[PS2] FRONT MISSION 5: ~Scars of the War~

The latest installment in the Front Mission series was released on December 29th last year in Japan and besides general praise and growing popularity still hasn't been announced for a US release.

The game features solid turn-based Mecha tactics with fully customizable 'Wanzers', armed to the teeth with deadly weapons such as machine guns, sniper rifles and missile launchers.

You play as Walker, who's joined on with the U.S.N. Forces. In addition to a stronger adventure portion, in which you go about scouting your own battalion members, the game includes a number of bonus modes, including Survival Simulator, Battle Simulator and Arena, where you can collect money and parts to power up your fighting machines.

For those familiar with the series since its 1995 debut on Nintendo Super Famicom (SNES), Front Mission 5 takes place on Huffman Island and seems to be either a prequel or sequel to the conflict between O.C.U. (Oceania Community Union) and U.S.N. (United States of the New Continent).

Despite it not having a US release date, the game features astonishing CGI full motion video and convincing motion capturing scenes along with excellent and smooth gameplay with refined elements from predecessors.

Links:

- Square Enix Official FM5 site

- Ruliweb resources

How ya doing, buddy?

If it doesn't get a release, SE can burn in hell. The company is already a major disappointment. Front Mission is the only series they release that I still fuckin' care about.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I'm really wondering why they won't bring this fucker over already. I mean, it's got everything you'd expect from a US 'compatible' game: a military theme, awe-inspiring CGI and rather successful predecessors.

I've got the japanese version right here and the intro FMV was beyond cool. Also, I'm really interested to learn more about the Huffman setting. The game might as well take place during the events of Front Mission 1, but on the opposite side of the fence (since you're with the U.S.N., apparently).

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Pfft. SE is probably to busy dealing with Kingdom Hearts 2 crap. Still, it's inexcusable. They've released two of the four installments thus far. It had a decent US sale on 3 & 4 despite the crappy marketing it got.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I think this should go in RPG despite leaning towards tactical play.

Since I forget, could someone educate me on which game was Front Mission 2? I remember Front Mission: Gun Hazard was considered awful by many, but that was more of a side story, right? I don't think I've ever see the cover for 2, in that case.

And was Front Mission Alternative another entirely different game or was that later renamed to something else in the states?

I was speaking idiomatically.

#2 was some sidescroller for the SNES I do believe. I played it. It was... Okay >_>;

I don't see why it's not a full-blown RPG by all standards. You level up, get skills, buy & customize limbs... Tactical RPGs are fun ;D

I miss the days of Shining Force ;__; *peers to his SFII rom he began playing again yesterday*

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Qwarky

Since I forget, could someone educate me on which game was Front Mission 2? I remember Front Mission: Gun Hazard was considered awful by many, but that was more of a side story, right? I don't think I've ever see the cover for 2, in that case.

Front Mission 2 was the very first import for me, but the fact that I wasn't really understanding what was going on in the game didn't really help in making it a lasting experience.

Gun Hazard as well as Alternative were both spin-off type games. The first being a side-scroller and the latter some sort of RTS. Both were essentially pretty weird but at least Gun Hazard had an awesome soundtrack.

FELIPE NO

I know it seems disturbing no news has surfaced as of yet as far as US release. But i really believe it is a given not if but when. Kingdom Hearts 2 as much as you love or hate it is going to get the focus of the marketing in this market right now. Seeing there isn't really much in the horizon in the spring and early summer that would be the perfect time for the release of the game in my opinion. Maybe even give it a little publicity at E3 to help spread the word.

How ya doing, buddy?

Front Mission 3 was the best of the series, Front Mission 4 for me was a little "Meh" for some reason it didnt attract me like FM3 did, but now i'm anxious to play FM5 just for the sake of the FM series.

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Originally Posted by Rock

Front Mission 2 was the very first import for me, but the fact that I wasn't really understanding what was going on in the game didn't really help in making it a lasting experience.

Ah, so 2 wasn't on SNES at all, no wonder I had no recollection of it. Thanks for clearing it up for me.

Originally Posted by Gechmir

#2 was some sidescroller for the SNES I do believe. I played it. It was... Okay >_>;

And no, that's Front Mission: Gun Hazard, which is was more of a spinoff title, like Rock said.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I really want to see this game here, I hear it's better than 4. The Front Mission series in general has not sold that well in the US though. I'd say there's still a very good chance of us getting it here, they may be waiting until later (E3?) since S-E has Kingdom Hearts 2 out this month. Assuming FFXII hits here late in the year, they'll need some releases during later Spring/Summer.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I'd be looking forward to this, but I have a terrible feeling Squeenix doesn't consider the series profitable enough here to port. Front Mission 4 apparently sold terribly here in the states, and they may be loathe to port if the twelve people posting in this thread are the only ones they can count on to buy the game.

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I love Front Mission. FM3 was definitely the best one with the dual storylines, and the whole internet feature to explore. I spent hours on that fake net. I was really hoping it would make a come back one day. SE better port this over to the US or I'll cry. Cry that crap like Romancing Saga made it over but not FM5.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Rei no Otaku

FM3 was definitely the best one with the dual storylines, and the whole internet feature to explore.

Excellent, I have FM3 but have never really played it yet due a backlog of other RPGS to get through. I've played the first FM but didn't get too far. I heard the 4th one didn't do that well though, reading reviews here and there.

How ya doing, buddy?

I am also a fan of the FM series with #3 also being the one that pulled me in. I also own #4 which while perhaps not as good as #3, was still pretty good overall. Probably the 2 things that kiiled #4 the fastest was that only a third of the game was voiced over and the difficulty bar always raised too fast, you were never level or even close to be even with your opponents. (I'm a fan of underleveling, but that was just stupid.)

Hopefully FM 5 will come here, because there's nothing really like the FM series and the storylines are allways something that's not all that generic. Heck, from the looks of the cover I'd buy it just for the cover art. ^^

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Spatula

Excellent, I have FM3 but have never really played it yet due a backlog of other RPGS to get through. I've played the first FM but didn't get too far. I heard the 4th one didn't do that well though, reading reviews here and there.

Don't believe a word of it. Front Mission 4 is a solid game. Loved every minute of it. Solid story, some nice new features, and a very good soundtrack.

There's no need to play FM3 before this one, because their not connected, however I do recommend you play it at some point, it's one of the best strategy RPGs out there.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I had great affection for FM3. I didn't care too much for the story because I couldn't feel any connection to some heads and text without being able to "run around" with the characters like in a Square RPG. Also the story was confusing as fuck sometimes.

But goddamn, that was one satisfying game in terms of battles.

I have FM4 but I couldn't get into it sadly. I don't think I have the time to devote to RPGs anymore like I did 5 years ago. However, Id love to give FM another chance if they got rid of the "Head n Textboxes" method of storytelling.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Rock

The game might as well take place during the events of Front Mission 1, but on the opposite side of the fence (since you're with the U.S.N., apparently).

Hmm. If this is the case, I gotta wonder what Driscoll's wanzer will look like fully rendered and in 3D.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I've heard some rumblings that Squeenix is saving the NA announcement for E3. I'd abandon hope of it coming to these shores if it's not announced then. Which blows, as I've read that FM5 combines the good things of FM3 and FM4 (which I thought was kinda dull).

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Yeah, I'm going through FM4 right now, which had the graphical clarity of a next gen title, and what looked like the color pallete of an 8-bit title. I'm guessing they were going for a nitty-gritty look, but it just ended up looking bland. Though the voice acting was decent, the needed to be moved away from the talking heads of all the previous versions. Which FM5 does. Not to mention it was only about half as deep as FM3. I really hope they give it a chance over here.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

As someone once said to me, "Since when does Square NOT bring a game over here?". A release date is inevitable, I just guess they're waiting for a dry period of the year to release it.

What ever happened to Front Mission Online? Did it come out in Japan? Didn't SE say they were bringing it here? I was looking forward to an online mecha game.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Talking heads is what makes a SRPG a SRPG people. Removing them is like removing your penis and expecting a solid sexual experience. You know it's true.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Man, if Front Mission Online ever got localized... I'd cream myself so hard even the pants in my drawer would get ruined.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by BurningRanger

Man, if Front Mission Online ever got localized... I'd cream myself so hard even the pants in my drawer would get ruined.

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?...t%5Fid=T000189

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

They better be bringing out the PS2 version too....

Jam it back in, in the dark.