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This article is about the video game series. For the first game in the series, see Front Mission (video game).
Front Mission (フロントミッション Furonto Misshon) is a series of turn-based tactical role-playing video games produced by Squaresoft, now Square Enix.[1] The series was created by Toshiro Tsuchida. It began in 1995 with the release of the first game, Front Mission. The main draw of Front Mission is the use of giant mecha called "Wanzers" (from the German "Wanderung Panzer", or walking tanks) in battle. The storyline in the series revolves around military conflicts and political tension between powerful consolidated nations that form during the 21st and 22nd centuries.
[edit] Development
[edit] Games[edit] Main series
[edit] Spin-offs
[edit] Compilations
[edit] Common elements[edit] Gameplay
Front Mission is structured like a traditional tactical role-playing game. All of the main installments and the 2089 series installments are classified under this specific genre. The other three spin-offs are classified under different genres. Front Mission: Gun Hazard is a 2D side-scrolling shooter. Front Mission: Alternative is a 3D real-time strategy (RTS) game. Front Mission Online is an online 3D shooter similar to Armored Core. Although the majority of the series have been turn-based tactical role-playing games, a recent interview with Front Mission developer Koichi Sakamoto suggests that the development team is interested in combining real-time and turn-based aspects for future installments.[8] Front Mission's core gameplay is based on wanzer combat. Each combatant pilots a wanzer, which is created from modular Body, Right Arm, Left Arm, and Leg parts. Arms allow for holding weapons and melee attacks, Legs enable movement and evasive actions, and the Body keeps the wanzer operational. Each part has its own health bar and upon destruction, the wanzer's performance is significantly weakened.[1] Destroying the Body is vital to completely destroying a wanzer, although disabling its Arms or Legs causes its weapons or movement capacity to be severely diminished, and makes it more likely to hit the Body when aiming randomly.[1] A wanzer requires all four frame parts to be usable in a battle. In the wanzer construction aspect of the game, a wanzer can be loaded with arm or shoulder weapons to enhance its combat performance. In several Front Mission installments, there are built-in weapons among the Arm parts of a wanzer. Furthermore, a backpack can be loaded onto a wanzer for various functions. A jetpack enables the ability to scale high elevation whereas an EMP specializes in disabling wanzer functionality. Front Mission 2, 4, and 5 implement the ability to purchase role-specific wanzers to assist newcomers to the series. The Action Point (AP) system, introduced in Front Mission 2, determines the amount of actions that can be taken during a Player and Enemy Phase.[1] Every action, such as movement or counter attacks, uses a certain amount of AP.[1] After one full turn, consisting of a Player and Enemy Phase, has passed, a certain amount of AP is regenerated. In Front Mission 2, the amount of AP determines the potency of various factors. These factors include accuracy, evasion, counter attacks, etc. In Front Mission 3, wanzers can be strengthened by sacrificing AP to boost their defense, accuracy, or evasion. In Front Mission 4 and 5, only the basic AP system fundamentals are implemented. The Links system, introduced in Front Mission 4, allows multiple pilots to assist one another in battles. Offensive and Defensive Links can be set up to provide assistance during the Player and Enemy Phases. The only key factor in Links is the AP amount of the combatants. Combatants may participate in Links as long as they have enough AP to use a weapon. In Front Mission 5, the setup process is simplified and the maximum combatants has been raised from 4 to 6. In Front Mission and Front Mission 2, the Colosseum feature allows the player to select a character and choose a potential combatant to fight for monetary funds. The combatant's composition affects the Odds rate, which determines how much monetary funds is awarded from the amount the player bets on. In Front Mission 5, the feature is known as the Arena and is filled with multiple cameos from previous installments. Furthermore, the AI controls the combatants and the maximum amount of combatants has been raised to 3. The Network, a feature seen in Front Mission 2 and 3 allows players to learn more about the world, the characters, and the narrative itself. In Front Mission 3, the network feature is greatly expanded and offers additional functions. For example, players can check their e-mail inbox for relevant material pertaining to parts of the game. Also, the layout of the Network has changed to resemble the Internet better. Several secrets can only be unlocked through usage of the Network in both installments. The Simulator, a feature seen in Front Mission 3, 4, and 5, allows the player to partake in training exercises for future missions, later known as Battle Simulator in Front Mission 5. In Front Mission 5, an additional Simulator is implemented known as Survival. The Survival Simulator is a separate mode in which a player chooses one pilot to go through a number of floors and collect items. Upon completion of the highest floor or escaping with a certain item, the player can choose how many items found will be obtained permanently for use in the main game. [edit] Plot[edit] Fictional Nations[edit] Oceania Community Union A supernation that consists of Japan, Australia, a number of countries in Southeast Asia, and some Pacific islands. The headquarters of the supernation is in OCU Australia. The bloc, which was created in 2019 out of another ASEAN-type organization called the Bangkok Economic Block, also has partial occupation of Huffman Island, which the USN also occupies as well. This island in the Pacific Ocean holds much significance in terms of natural resources, which has led to two major wars with the USN. Although regarded as an equal to the USN in many aspects, the OCU suffers from civil strife. Cambodia and Laos were the first to rebel with the creation of an independence alliance as depicted in Front Mission 5. Bangladesh (after a name change to the People's Republic of Alordesh) was the next member to revolt, which is expanded upon in Front Mission 2. The OCU has been struggling to maintain unity since the events of the coup in Alordesh, the rebellions in Cambodia, and numerous civil disputes in other member-nations such as OCU Philippines. The OCU nearly broke up during an attempted coup in Japan, but this was cancelled upon news that Okinawa was invaded by the Da Han Zhong military in Front Mission 3. [edit] United States of the New Continent/Unified Continental States A supernation that consists of nations in both North America and South America that was formed in 2020 in response to the OCU's formation in 2019. The headquarters of the supernation is in USN North America. The USN is often at an uneasy standstill against the OCU with regards to the Pacific region and particularly on Huffman Island. There is a large disparity in quality of life throughout the USN, which has led to disaffection and open rebellion in several member-states. Most of the rebellions occur in South America, such as in USN Venezuela in Front Mission 4. The USN is presented as the Unified Continental States (UCS) in the English versions of Front Mission 4 and Front Mission for the Nintendo DS. [edit] European CommonwealthThis supernation is the late 21st-century version of the European Union, with more centralized control. While member-states still maintain their own military forces, foreign policy is set by the EC Assembly in Paris, France, which is also the supernation's headquarters. The EC also funds several research groups for various technologies such as wanzer warfare. One of these, the UK-based EC Armor Tactics Research Corps Durandal, plays a main role in Front Mission 4.[9] [edit] People's Republic of ZaftraCreated out of the CIS, Zaftra ("Tomorrow" in Russian) is a power in decline, particularly as the EC is becoming self-sufficient thanks to the discovery of resources in Poland in Front Mission 4. In Front Mission, the Republic of Zaftra used the Peace Mediation Organization as a front to establish and maintain control over Huffman Island with the intent of exploiting its people and resources. The country would serve as the main antagonist in Front Mission 4. [edit] People's Republic of Da Han ZhongThe People's Republic of China after a cosmetic name change in 2111 with Taiwan. Much of the narrative of Front Mission 3 takes place here. The creation of The People's Republic of Da Han Zhong was a plot concocted by Chairman Jie Bo Lao as the first step in his plans of world domination. The brutality of Jie's regime would spawn a resistance group called the Hua Lian Rebels, which are funded by the USN. However, the government still reigns supreme by the end of FM3's two scenarios. [edit] Music
[edit] Merchandise[edit] Toys/ModelsFront Mission has spawned a number of action figures and model kits. In 1997, with the release of Front Mission 2, Kotobukiya released three resin kits depicting certain Wanzers from the game. [10] In 1999, Kotobukiya's ARTFX team produced a line of six-inch action figures depicting Wanzers piloted by Front Mission 3's main characters and the Imaginary Numbers unit. The line eventually expanded to at least 20 figures, with the additional figures often sporting new paint schemes. Toy distributor Palisades handled the North American release of the figures within days of FM3's release in 2000. In September 2004, after the release of Front Mission 4, Kotobukiya collaborated with Square Enix to release the Front Mission Trading Arts series, a line of highly-realistic three-inch blind-box figures of Wanzers. The Front Mission History collection also had their own small figures. The first wave of Trading Arts figures comprised Wanzers from Front Mission 4, [11] which was re-released as Front Mission Trading Arts Plus Stage I in February 2005. One Wanzer from Front Mission 1st to Scars of the War was featured in Front Mission Trading Arts Plus Stage II, which was released in February 2006. A blue Kyojun Wanzer from Stage II was a pre-order reward for FM5.[12] One last wave, released in October 2006, featured Wanzers from the first three releases colored in army green. The other releases were available in matte or metallic colors. [edit] MangaIn 2005, Young GanGan magazine joined forces with Square Enix to release Front Mission The Drive manga series. The Front Mission Dog Life and Dog Style series began in 2007. Written by Yasuo Otagaki and drawn by CH Line and Studio SEED, the comics are set around the time of the Second Huffman War. [13] [edit] BooksA history of the series titled Front Mission World Historica: Report of Conflicts 1970-2121 (ISBN 978-4-8402-3663-8) has been released by Square Enix. The book covers all relevant data in the Front Mission universe from before the events of Alternative to after Scars of the War. [14] Each of the Front Mission games have their own strategy guides and related books. [edit] References
[edit] External links
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