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Front Mission Review for the Nintendo DS (NDS)

Front Mission Review for the Nintendo DS (NDS)

Into the Cold, Dark Future

The timeless theme of piloting giant killer robots into battle against other giant killer robots remains powerfully alluring to this very day. When you take that tried-and-true concept, throw in heaping payloads of mech customization, a riveting story across two lengthy campaigns, hardcore turn-based strategy, and pack it all down to portable size, you have most of the key ingredients for success. Square Enix takes micromanaging armies of metal behemoths to new levels of insanity with Front Mission, an addictive – if not slightly antiquated – DS update of the original classic.

Front Mission screenshot

The tactical robot RPG series made its Japanese debut on the SNES in 1995, and it was subsequently given some major upgrades with a remake for the PS1 in 2003. A few other titles were released in the U.S. further along in the popular series, yet this is the first time the original game the game has been officially been available in North America. Essentially an update of the PS1 remake, Front Mission on Nintendo DS makes great use of both screens to cram in as many stat menus as possible to better inform your decisions on the battlefield. The game showcases a strong mixture of play mechanics found in several of the more popular turn-based strategy titles like Final Fantasy Tactics and Advance Wars. Instead of swords and spells, or colorful cartoon tanks, Front Mission features armies of giant destructive mechs – called “wanzers” – fighting it out in an epic conflict spread across a cold, futuristic landscape.

The dark overtones of the military conflict give the story in Front Mission a dramatic flair. The formation of a new land mass in the Pacific Ocean garners the interest of two military factions, the Oceania Community Union and the Unified Continental States. By 2065, Huffman Island, a land rich with mineral resources and strategic advantages, is deemed large enough for inhabitation. Around this time each military power seeks to assert its control over the island, sparking off a two-year war which ends with the land being divided. Around 20 years after the first Huffman conflict, the shaky cease-fire falls apart when a U.C.S. military facility is destroyed by an O.C.U. unit in what becomes known as the Larcus Incident. The second Huffman conflict erupts in 2090. You’ll have the option of playing the original O.C.U. campaign or a separate U.C.S. campaign in these desperate times.

Front Mission screenshot

On the battlefield, combat plays out over grid-based, isometric maps which are similar in design to those found in many other handheld tactical strategy games. Different types of landscape heights and terrain features factor in to combat, and they can be used to your advantage. Your mechs are pre-deployed for each mission, as are your enemies, and once the battle begins you’ll take turns moving units and trading physical blows, sprays of gunfire, and missile volleys with the enemy. Players have the option to use the stylus or the regular buttons for controls. Neither method of control is particularly interesting, yet both get the job done just the same.

All of the tactical movement and planning occurs on the touch screen until you engage a foe in actual battle. By default, the top screen tracks your unit’s stats and provides other crucial information in planning your attack. When you attack an opponent the top screen switches over to a close-up view of combat. Watching the slick mech animations as they pummel each another – much like in Advance Wars – is a real treat. In battle, mech units can take damage in four different areas: the left arm, right arm, main body, and the legs. This creates an interesting strategic gameplay twist. Destroying the main body of a mech will obliterate it completely, destroying its legs will half its movement rate, and destroying either limb will cripple whatever weaponry happens to be attached. Repair packs and other items can be used to fix damaged components. If any of your mechs are completely destroyed, they are simply taken out of the current battle. At the end of the mission you’ll pay a salvage fee and they will be returned to your group. Aside from specific objects such as protecting an NPC unit or taking out a boss, cash points are awarded for causing as much damage and completely destroying as many enemy units as possible.

Front Mission screenshot

As the main story progresses you’ll travel to different locations around the island to engage the enemy and move the plot along. The over world map of Huffman Island is pretty low-budget, and it doesn’t look like it has seen much of an upgrade since its SNES days. Inside each city you can manage your units, purchase equipment, train in arena battles, visit the bar for gossip, and get your next mission. It’s essentially an old menu-based system which mainly features the same backdrop and occasional character portraits popping-up during conversation. You’ll spend a lot of time in town poring over lists of equipment upgrades and various stats, perhaps even as much time as you’ll spend in combat itself.

Front Mission screenshot

There’s enough extreme mech customization available in Front Mission to make giant robot fans – or seasoned RPG veterans – salivate. If you don’t fall into one of these two categories there’s a good chance your eyes will glaze over when presented with the overwhelming number of upgrade options for your small army. In between practically every mission you’ll have the opportunity to upgrade weapons, switch out body frames and other mech parts, replenish much-needed items, and micromanage your stats down to an infinitesimal scale. Want to equip your mech with tank treads instead of legs? No problem. Feel like mounting huge missile turrets on your shoulders? It can be arranged. You can pile up as much gadgetry on your mech as the body frame weight limit allows. If you want to avoid the scrap heap, upgrading your small army of mechs becomes a constant and inescapable ordeal. It’s fun to soup-up your primary mech, but dealing with upgrading an entire squad of hulking metal giants before every battle eats up precious time and patience. Eventually, staring at screen after screen of stats to compare which rocket launcher is the best deal or which armor provides better protection without maxing out your weight limit becomes a tedious process. On the other hand, clunking out headlong into another battle to test your new gear upgrades is a gratifying endeavor.

The graphical style is rather drab and industrial looking with lots of muted grays, browns, greens, and beige colors. Those with a great appreciation for high-quality isometric pixel art will find the visuals slightly nostalgic and fun to get a closer look at. Unfortunately, in most areas the game looks like it could have been pulled off on the Game Boy Advance, but it works. It’s not the prettiest DS title by any means, nor does it dazzle, but Front Mission has a lot of personality regardless.

Front Mission’s two main campaigns are excellent, but there’s not much else here in terms of extras which is slightly disappointing. The arena is only useful for earning extra cash in the main game. The local multi-player duel mode stinks since it’s basically the same as the arena only with two players rather than a full turn-based map battle mode – which would have done wonders to ramp up the fun factor. When it comes to gameplay, Front Mission excels at turn-based robotic combat. If you don’t get tripped up by the depressing visuals and mind-numbing stat management, there are many hours of enjoyment to be gained from this package.

Features:

  • Utilizing Nintendo DS Touch Screen functionality and stylus-driven controls, players can effortlessly navigate through the game’s menus with a tap of the screen.
  • All-new dual screen presentation keeps gamers immersed in the action while providing them with vital information at a glance.
  • Experience a rich storyline, including the addition of exciting new missions and new wanzers, along with the appearance of familiar characters from other titles in the Front Mission series.
  • Friends can now challenge one another to intense wanzer battles through the all-new multiplayer element, accessible via DS Wireless Play.
  • Choose a side in the warfare between the O.C.U. and the U.C.S. and experience both sides of the conflict.
  • Yoshitaka Amano, famed character designer of the popular Final Fantasy franchise, brings stunning character illustrations to the origin of the everlasting Front Mission saga.

    RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 3.2 Graphics
    Dreary, dated visuals which look only a slight step up from Game Boy Advance fare. Mech combat animations are pretty cool. 3.5 Control
    Nothing fancy, but the option to use the stylus or regular buttons is much appreciated. 4.0 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
    Strong musical score. 3.9

    Play Value
    A good story, two full campaigns, and some intense strategic battles make up for a crushing lack of a decent multi-player experience.

    3.6 Overall Rating – Good
    Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

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