History VideoGame / TargetEarth

Developed by Creator/{{NCS}} in Japan in 1990 for the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis (and known as ''Assault Suit Leynos'' there), ''Target Earth'' is a side-scrolling shooter and perhaps one of the earliest HumongousMecha video games. It is also NintendoHard, and comes with a well-developed plot.

A prequel, ''VideoGame/AssaultSuitsValken'' was released for the SNES in 1993. A Japan-only sequel for the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn was released in 1997 which has a much more balanced difficulty, more Assault Suits to unlock and use, tons of customization options and a generally faster-paced gameplay. Still no less NintendoHard though. A remake of the original ''Assault Suit Leynos'' was released on UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 in Japan on December 23, 2015 followed by a North Amercian and European release on July 14, 2016 and a PC version being released through UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} the same year. This remake was developed by Dracue Software, the doujin circle behind ''VideoGame/ArmoredHunterGunhound'', and published by EXTREME, Co. and Rising Star Games.

'''Rance:''' "And we shall never reconcile with you!"

* ButtDialingMordor: In Stage 5, Rex is given a communicator that can listen and broadcast on Chron communications. He forgets the broadcast part, and his loud exclamation of surprise when it starts tuning in to enemy messages alerts them he's listening, and allows for Rance to start directly addressing Rex.

* TheDragon: Rance Culzus.

* InformedEquipment: The only addition that actually appears on the player's mech is the shield--weapons all look the same and extra armor makes no changes to appearance.

* KilledMidSentence: [[spoiler:Rance, as he is defiantly telling you that [[ICanStillFight he can still fight]]]].
* ManInTheMachine: Overlaps with CyberneticsEatYourSoul. The survivors of the OSE program became part machine in order to survive by constructing and utilizing the Chron Cyborg Creation system. What exactly that is and what it involves isn't very well explained; Rance, for instance, appears human until ''after'' his battle at one of the Chron systems, and then is sporting noticeable cybernetics--however, he says that they used the Chron to survive 100 years ago and that "now the Chron keeps us alive". It's possible that they all became cyborgs in order to survive the length of time needed to get revenge, but if they are injured in battle then they have to have even more implants added. Since the Chron isn't clarified, the reason the cyborgs are so vindictive could be part of CyberneticsEatYourSoul.

--> [[spoiler:Rance: We are the survivors of the Outer Space Expeditionary program. We left the Earth 100 years ago with all of man's hope. But we had trouble at the edge of the solar system. We radioed Earth for help but there was silence. We have been forsaken and are here to take our revenge!]]

* RealIsBrown

* RegeneratingHealth: Too bad the mooks won't leave you alone long enough to take advantage of this.
* TheRival: Rance is your most persistent foe, and eventually becomes one of the few that can challenge you one-on-one.
* StoryDrivenInvulnerability: Rance's first appearance has him shoot down your friendly escort warship, and he is completely immune to damage (but doesn't attack you--apparently you're beneath his notice at the time).

* VideoGameRemake: The game was remade by Dracue Software for [=PlayStation=] 4 and later PC via Steam with new HD graphics.
* WhatASenselessWasteOfHumanLife: Rex laments Rance's death, and the entire, unnecessary war.

A Japan-only sequel for the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn was released in 1997 which has a much more balanced difficulty, more Assault Suits to unlock and use, tons of customization options and a generally faster-paced gameplay. Still no less NintendoHard though. A remake of the original ''Assault Suit Leynos'' was released on UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 in Japan on December 23, 2015 followed by a North Amercian and European release on July 14, 2016 and a PC version being released through UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} the same year. This remake was developed by Dracue Software, the doujin circle behind ''VideoGame/ArmoredHunterGunhound'', and published by EXTREME, Co. and Rising Star Games.

-> '''Rex''': The Earth must not be a battleground again! We defend her.
-> '''Rance''': And we shall never reconcile with you!

A Japan-only sequel for the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn was released in 1997 which has a much more balanced difficulty, more Assault Suits to unlock and use, tons of customization options and a generally faster-paced gameplay. Still no less NintendoHard though. A remake of the original game by the same people who made ''Armored Hunter Gunhound'' was released for the [=PS4=] on August 30th, 2016.

* VideoGameRemake: Currently in the works for the [=PS4=].

An OpeningScroll (briefly) establishes the background: Earth's outcasts have returned with a vengeance and attacked the planet in a vicious assault. The Earth Defense League tries its best to hold, but later levels reveal that Earth has been at least partially overrun. The end of the intro and the beginning of the game focus on Ganymede, one of Jupiter's moons.

!!Target Earth contains the following tropes:

--> '''''Rex''': The Earth must not be a battleground again! We defend her.''
--> '''''Rance''': And we shall never reconcile with you!''

* BittersweetEnding:

* {{Cyborg}}

* ManInTheMachine / CyberneticsEatYourSoul: The survivors of the OSE program became part machine in order to survive by constructing and utilizing the Chron Cyborg Creation system. What exactly that is and what it involves isn't very well explained; Rance, for instance, appears human until ''after'' his battle at one of the Chron systems, and then is sporting noticeable cybernetics--however, he says that they used the Chron to survive 100 years ago and that "now the Chron keeps us alive". It's possible that they all became cyborgs in order to survive the length of time needed to get revenge, but if they are injured in battle then they have to have even more implants added. Since the Chron isn't clarified, the reason the cyborgs are so vindictive could be part of CyberneticsEatYourSoul.

* BittersweetEnding

A Japan-only sequel for the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn was released in 1997 which has a much more balanced difficulty, more Assault Suits to unlock and use, tons of customization options and a generally faster-paced gameplay. Still no less NintendoHard though. A remake of the original game by the same people who made ''Armored Hunter Gunhound'' is in the works for the [=PS4=].

A Japan-only sequel for the UsefulNotes/SegaSaturn was released in 1997 which has a much more balanced difficulty, more Assault Suits to unlock and use, tons of customization options and a generally faster-paced gameplay. Still no less NintendoHard though. A remake of the original game by the same people who made ''Armored Hunter Gunhound'' is in the works for the PS4.

* VideoGameRemake: Currently in the works for the PS4.

Developed by Creator/{{NCS}} in Japan in 1990 for the SegaGenesis (and known as ''Assault Suit Leynos'' there), ''Target Earth'' is a side-scrolling shooter and perhaps one of the earliest HumongousMecha video games. It is also NintendoHard, and comes with a well-developed plot.

A Japan-only sequel for the SegaSaturn was released in 1997 which has a much more balanced difficulty, more Assault Suits to unlock and use, tons of customization options and a generally faster-paced gameplay. Still no less NintendoHard though. A remake of the original game by the same people who made ''Armored Hunter Gunhound'' is in the works for the PS4.

* ReentryScare: A cutscene in Stage 3 shows a friendly pilot unable to make it back to the dropship and burning up in Earth's atmosphere. This was deleted in the PAL and NTSC versions and is considered an obvious homage to MobileSuitGundam.

A Japan-only sequel for the SegaSaturn was released in 1997 which has a much more balanced difficulty, more ASes to unlock and use, tons of customization options and a generally faster-paced gameplay. Still no less NintendoHard though. A remake of the original game by the same people who made ''Armored Hunter Gunhound'' is in the works for the PS4.

A Japan-only sequel for the SegaSaturn was released in 1997.

* TheDragon: Rance Culzus.

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: A significant portion of the game's soundtrack qualifies.

Developed in Japan in 1990 for the SegaGenesis (and known as Assault Suits Leynos there), Target Earth is a side-scrolling shooter and perhaps one of the earliest HumongousMecha video games. It is also NintendoHard, and comes with a well-developed plot.