January (20 Games Beaten)
Assault Suit Leynos is not a long game by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a fun game. It's not an easy game once you get towards the end, but it is an accessible game. Because this game took me only 2 hours or so to beat, I'm not going to have a whole great deal to share about it, but as it kind of flew under the radar for the most part, I want to give it a quick plug here.
This game is a straight remake of the Genesis original (called Target Earth in North America). Fortunately it didn't get the censorship treatment this time around (you get to see your BFF burn to a crisp in the atmosphere in this release). Now I've never actually played Target Earth, so I can't compare the two. I did, however, get a good bit of enjoyment out of this remake. You've got three difficulties from which to choose - Easy, Normal, and Hard - and it's forgiving with the extra lives (in that they're infinite). There are also checkpoints spread relatively liberally throughout the levels, so if you die after beating a sub-boss, you can start up after that boss. This is ESPECIALLY helpful on the last level which has six sub-bosses, then the final boss, then an additional three phase sub-boss just to fuck with you.
There are eight stages in the game, and the last level is a BITCH. Even on easy it kicked my ass up and down the street. I mean, granted, I'm bad at video games, but still, it's hard as shit, man. I'll briefly break down why it's tough in the spoiler tag for those interested.
It's a worthwhile game for those who enjoy horizontal arcade shooters, especially with its $20 price tag. There's not an enormous amount of content or replay value, but it is super cool to see a remake of a 26 year old Genesis game get a retail release on the PlayStation 4.
