ASSAULT SUITS VALKEN
JŪSŌ KIHEI VALKEN
( Cybernator )
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重装機兵ヴァルケン
©1992 NCS Corp.
Release: 1992-12-18 (¥8800)
Cartridge SHVC-AV
Action / Platform game
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Released in America as
CYBERNATOR
( SNS-AV-USA )
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Released in Europe as
CYBERNATOR
( SNSP-AV-XXX )
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Assault Suits Valken is an side-scolling action game by Masaya
and published by Nippon Computer System (NCS). In 2101, the Colonies
and the Earth Federation are at war - stocks of fossil oil are dwindling and
reports of violent clashes between the two sides have ignited a brutal conflict. The
player takes control of Jake, a first class pilot from the Assault Suit squadron.
He operates the ASS-117A Valken, a large humanoid-mecha suit of armor, and undertakes
various military missions of strategic values. Each level begins with a short briefing before
putting the player in a combat situation. The Valken starts out with two main
weapons - a rapid-fire machine gun with bouncing bullets and a close-range but
powerful punch. Two other weapons are later available in the game - the piercing
laser beam and the ammo-limited missiles. Power ups can be collected
throughout the levels, power chips (icons with a "P" stamped on them) upgrade
the active weapon a maximum of three times, energy chips ("H") recovers health and
the Weapon Chip ("W") adds new weapons. A metal shield can be raised up at any
time by holding the right shoulder button. This technique protects the mech against enemy
fire and is at the core of the gameplay. Another important feature is the way how the player
can lock the active weapon firing direction by holding the left shoulder button. Finally, the mech
has the ability to hover for a short amount of time and to quickly dash in one direction. Assault
Suits Valken features seven long stages and some bosses do escape if not defeated within a time
limit - this doesn't immediately end the game but may lead to a different ending.
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The American/European version of the game shows major differences. It was
published by Konami and was renamed Cybernator. But most importantly,
the story was altered and some parts were simply removed. Portraits next to the
in-game speech text have disappeared and replaced by the name of the characters (Picture on the left).
Later in the game, a lot of the conversation have been simply omitted and the end sequence was
cut short. Finally, a scene near the end of the game shows the president giving up and
committing suicide - no need to say that the scene is nowhere to be seen in the
American/European version. Aeon Genesis released an English patch in 2004 which
gives players the golden opportunity to enjoy Assault Suits Valken in its original
and intended form.
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Assault Suits Valken is the second episode of a long series of games by Masaya.
It all started with Assault Suits Leynos (aka Target Earth) for the Megadrive
in 1990. Assault Suits Valken (aka Cybernator) then followed for the
Super Famicom in 1992 (version tested here). Then the series sort of split into two
separate franchises - Assault Suit Leynos 2 (Sega Saturn, 1997) follows the same
basic formula laid down in the first two games, whereas Assault Suits Valken 2
(Sony's Playstation, 1999) is more a round based strategy game. Interestingly,
Assault Suits Valken was ported to Sony's Playstation 2 in 2004 - it is an
enhanced port of the Super Famicom version with (arguably) better graphics and
a harsher difficulty level.
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Teaser text from the American version:
2065 AD, The nations of Earth have once again split into two major powers. The
line dividing there new arch enemies reaches as fas as the lunar frontier, where axis
forces have constructed a moon base capable of launching monolithic intergalactic
battle cruisers.
To thwart this threat, a covert strike team consisting of the marines' elite
Cybernator force has been mobilized. The Cybernator is a giant mechanical warrior
controller by a marine who sits in the command cockpit withing the unit's chrimium
cranium. Nuclear Fission Thrusters allow the Cybernator to wreak total havoc while
soaring from ground zero to the infinity of space.
Your mission is to take command of the Cybernator and confront the most
powerful enemy ever to explore onto the Super NES scene. You'll face awesome
display of graphic destruction and realistic carnage so intense you'll feel compelled
to run and hide. The sound effects alone will make your guts shake as if they were
in front of a cranked-up heavy metal concert speaker.
But you must fight on, toughing in ou through 7 war zones stretching from the
moon, through the expanses of space, to the fringes of Earth's fragile atmosphere.
Crush Axis Cybertroops. Find your way through a dark mountain maze with only
your wits and a small light. And capture power-ups that you can allocate to the
Cybernator's four different weapon systems. Until you accomplish your mission.
Or have your nuts and bolts splattered from here to eternity.
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Game Staff (Copied from the American version end credits) :
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STAFF
Producer
T. Tsuchida
Program
H. Suzuki
T. Ohya
Y. Higuchi
Y. Kawano
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Graphics
S. Nakai
K. Tadakuma
T. Saitoh
Character Design
S. Urushihara
Music & SE
Opus Corp.
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Assistants
H. Satoh
H. Iwasaki
J. Hayashida
Executive Producer
M. Shibuya
Cybernator
Presented By Konami
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G
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Japanese guide book
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Japanese soundtrack
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Japanese model
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Click on picture to enlarge |
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LK
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Add your Pov here !
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P
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Assault Suits Valken is an amazing experience and it is at the
pinnacle of my list of incredible action games for the Super Famicom
system. It did take me a little bit of time to get used to the controls but
they quickly become second nature - the game gets quite difficult within a
couple of levels though and you soon must rely on incredible maneuvering skills
to stay alive. Assault Suits Valken oozes tense ambiance and unique
atmosphere - mission briefings, radio communication between you and other members
of your unit, bullet marks on the walls, an outstanding soundtrack and extremely
well designed stages with no downbeats. The attention to detail is simply stunning
and the ASS-Valken 117A's animation is gorgeous. If you're into giant robots
and like challenging mech combats and action packed games, then
Assault Suits Valken is an unmissable feast.
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