Target Earth (video game)
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| Target Earth/Assault Suits Leynos | |
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| Developer(s) | NCS Corp |
| Publisher(s) | DreamWorks |
| Release date(s) | US March 16, 1990 / Japan 1990 |
| Genre(s) | platform game, action game |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Platform(s) | Sega Mega Drive / Sega Genesis |
| Media | 2 megabit cartridge |
| Input | Control pad |
Target Earth (Assault Suits Leynos or Jūsō Kihei Reinosu; 重装機兵レイノス in Japan) is a video game developed by NCS in 1990 for the Sega Genesis and the Sega Mega Drive. It is the first game of the Assault Suits series.
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[edit] Overview
Target Earth is about Earth's outcasts returning from space to attack all of spaces galactic outposts. The earth's defense league fought for survival in a galactic cyborg war. The battle would begin in Ganymede. The game would alternate between battle in space, the atmosphere, the earth and enemy outposts.
[edit] Gameplay
Much of the games mechanics fall inline with a platform game. Depending on how well you performed in the previous stage, you were rewarded with more weapons and ammo in the next stage. The game did feature 15 weapons, which was considered a lot of firepower for a platform game in the early 90s. Adding accessories like shields, armors and hover packs, the game would add replay value depending on what you bring to battle.
[edit] Fan base
Some fans consider it as one of the hardest games ever, but a good game nontheless. The game featured some of the best parallax effects on the Mega Drive/Genesis system during the period of the game's release. Target Earth filled a void at a time when franchised Robotech-like video games were virtually nonexistent in the US.
[edit] Trivia
- The game is labeled as one player, however you can control the enemies with the 2nd player controller.
- Upon finishing the US version of Target Earth, the very final credit roll screen will show the Japanese name "Assault Suits Leynos".
- Unknown to the common public, Target Earth received a sequel that went by the name of Cybernator. Cybernator was released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment system, which was one of the reasons why the games may have been considered separate entities. The true game names made more sense though, with Target Earth's being "Assault Suit Leynos", and Cybernator's being "Assault Suit Valken". Although the American names were different, the games possessed a lot of similarities. Much of the mecha and technology seemed to have similar roots, as did the gameplay mechanics. Both games were also story driven by way of text being displayed at the bottom of the screen entailing conversations between characters.
Target Earth and Cybernator shared a number of common themes:
- Both featured variable weapons systems that the player could equip while on the fly. Additionally, there was 360 degree (or close to it) aiming, and the ability to engage in aerial or Zero-G combat.
- The enemy in both games was predominantly colored green.
- Both games offered mission briefings and interaction/involvement with NPCs (Non-Player Characters). This helped to convey the notion that the Player was involved in an actual war, and wasn't so much a one-man army. Although simple in nature, the support of friendly mecha or a fly-by made by friendly aircraft served to help with immersion.
- Both games pitted the protagonist against a formidable nemesis who would plague the Player until the final level.
- The ending of both games brought about the destruction of the player's Assault Suit.
- There were a number of instances involving similar levels: Zero-G combat culminating in a battle with an enemy artillery-ship, a free fall drop to Earth with the Player fighting the enemy on the way down, Zero-G combat pitting the Player against massive enemy warships, underground assaults on enemy bases to destroy heavy/secret weapons, a final battle involving a confrontation with the "nemesis" and later the "political leader" of the enemy forces.
[edit] Screenshots
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