It's unfortunate that Assault Suit Leynos was destined to be a forgotten gem. The nigh impossible difficulty hangs above what is an innovative side-scrolling shooter full of unique weapon loadouts, alongside cohesive level and story progression which have a modern feel that only enriches the experience. The levels are full of life—both friendly and enemy troops run onto the battlefield trading shots with one another while you rush towards your mission goal, trying not to get overwhelmed by enemy forces. There are some real stand-out set pieces that you wouldn't really expect to see in such an old title too; one level starts you off in space leading you to sneak into a space-colony, taking the fight into the streets only to bust out and immediately face off against a fleeing carrier. The only sections that fell flat are the few sections where you run through dull labyrinthian bases. It's honestly impressive how well Assault Suit Leynos manages to simulate a battlefield in a 2D space, so if you're willing to look past the bullshit coin-eating difficulty I think you'll find a lot to love.