# Target Earth (video game)

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Target_Earth_(video_game)
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Target_Earth_(video_game).md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Target_Earth_(video_game)
> Source revision: 1331459569
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

1990 video game

1990 video game

Target Earth North American box art Developer Masaya Publishers JP: Masaya NA: DreamWorks Platform Sega Genesis Release JP: March 16, 1990 NA: June 1990[1] Genre Run and gun Mode Single-player

***Target Earth***, released in Japan as ***Assault Suit Leynos***[a] is a [run and gun video game](/source/Run_and_gun_video_game) developed by Masaya in 1990 for the [Sega Genesis](/source/Sega_Genesis).[2] It was re-released on the [Wii](/source/Wii)’s [Virtual Console](/source/Virtual_Console), and on the [Nintendo Switch](/source/Nintendo_Switch)'s [Nintendo Classics](/source/Nintendo_Classics).[2] It is the first game in the [*Assault Suits* series](/source/Assault_Suit).

## Plot

In 2201, expanding technologies have given man the power to live anywhere in space. With this backdrop, the story begins with a war between [Earth](/source/Earth) (and its colonies) fighting a cyborg army returning from deep space. In the early stages, the nature or purpose of these cybernetic adversaries, named Chron, is unknown. However, it is later revealed that Chron are the survivors of a failed space expedition (Outer Space Expeditionary Party) sent by Earth one hundred years earlier.

The Earth Defense League fights to defend Earth. Its core is the Assault Suit—a twelve-foot-tall armored battle machine with powerful fighting capabilities. The player is Rex, an Assault Suit Wing commander and master at Assault Suit combat. The battle begins on [Ganymede](/source/Ganymede_(moon)) and shifts to battles in space, on the Earth, and inside enemy outposts.

## Gameplay

*Target Earth* offers 8 stages. Much of the game's mechanics fall in line with those of [horizontal shooters](/source/Shoot_'em_up) with some subdued platforming elements. The player's performance after completing a stage dictates the weapons, armor, and accessories that are unlocked in the next stage. The game features 14 weapons, a lot of firepower in the early 1990s. The assortment of armaments increased replay value by encouraging the player to experiment with ways to defeat enemies.

While the official information for the game indicates that it is only single-player, it is possible for a second player to have limited control over enemy movement and attacks on screen.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Release

Certain scenes in *Target Earth* were censored. For example, a scene in which a comrade does not make it back to the ship in time and burns up in the planet's atmosphere was removed. The romantic relationship between Rex and Leana was downplayed. These scenes were restored in the remake. The Western [localization](/source/Video_game_localization) of the second game in the [Assault Suits series](/source/Assault_Suits_series), *[Cybernator](/source/Cybernator)*, was subject to censorship. The game is included on the Japanese [Mega Drive Mini](/source/Mega_Drive_Mini). The US version is accessible if the system is set to English.

## Reception

Reception

Review scores Publication Score AllGame 3/5[3] Beep! MegaDrive 5.8/10[4] Computer and Video Games 73%[5] Famitsu 5/10, 8/10, 7/10, 6/10[6] Game Informer 8/10[7] Mean Machines Sega 73%[8] VideoGames & Computer Entertainment 6/10[9] Console XS 69/100[10] MegaTech 73%[11] Sega Power 3/5[12] Sega Pro 66/100[13]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding missing information. (July 2025)

The Japanese publication *Micom BASIC Magazine* ranked *Assault Suit Leynos* fourth in popularity in its June 1990 issue, and it received a 8.0967/10 score in a 1995 readers' poll conducted by the Japanese *[Sega Saturn Magazine](/source/Gemaga)*, ranking among Sega Mega Drive titles at the number 97 spot.[14][15] It garnered an average reception from critics.[16][17][18][19]

## Legacy

*[Assault Suit Leynos 2](/source/Assault_Suit_Leynos_2)* was released exclusively for the Sega Saturn in 1997, in Japan only.[20] The gameplay is far more challenging as the shield cannot guard infinitely.

A [remake](/source/Assault_Suit_Leynos_(2015_video_game)) by Dracue Co., Ltd. was released for the PlayStation 4 in Japan in December 2015, and in North America/EU in July 2016.[21][22][23] A Microsoft Windows port of the remake was released in August 2016.

On June 30, 2022, the game was re-released on the Nintendo Switch's [Nintendo Classics](/source/Nintendo_Classics) service.[24]

## See also

- *[Armored Core](/source/Armored_Core)*

- *[Front Mission](/source/Front_Mission)*

- *[Heavy Gear](/source/Heavy_Gear)*

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Japanese](/source/Japanese_language): 重装機兵レイノス, [Hepburn](/source/Hepburn_romanization): *Jūsō Kihei Reinosu*

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["*Target Earth*"](https://retrocdn.net/images/a/a1/EGM_US_012.pdf) (PDF). *[Electronic Gaming Monthly](/source/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly)*. July 1990. p. 18. Retrieved October 6, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) ["重装機兵レイノス \[メガドライブ\] / ファミ通.com"](https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=7114). *www.famitsu.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180727020447/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=7114) from the original on 2018-07-27. Retrieved 2018-07-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-AllgameSGte_4-0)** Weiss, Brett Alan (1998). ["Target Earth (Sega Genesis) - Review"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141116034527/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1726&tab=review). *[AllGame](/source/AllGame)*. [All Media Network](/source/All_Media_Network). Archived from [the original](http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1726&tab=review) on 2014-11-16. Retrieved 2025-07-27.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BMDasl_5-0)** ["BEメガ･ドッグレース: 重装機兵レイノス"](https://archive.org/details/beep-megadrive-1990-04/page/106/mode/1up). *[Beep! Mega Drive](/source/Beep!_Mega_Drive)* (in Japanese). Vol. 6, no. 3. [SoftBank Creative](/source/SoftBank_Creative). April 1990. p. 106.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CVGasl_6-0)** ["The Complete Games Guide: Megadrive"](https://archive.org/details/Complete_Guide_to_Consoles_Volume_IV_1990_EMAP_Publishing_GB/page/n26/mode/1up). *[Computer and Video Games](/source/Computer_and_Video_Games)* (special). Vol. 4 (Complete Guide To Consoles ed.). [EMAP](/source/EMAP). November 1990. pp. 26–39. ["The Complete Guide To Sega Games Buyer's Guide: Megadrive"](https://archive.org/details/Complete_Guide_to_Sega_The_1990_EMAP_Images_GB/page/n43/mode/1up). *[Computer and Video Games](/source/Computer_and_Video_Games)* (special) (Complete Guide To Sega ed.). [EMAP](/source/EMAP). May 1991. pp. 44–51.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FamASL_7-0)** ["新作ゲームクロスレビュー: 重装機兵レイノス"](https://archive.org/details/famitsu-0097/page/17/mode/1up). *[Famitsu](/source/Famitsu)* (in Japanese). No. 97. [ASCII Corporation](/source/ASCII_Corporation). March 30, 1990. p. 17. ([Transcription](http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=7114) by [Famitsu.com](/source/Famitsu.com). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150621081332/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=7114) 2015-06-21 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-GISGte_8-0)** ["Classic Game Informer"](https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-50-june-1997/page/n54/mode/1up). *[Game Informer](/source/Game_Informer)*. No. 50. [Sunrise Publications](/source/Sunrise_Publications). June 1997. p. 53.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-MMSasl_9-0)** ["Games Index: Megadrive"](https://archive.org/details/mean-machines-sega-issue-01-october-1992/page/n136/mode/1up). *[Mean Machines Sega](/source/Mean_Machines_Sega)*. No. 1. [EMAP](/source/EMAP). October 1992. pp. 137–143.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-VGCESGte_10-0)** Eva, Frank (September 1990). ["Video-Game Reviews: Target Eart - For the Sega Genesis"](https://archive.org/details/vgce_90-09/page/n58/mode/1up). *[VideoGames & Computer Entertainment](/source/VideoGames_%26_Computer_Entertainment)*. No. 20. [Larry Flynt Publications](/source/Larry_Flynt_Publications). p. 61.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CXSasl_11-0)** ["Software A-Z: Mega Drive"](https://archive.org/details/console-xs-01/page/127/mode/1up). *[Console XS](/source/Console_XS)*. No. 1. [Paragon Publishing](/source/Paragon_Publishing). June–July 1992. pp. 126–137.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-MegaTechASL_12-0)** ["Game Index"](https://archive.org/details/mega-tech-uk-01/page/n75/mode/1up). *[MegaTech](/source/MegaTech)*. No. 1. [EMAP](/source/EMAP). Christmas 1991. pp. 76–81.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SegaPowerASL_13-0)** [Jarratt, Steve](/source/Steve_Jarratt) (October 1991). ["The Hard Line: Mega Drive"](https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3ASegaPower_UK_23.pdf&page=52). *[Sega Power](/source/Sega_Power)*. No. 23. [Future Publishing](/source/Future_Publishing). pp. 52–55.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SegaProASL_14-0)** ["Sega Software Showndown: The A-Z of Sega Games"](https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3ASegaPro_UK_01.pdf&page=37). *[Sega Pro](/source/Sega_Pro)*. No. 1. [Paragon Publishing](/source/Paragon_Publishing). November 1991. pp. 18–19, 23, 37, 39.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-MBM96_15-0)** ["Super Soft Hot Information: Mega Drive"](https://archive.org/details/micom-basic-1990-06-ozidual/Micom%20Basic%201990%2006%20%28J%20OCR%29/page/243/mode/1up). *[Micom BASIC Magazine](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Micom_BASIC_Magazine&action=edit&redlink=1) [[ja](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9E%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3BASIC%E3%83%9E%E3%82%AC%E3%82%B8%E3%83%B3)]* (in Japanese). No. 96. [The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Dempa_Shimbunsha_Corporation&action=edit&redlink=1) [[ja](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%9B%BB%E6%B3%A2%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E7%A4%BE)]. June 1990. p. 243.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SSMjpv11i9_16-0)** ["メガドラ読者レース"](https://archive.org/details/sega-saturn-magazine-ja-1995-09-01/page/83/mode/1up). *[Sega Saturn Magazine](/source/Gemaga)* (in Japanese). Vol. 11, no. 9. [SoftBank Creative](/source/SoftBank_Creative). September 1995. pp. 82–85.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-EGMSGte_17-0)** Harris, Steve; Semrad, Ed; Alessi, Martin; Williams, Ken (July 1990). ["Review Crew: Target Earth (Genesis)"](https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_12/page/n17/mode/1up). *[Electronic Gaming Monthly](/source/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly)*. No. 12. Sendai Publishing. p. 18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-MegaPlaySGte_18-0)** Dave; G.O.G.; Mike; Bart (November–December 1990). ["Mega Reviews!! Target Earth (Genesis)"](https://archive.org/details/mega-play-issue-1-winter-1990/page/28/mode/1up). *Mega Play*. Vol. 1, no. 1. Sendai Publishing. p. 28.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-MegaASL_19-0)** Smith, Jon (January 1994). ["Mega Retro: Platform Shoot-'em-ups"](https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AMega_UK_16.pdf&page=87). *[Mega](/source/Mega_(video_game_magazine))*. No. 16. [Future Publishing](/source/Future_Publishing). pp. 86–87.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-S-16SGte_20-0)** Horowitz, Ken (August 4, 2005). ["Target Earth"](https://www.sega-16.com/2005/08/target-earth/). *Sega-16*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140718003840/https://www.sega-16.com/2005/08/target-earth/) from the original on 2014-07-18. Retrieved 2025-07-27.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Busy"](https://archive.org/stream/NextGeneration30Jun1997/Next_Generation_30_Jun_1997#page/n125). *[Next Generation](/source/Next_Generation_(magazine))*. No. 30. [Imagine Media](/source/Imagine_Media). June 1997. p. 124.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Assault Suit Leynos (PS4/PC)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160923050822/http://www.risingstargames.com/us/games/assault-suit-leynos/). Rising Star Games. Archived from [the original](http://www.risingstargames.com/us/games/assault-suit-leynos/) on 2016-09-23. Retrieved 2016-09-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["重装機兵レイノス \[PS4\] / ファミ通.com"](https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=30443). *www.famitsu.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180726234745/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=30443) from the original on 2018-07-26. Retrieved 2018-07-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Assault Suit Leynos Brings Demo Brings A Taste Of Robot Shooting Action To PS4"](http://www.siliconera.com/2015/06/09/assault-suit-leynos-brings-demo-brings-a-taste-of-robot-shooting-action-to-ps4/). Curse, Inc. 10 June 2015. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20151031190517/http://www.siliconera.com/2015/06/09/assault-suit-leynos-brings-demo-brings-a-taste-of-robot-shooting-action-to-ps4/) from the original on 2015-10-31. Retrieved 2015-11-11.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["Nintendo Switch Online adds four more Mega Drive titles"](https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-switch-online-adds-four-more-mega-drive-titles). *Eurogamer.net*. July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.

## External links

- [NCS](https://web.archive.org/web/20080915132806/http://www.ncs.co.jp/)

- [Target Earth Translation](http://www1.interq.or.jp/yuricat/uja_colony/LEYNOS/LEYNOS_MAIN.HTML)

v t e Masaya Games Assault Suit Target Earth remake Valken Leynos 2 Shockman Cyber Citizen Shockman 2: A New Menace 3: The Princess from Another World Zero Langrisser Langrisser II III IV V: The End of Legend Other games Rider's Spirits Moto Roader Head Buster Cho Aniki Vixen 357 Gynoug Gley Lancer Ranma ½: Hard Battle Trampoline Terror!

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Target Earth (video game)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Target_Earth_(video_game)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Target_Earth_(video_game)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.