I was talking about how impressive it was, and yeah, its limited. Who cares. Thats what makes it impressive so long after.
🤖🤖🤖
Haha thank you!
Looks like heavy arms
Sorry heavy gear. Similar mech designs.
Heavy Arms? What's that? Sorry, just asking. (You've reminded me, I eventually have to re-do this series because this review needed work)
@@KeiNova sorry I meant Heavy gear.
Nice video, but "The Saturn was well known for its pixelation and stretching issues"? I have literally never heard anyone say this in my entire life. As an owner of almost the entire 1100+ game library I'm going to have to say this is a complete untruth in every way. Perhaps you meant something else that didn't come across clearly?
I meant the sprite warping that was used for a lot of games, that caused a lot of pixelation issues. I think it gives a lot of Saturn games a distinctive look, and I don't mind it, but there was a lot of it that was used to portray distance and location. It was a neat trick, but I didn't mean to say anything untrue at all. I love the Saturn and own a boatload of games too.
it had warping of 3d like in nights. 2d was arcade perfect
Is the stretching the Saturn's ability to zoom or scale in and out, like in the game Metal Black? Something both the PS1 and N64 couldn't do. @@KeiNova
is this related to "metal warriors"?
Nope, not at all. Valken does look a bit similar though.
@@KeiNova oh i see, thanks! i looking for something like metal warriors where you can get out of the mech and play as a pilot I LOVE that concept so much
@@RafaelCabreraAzrael The only few games I know that do that are Shogo on PC or MechAssault 2 on the original Xbox. Its a good concept for sure, but extremely rare.
You … you almost had to cheat against that one boss in ASV did you not figure out the strat but you still won 😂
Old video. Lots of weirdness and that going on. Thanks for reminding me I need to do these games again. And no, as I recall I blunt forced my way through and got lucky.
Assault Suit Valken is so much better than Assault Suit Leynos…and the Leynos remake is just miserable in its difficulty.
Graphically, that is certainly true and it's a fair opinion.
@@KeiNova It just "feels" like you're piloting a mech (as much as a side-scrolling 16bit game will allow). I never got that feeling with Leynos and with the smallness of the mech-on screen it just doesn't feel as weighty.
Leynos 2 is coming to Switch I believe at some point in 2024, so I'm looking forward to trying that one!
Nah. Leynos is better, in my opinion.
Valken gets significantly easier if you unlock the Napalm gun. Just dash through the first level without killing anything but the boss and you'll unlock it. 😉
I need to replay the game in general
Dude, you sucking real bad at Cybernator (which is evident the moment you start showing the footage) is your fault and your fault alone. Don`t blame the controls.
It was a notoriously difficult game to control. Your opinion has been noted, thank you.