So, I know what you are thinking. What is Assault Suit Leynos 2 Saturn Tribute? This game was originally released for the Sega Saturn in 1997. A direct sequel to Assault Suit Leynos, and the third in the Assault Suit series. City Connection then announced a re-release in 2023 as part of its Saturn Tribute series. Assault Suit Leynos 2 Saturn Tribute would then be released in April 2024 and stay a Japanese exclusive outside of the PC (Steam) release.
Well, that is all about to change now with the title being released on March 21, marking the first time that this classic has officially come to the west on console. The real question is whether or not this port was needed at all. After all, there are plenty of options for fans to get ahold of a classic game. So, is this re-release warranted at all?
Dropping Into a Situation
Assault Suit Leynos 2 follows the 12th Special Assault Suits Squad, a group of mecha pilots known for disobeying orders. The ragtag group includes; Kyle, Eddy, Maria, and Dolph as they fight against the Zeneth Empire for the Sanraal Republic whether or not they want them to. So, akin to most classic games this story is delivered between each mission using scrolling text. However, it feels inconsequential as things just happen to the team. They are sent from mission to mission without caring why the mission is even important.
This fits in with how the 12th SAS Operates, moving from mission to mission, even extending to in-game text boxes that play during sections of each mission. Paint them as going with the flow and running ahead serving as a good excuse to give you urgency. It just makes the story feel like an afterthought, as I am left here writing this struggling to recall minor plot points since they felt inconsequential. Outside of the gameplay, it’s hard to really feel there is substance.
However, I don’t think anybody will be playing for the story. In fact, there were times that I had wished I could skip certain text boxes outside of mashing accept. Even a fast-forward would have been appreciated rather than the more mundane rewind feature. That way, I could skip story sections after I had played more than once.
Assaulting the Planet
So, how does a mission actually work once you are released to the battlefield? The squad is given some kind of objective, usually to eradicate all foes on the battlefield. Then you spend time customizing your Assault Suit, which is where the game feels the most unique. The system allows you to choose weapons, armor, power distribution, and even Assault Suit bodies. Each of these parts can be unlocked depending on what goals you manage to accomplish during the mission. For the most part, I’ve noticed score and time are what unlock most of the parts as you progress through the game.
The best part is that other than some clear upgrades per weapon and body group there is no wrong way to build an Assault Suit. For instance, I preferred using slow and heavy suits that allowed me to tank damage., while you might prefer a light speedier model that prevents the enemy from attacking from behind. The choice is ours to make. This turns the rather short and generic stages into something greater, as I wound up attempting different builds to see what I would prefer at each stage. Stages themselves however are pretty short and simple to clear. The most defining aspect is that they use bullet hell strategies.
You will be dodging enemy fire nearly constantly, so if you aren’t into that type of game then this will be difficult for you. However, for those who are used to this style of game, this classic is quite possibly a good introduction for your friends who may not be as good as you.
Porting Over Some Troubles
Now I have feared this but what makes this release worth it? Well, honestly I can’t see any features that would be worth the price tag put on the title. When you buy Assault Suit Leynos 2 Saturn Tribute you will essentially buy a straight port of the title. The big features that have been touted by City Connection are rewind, save states, and a digital copy of the game manual. There are no other features that you could gain over obtaining the original copy.
I did also notice some slowdown which only happens when a lot onscreen is going on. This is a conflict as this makes it feel true to life from the original. I would think at least but it would be nice to have it set as an option. City Connection could allow us to emulate the original release, or enhance it using modern technology. This could have been an awesome feature to add to the re-release.
My biggest gripe is that the game looks kind of stretched out at times. There are two video resolutions normal and large. The large follows 4:3 resolution outputs but makes everything look stretched. While normal will make a small square in the middle of your screen. Normal makes the game look much better but doesn’t make full use of the resolution that the PlayStation 5 can output. So, I had the unfortunate choice of making the game look terrible or making it fit into a size that at times I could barely see. Otherwise, I’m in the difficult position of saying that I enjoyed the game immensely but this port has some serious drawbacks.
Where Do We Go From Here
I’m deeply conflicted about Assault Suit Leynos 2 Saturn Tribute, as this port falls short of some of the more recent ports of classic titles. This is no more than the original game wrapped around a lightweight shell to allow for it to run on modern hardware.
This is a game that deserved a better remaster than this one in my opinion. There are so many extra features that could have been added outside of what a bare-bones release could provide. While certain features like language translations can be switched on the fly, Leynos 2 doesn’t add anything more that would make anyone but a hardcore fan able to justify the cost. It’s frustrating, especially as this game is great and I could go back multiple times to play through it again.
Assault Suit Leynos 2 Saturn Tribute emulates the game well enough but doesn’t add anything extra as other similar remasters provide. If you are a fan of the Assault Suit series, this will be an instant buy. However, newer fans may find that this release isn’t what they would expect, especially from a re-release.
Disclaimer: City Connection provided Final Weapon with a PlayStation 5 copy of Assault Suit Leynos 2 Saturn Tribute for review purposes.
