Front Mission 3

"Highly recommended for mech lovers!"

This is my first ever review. Pretty much all of the reviews that you'll see from me will cover games that feature anime mechas. I love mechas, and this game is nothing but. None of those medieval knights, mages, and or cartoony Moogle-like sidekicks. This was meant for the older gamer in mind. I also enjoy action scenes and am too restless to sit through lengthy periods of dialogue in an RPG. So be warned, I'm not your average RPGer.

My first strategy game ever played was Shining Force for the Genesis. The game's battle sequences were a much needed departure from the tedious turn-based battles in regular RPGs. After Shining Force I was dying for a new RPG with the same strategy-based battle engine. Playing Final Fantasy 7, 8, Wild Arms, Lunar SSS, Star Ocean 2 didn't offer nearly as exciting battle sequences. In fact I just don't enjoy those old-fashioned RPG battles anymore. You might say that Shining Force spoiled me. After four years of boring RPGs, Front Mission 3 has delivered me.



Summary:
Strategy-based RPG a la Shining Force. Experience points earned in battle help to increase attack power, not HP. Costly upgrades increase HP of certain body parts. Can customize mechs with your choice of backpack, body, legs, left and right arms, shoulder weapons, and hand weapons. Body, arms, and legs have separate HPs for you to blow off with a weapon one-by-one. Extremely intricate ''internet''-like forum. Highly-developed plot. CG scenes and 3D rendered cinematic scenes not unlike Metal Gear.


Character design --- 7
The mechs aren't as colorful as Gundams but they push the Playstation to its limits with highly detailed body parts. When the battle is focused on two mechs fighting one-to-one, the high detail sometimes even slows down the system! As detailed as they are they're not the coolest mechs you've seen, but they are the meanest looking.

Graphics --- 9
The battle scenes are amazingly detailed, almost to a fault where the game slows down. The battlefield is so detailed that all the allies and opponents are represented by pathetic 2D icons.

Sound --- 10
The most realistic gun sounds ever heard. It's almost scary.

Music --- 7
There are some really good tunes that match the mood. There are other tunes that are very annoying (like the ones in China where you can decide where you want to go). Much of the music gives you the feeling of an ugly and dirty war. The mood of the music is almost always in sync with the events of the storyline.

Replay --- 8
The battle sequences are intoxicating. You keep coming back for more. With over 60 missions and each one lasting anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, you'd expect a very long, tiresome game. But with each new mission comes a new surprise. After beating the game you'll want to start right away to go through the other scenario. Only thing that makes replay less exciting is the amount of time you spend building up experience in the simulator in order to be just as strong as the enimies in the real battles.

Plot --- 8
This is my first time playing a Front Mission game (I think there are four prequels). I found it difficult to keep up with all the different nations of the future. I don't usually pay much attention to the story. I just like the action. The plot of this game was just good enough to keep me interested. But the surprise twists were as exciting as those found in FF8 or FF7

Playability --- 9
This is my category for how fun the game is. I kept coming back for more and more. I loved destroying the enemy mechs piece by piece.

Innovative features:
- Can steal enemy mechs and operate them in the middle of a battle. Even pilot enemy helicopters and tanks!
- Can knock the pilots right out of their mechs with a single blow and kill the pilot separately
- Rotate the battle field to get a better view
- Create your own mech
- Can always counter attack, provided that you have enough AP
- Amazingly detailed graphics
- About 70 hours of play per scenario (twice that of FF8)
- Two different scenarios for added replay value
- Save anywhere in the game, even in the middle of battle (in which case requires 4 blocks, otherwise 2 blocks)
- Realistic sounds, especially with the guns
- Variety of different weapons, including special knuckles, batons, clubs, spikes, shotguns, machine guns, missile launchers, flamethrowers, and grenade launchers
- no knights, mages, elves, moogles, chocobos, myaus---just good old-fashioned robots and humans.

Drawbacks
- Slowdown during battles due to high level of detail
- A whole lotta dialogue
- Bland background scenes to make you fall asleep during non-battle scenes
- A few very annoying tunes
- Eight total characters to use in battle, can choose only four! This really sucks!

Get this game for yourself, for your best friend, and for your parents!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/01/00, Updated 08/01/00