Assault Suit Leynos and Nights of Azure Were Discounted on Amazon
In late 2016, Amazon offered significant discounts on the PS4 versions of the mecha shooter Assault Suit Leynos and the action RPG Nights of Azure.
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In December 2016, online retailer Amazon offered notable price reductions on the PlayStation 4 versions of two Japanese-developed titles: Assault Suit Leynos and Nights of Azure. The former, a remake of a classic mecha shooter, was listed with a 20% discount. The latter, an action RPG from developer Gust, saw a much steeper price cut of 68%. Both games had been released earlier that year, making the sales an opportunity for players who had missed them at launch.
About Assault Suit Leynos
Assault Suit Leynos is a high-definition remake of the 1990 Sega Genesis game known in North America as Target Earth. Developed by Dracue Software and published in the West by Rising Star Games, the title is a challenging 2D side-scrolling action game where players pilot a heavily armed robot. The game was released for PS4 in North America in July 2016, placing this 20% discount approximately five months after its debut.
The gameplay is a faithful revival of the original’s demanding style. Players undertake a series of missions against overwhelming enemy forces, requiring precise control, strategic weapon selection, and pattern memorization. Between stages, the Assault Suit’s loadout can be customized with a variety of weapons unlocked by completing objectives. The remake updated the graphics and sound but preserved the core difficulty that made the original a cult classic. It also added an Arcade Mode with a different progression system alongside the original story campaign.
The Nights of Azure Deal
The second game featured in the 2016 sale was Nights of Azure, which received a substantial 68% discount. Developed by Gust and published by Koei Tecmo, this title is an action RPG that represented a new intellectual property for the studio best known for the Atelier series. It launched in North America for the PlayStation 4 in March 2016, meaning the discount appeared roughly nine months after its release.
Nights of Azure tells the story of Arnice, a half-demon knight, and her mission to protect her friend, the priestess Lilysse. The game is set on the cursed island of Rusewall, where Arnice battles fiends that emerge during the night. The combat system is real-time, with Arnice fighting alongside demonic familiars called Servans, which can be collected and summoned in battle. The game was noted for its gothic fantasy aesthetic, fast-paced action, and a story with strong yuri undertones exploring the relationship between its two female protagonists.
Context of the 2016 Discounts
Both Assault Suit Leynos and Nights of Azure catered to specific audiences, which helps contextualize the 2016 holiday season discounts. Assault Suit Leynos appealed to fans of old-school, hardcore mecha games, a genre with a dedicated but limited following. Its modest 20% price drop was a standard promotional sale for such a title several months post-launch.
In contrast, Nights of Azure’s deep 68% discount was more aggressive. As a new IP from Gust, it was an attempt to branch out from the studio’s established Atelier fanbase. The significant price reduction was likely intended to attract a wider audience to the action RPG and clear physical inventory ahead of the new year. For players interested in Japanese games, these deals provided a low-cost entry point to two distinct experiences from that year’s release calendar.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of game is Assault Suit Leynos?
Assault Suit Leynos is a 2D side-scrolling mecha action game. It's a high-definition remake of the 1990 Sega Genesis title known as Target Earth in North America. Players pilot a large robot suit through various missions, customizing weapon loadouts between stages. The game is known for its challenging difficulty, requiring precise movement and strategy to overcome waves of enemies and powerful bosses. It retains the classic arcade-style gameplay of the original.
Is Nights of Azure part of a series?
Yes, Nights of Azure is the first game in a duology. It was followed by a sequel, Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon, which was released in 2017. While the stories are connected and set in the same world, the sequel features a new set of protagonists. The original game stands on its own as a complete story, introducing the world and its core conflict between the Nightlord and the Curia.
Who developed Nights of Azure?
Nights of Azure was developed by Gust, a Japanese studio famous for the long-running Atelier series of crafting-focused role-playing games. While it shares the developer's signature anime art style, Nights of Azure marked a departure from their traditional turn-based RPGs. It focused more on real-time action combat with a darker, more gothic fantasy setting, though it still retained character-driven storytelling elements common in Gust's work.
Was Assault Suit Leynos released on other platforms?
The remake of Assault Suit Leynos that was discounted in 2016 was released for the PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam. The original game, from which the remake is derived, was a Sega Genesis (or Mega Drive) exclusive. The series itself has other entries, like Assault Suit Valken (Cybernator on SNES), but this specific HD remake was limited to PS4 and PC.