Front Mission
Encyclopedia
is a collection of video games and related media produced by Square
, now Square Enix
. The series was created by Toshiro Tsuchida
and developed by G-Craft, a studio that was later absorbed by Square and is now with Square Enix as Product Development Division-6. Since the release of the original Front Mission in 1995, the series has gone on to encompass several media, including film
, manga
, novels, radio dramas, mobile phone applications
, and toy
s. While the series is primarily rooted in the turn-based tactical role-playing
genre, it has also ventured into other genres such as side-scrolling shooter, real-time strategy (RTS)
, massive multiplayer online(MMO)
, and third-person shooter
through its spin-offs. The Front Mission video games have achieved moderate success, selling over 3 million units worldwide since the release of Front Mission 5: Scars of the War
.
The main selling point of Front Mission is its storytelling approach. Taking place during the 21st and 22nd centuries, the series revolves around military conflicts and political tension between powerful supranational union
s and their member states. Although the Front Mission video games use self-contained, standalone stories, these tie into a greater overarching storyline that encompasses the entire series. In combination with the stories from its other media, the series possesses a level of storytelling depth and continuity comparable to a serial drama. Another major draw of Front Mission is its use of giant mecha
called "wanzers" (from the German
word "Wanderpanzer", or walking tank
s) in battle.
s. All other Front Mission titles that do not have a number assigned to it are genre spin-offs. Each of the four spin-off entries are classified under different genres. Front Mission: Gun Hazard is a side-scrolling shooter video game. Front Mission Alternative is a real-time strategy
video game. Front Mission: Online is a massively multiplayer online
third-person shooter
video game. The recently released Front Mission Evolved is a third-person shooter
video game with rail shooter segments.
In an RPGamer interview with Front Mission developer Koichi Sakamoto in 2007, he suggests that the development team is interested in combining real-time and turn-based aspects for future installments.
Since 1995, the Front Mission series has released 11 video games, seven of which are main (numbered) entries and the other four are spin-off entries. Additionally, the series has spawned a number of video game ports, remakes, and compilations over its 15-year history. On July 12, 2002, a direct port of Front Mission
was released for the Bandai WonderSwan Color. A year later, the video game entry received a Sony PlayStation
remake under the title Front Mission First on October 23, 2003. Shortly after its release, a compilation titled Front Mission History was released in Japan on December 11, 2003. The compilation contained the Front Mission First remake, a modified Front Mission 2
, and Front Mission 3
. Front Mission First also spawned an enhanced port of the game on March 22, 2007 for the Nintendo DS
. A second remake for Front Mission 2089
was developed and titled as Front Mission 2089: Border of Madness
. This remake was released for the Nintendo DS in Japan on May 29, 2008.
While all Front Mission video games have seen releases in Japan, only a few been localized overseas. Front Mission 3
was the first entry to receive both a North American and European localization on March 22, 2000 and August 11, 2000 respectively. Front Mission 4
became the second entry to undergo an English localization and was released in North America on June 15, 2004. A three-year gap followed before the localization of the Nintendo DS port of Front Mission First, which saw a release in North America on October 23, 2007. This marked the third time that a Front Mission title was localized for the North American region. Front Mission Evolved
became the first spin-off entry to be localized in North America and Europe, making it the fourth and second titles respectively to reach those regions. It was released in Japan on September 16, 2010, in North America on September 28, 2010, and in Europe on October 8, 2010.
To date, seven (nine for Europe) Front Mission entries have never been localized and released outside of Japan.
Although Front Mission video games venture into multiple genres, each of them contain core elements that are universal to the entire entries. In the Front Mission series, players use playable units called wanzers, a term for mecha derived from the German word "Wanderpanzer", or "walking tank". Wanzers differ from the typical combat unit in that it has four modular
parts: body, left arm, right arm, and legs. Each part has a specific function and its own health
bar. The legs parts enable movement and evasion, the arm parts are necessary to use hand and shoulder weapons, and the body part maintains the wanzer's operability. In the event the body is destroyed, the wanzer is removed from play completely. Destruction of arm and leg parts does not remove the wanzer from play, but it severely cripples its performance. While the player fights mostly wanzers, vehicles, aircraft, and mobile weapons platforms are also featured. These enemy units generally have only one part, the body, and are much stronger than wanzers themselves.
In the customization aspect of the video games, wanzers can be customized with a variety of parts, computers, auxiliary backpacks, and weapons. The player has full control over customizing their wanzers and can do so as long as its total weight value does not exceed its given power output. To field a wanzer in battle, it must have a complete frame of parts: body, left arm, right arm, and legs. Parts with built-in weapons in the body or arm sections can also be equipped on a wanzer. In most Front Mission titles, computers must also be equipped; these improve the accuracy of the weapons equipped on the wanzer. Auxiliary backpacks and weapons are not mandatory equipment to use wanzers, but are crucial in order to progress through the video games. Auxiliary backpacks serve to give a wanzer special features during combat. For example, storage backpacks allow wanzers to carry ammunition reload or armor repair items.
In terms of weapons, there are four classes of weapons: melee weapons, short-range weapons, long-range weapons, and support fire weapons. Melee weapons are weapons used at melee range and have a tendency to strike the body part of its target. Knuckles, pile bunkers, and rods are examples of melee weapons. Short-range weapons are weapons used at close range and deal damage to all parts of a target. Machine guns, shotguns, and flamethrowers are examples of short-range weapons. Long-range weapons are weapons that have long firing ranges and are ideal for avoiding counterattacks. Sniper rifles, bazookas, and gatling guns are examples of long-range weapons. Support fire weapons are indirect fire weapons; they can never be counterattacked and almost always hit their target, but have limited ammunition supply. Missile launchers, grenade launchers, and rocket launchers are examples of support fire weapons. Lastly, shields can be equipped on wanzers to absorb some of the damage taken from incoming attacks.
Other features
These are other gameplay features that are commonly seen in multiple Front Mission titles.
Oceania Cooperative Union
The Oceania Cooperative Union (OCU) is a supranational union that is made up of countries in Southeast Asia
, Oceania
, and Australia
. The OCU capital, where the OCU Central Parliament operates, is located in Canberra, Australia. The union's roots date back to 2006, when the Association of Southeast Asian Nations reorganized itself into the Bangkok Economic Alliance. The alliance is later renamed into the Oceania Cooperative Union in 2019 and finally consolidates as a political union in 2026.
United States of the New Continent
The United States of the New Continent (USN) is a supranational union North
and South American countries. The USN capital, where the USN Central Government operates, is Washington DC. The union's roots date back to 2011, when its relations with Australia began to sour over the detention of an Australian ship named "The Trinidad". The United States and Canada
begin negotiations on merging with South American countries after the Republic of Zaftra is formed in 2015. These talks culminate in the creation of the USN five years later.
In the localized versions of Front Mission First
, Front Mission 4
, and Front Mission Evolved
, the USN is presented as the Unified Continental States (UCS). The localized version of Front Mission 3
retains the original naming convention.
European Community
The European Community (EC) is a supranational union that is made up of nations in Europe
. The capital, where the EC Central Assembly operates, is Paris, France. The union's roots date back to the European Union
's (EU) genesis in 1993. In the late 1990s, the EU's founding member-states began to convince other European countries to join their banner. The EU is renamed as the European Community in 2005 as the last of the non-EU countries agree to join the bloc.
Organization of African Consolidation
The Organization of African Consolidation (OAC) is an alliance of African countries. The union's roots date back to 2026, when the EC and the OCU assists the African nations to merge as a super-state. Unlike the other unions, the OAC is divided into five regional blocs - the South African United States (SAUS), Union of North African States (UNAS), West African States Community Union (WA), the Community of Central African States (CA), and the East African Community (EA).
Republic of Zaftra
The Republic of Zaftra is a supranational union that is made up of nations from Russia
and the Commonwealth of Independent States
. The Zaftran capital, where the Zaftra Central Administration operates, is located in Moscow, Russia. The union's roots date back to the end of the USSR in 1991. The former Soviet republics struggled to survive on their own after it collapsed, facing economic hardships and civil conflicts. In an attempt to remedy their issues and make capitalism work, the splinter states reformed as the Republic of Zaftra in 2015.
Republic of Ravnui
The Republic of Ravnui is Belarus
renamed after it secedes from the Commonwealth of Independent States
rather than join the Republic of Zaftra in 2015. The nation's capital is Minsk.
People's Republic of Da Han Zhong
The People's Republic of Da Han Zhong (DHZ) is a nation formed from the presumably peaceful reunification of China
and Taiwan
. The nation's capital is Beijing.
and novel
s that are expanded universe supplements to the stories of the Front Mission video games. Likewise, the series has produced two live-action film
s directed by Yoshihiko Dai and a nine-episode radio drama
directed by Hiroshi Yamaguchi, both of which further expand the Front Mission universe. Some of the actors and actresses that have been involved in these productions include Banjō Ginga
, Hiromi Tsuru
, Dax Griffin
, Danielle Keaton
, and Tina Cote. Apart from these media, there have been numerous books, toy
s, and soundtracks
that have been published under the Front Mission brand name.
Square (company)
was a Japanese video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. It merged with Enix in 2003 and became part of Square Enix...
, now Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
. The series was created by Toshiro Tsuchida
Toshiro Tsuchida
is a Japanese game director and game producer who formerly for Square Enix Co., Ltd. . He is most notably credited for creating the Front Mission and Arc the Lad media franchises...
and developed by G-Craft, a studio that was later absorbed by Square and is now with Square Enix as Product Development Division-6. Since the release of the original Front Mission in 1995, the series has gone on to encompass several media, including film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
, novels, radio dramas, mobile phone applications
Mobile game
A mobile game is a video game played on a mobile phone, smartphone, PDA, tablet computer or portable media player. This does not include games played on handheld video game systems such as Nintendo DS or PlayStation Portable....
, and toy
Toy
A toy is any object that can be used for play. Toys are associated commonly with children and pets. Playing with toys is often thought to be an enjoyable means of training the young for life in human society. Different materials are used to make toys enjoyable and cuddly to both young and old...
s. While the series is primarily rooted in the turn-based tactical role-playing
Tactical role-playing game
A tactical role-playing game is a type of video game which incorporates elements of traditional role-playing video games and strategy games. In Japan these games are known as , a designation which might seem peculiar to native English speakers...
genre, it has also ventured into other genres such as side-scrolling shooter, real-time strategy (RTS)
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
, massive multiplayer online(MMO)
Massively multiplayer online game
A massively multiplayer online game is a multiplayer video game which is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played on the Internet, and usually feature at least one persistent world. They are, however, not necessarily games played on...
, and third-person shooter
Third-person shooter
Third-person shooter is a genre of 3D action games in which the player character is visible on-screen, and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting.-Definition:...
through its spin-offs. The Front Mission video games have achieved moderate success, selling over 3 million units worldwide since the release of Front Mission 5: Scars of the War
Front Mission 5: Scars of the War
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on December 29, 2005. Front Mission 5: Scars of the War is the sixth main entry and ninth entry overall in the Front Mission series...
.
The main selling point of Front Mission is its storytelling approach. Taking place during the 21st and 22nd centuries, the series revolves around military conflicts and political tension between powerful supranational union
Supranational union
Supranationalism is a method of decision-making in multi-national political communities, wherein power is transferred or delegated to an authority by governments of member states. The concept of supranational union is sometimes used to describe the European Union, as a new type of political entity...
s and their member states. Although the Front Mission video games use self-contained, standalone stories, these tie into a greater overarching storyline that encompasses the entire series. In combination with the stories from its other media, the series possesses a level of storytelling depth and continuity comparable to a serial drama. Another major draw of Front Mission is its use of giant mecha
Mecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
called "wanzers" (from the German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
word "Wanderpanzer", or walking tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
s) in battle.
Development
There are two types of Front Mission installments: the numbered entries and the non-numbered entries. The numbered Front Mission titles are all structured as tactical role-playing gameTactical role-playing game
A tactical role-playing game is a type of video game which incorporates elements of traditional role-playing video games and strategy games. In Japan these games are known as , a designation which might seem peculiar to native English speakers...
s. All other Front Mission titles that do not have a number assigned to it are genre spin-offs. Each of the four spin-off entries are classified under different genres. Front Mission: Gun Hazard is a side-scrolling shooter video game. Front Mission Alternative is a real-time strategy
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
video game. Front Mission: Online is a massively multiplayer online
Massively multiplayer online game
A massively multiplayer online game is a multiplayer video game which is capable of supporting hundreds or thousands of players simultaneously. By necessity, they are played on the Internet, and usually feature at least one persistent world. They are, however, not necessarily games played on...
third-person shooter
Third-person shooter
Third-person shooter is a genre of 3D action games in which the player character is visible on-screen, and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting.-Definition:...
video game. The recently released Front Mission Evolved is a third-person shooter
Third-person shooter
Third-person shooter is a genre of 3D action games in which the player character is visible on-screen, and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting.-Definition:...
video game with rail shooter segments.
In an RPGamer interview with Front Mission developer Koichi Sakamoto in 2007, he suggests that the development team is interested in combining real-time and turn-based aspects for future installments.
Video games
| 1995 – | – Front Mission Front Mission (video game) is a tactical role-playing game developed by G-Craft and published by Square Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on February 24, 1995 for the Super Famicom. Front Mission is the first main entry and the first entry overall in the Front Mission series... |
|
| 1996 – | – Front Mission: Gun Hazard Front Mission: Gun Hazard is a side-scrolling shooter video game developed by Omiya Soft and published by Square Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on February 23, 1996 for the Nintendo Super Famicom game console. Front Mission: Gun Hazard is the first spin-off entry and the second entry overall in the Front Mission series... |
|
| 1997 – | – Front Mission 2 Front Mission 2 is a tactical role-playing game for the Sony PlayStation developed by G-Craft and published by Square Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on September 25, 1997. Front Mission 2 is the second main entry and the third entry overall in the Front Mission series... – Front Mission Alternative |
|
| 1998 – | ||
| 1999 – | – Front Mission 3 Front Mission 3 is a tactical role-playing game for the PlayStation developed by and published by Square Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on September 2, 1999, and later in North America on March 22, 2000, and in Europe on August 11, 2000. Front Mission 3 is the third main entry and the fifth entry overall in... |
|
| 2000 – | ||
| 2001 – | ||
| 2002 – | ||
| 2003 – | – Front Mission First Front Mission (video game) is a tactical role-playing game developed by G-Craft and published by Square Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on February 24, 1995 for the Super Famicom. Front Mission is the first main entry and the first entry overall in the Front Mission series... – Front Mission History – Front Mission 4 Front Mission 4 is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on December 18, 2003 and in North America on June 15, 2004. Front Mission 4 is the fourth main entry and sixth entry overall in the Front Mission series... |
|
| 2004 – | ||
| 2005 – | – Front Mission 2089 Front Mission 2089 is a tactical role-playing game developed by Square Enix Co., Ltd., MSF, and Winds, and was published and released in Japan by Square Enix Co., Ltd. in 2005 and 2008 for the mobile phones. The game was released on March 7, 2005 , October 27, 2005 , and June 18, 2008... – Front Mission: Online Front Mission: Online is a massively multiplayer online , third-person shooter video game developed by and published by Square Enix Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on May 12, 2005 for the PlayStation 2, and on December 8, 2005 for the PC. Front Mission: Online is the third spin-off entry and the eighth entry... – Front Mission 5: Scars of the War Front Mission 5: Scars of the War is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on December 29, 2005. Front Mission 5: Scars of the War is the sixth main entry and ninth entry overall in the Front Mission series... |
|
| 2006 – | – Front Mission 2089-II Front Mission 2089-II is a tactical role-playing game developed by Square Enix Co., Ltd., MSF, and Winds, and was published and released in Japan by Square Enix Co., Ltd. in 2006 and 2008 for the mobile phones. The game was released on September 15, 2006 and February 21, 2008... |
|
| 2007 – | ||
| 2008 – | – Front Mission 2089: Border of Madness Front Mission 2089 is a tactical role-playing game developed by Square Enix Co., Ltd., MSF, and Winds, and was published and released in Japan by Square Enix Co., Ltd. in 2005 and 2008 for the mobile phones. The game was released on March 7, 2005 , October 27, 2005 , and June 18, 2008... |
|
| 2009 – | ||
| 2010 – | – Front Mission Evolved Front Mission Evolved is a third-person shooter video game developed by Double Helix Games and published by Square Enix Co., Ltd. and was released in Japan on September 16, 2010, September 28, 2010 in North America, and October 8, 2010 in Europe. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360... |
Since 1995, the Front Mission series has released 11 video games, seven of which are main (numbered) entries and the other four are spin-off entries. Additionally, the series has spawned a number of video game ports, remakes, and compilations over its 15-year history. On July 12, 2002, a direct port of Front Mission
Front Mission (video game)
is a tactical role-playing game developed by G-Craft and published by Square Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on February 24, 1995 for the Super Famicom. Front Mission is the first main entry and the first entry overall in the Front Mission series...
was released for the Bandai WonderSwan Color. A year later, the video game entry received a Sony PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
remake under the title Front Mission First on October 23, 2003. Shortly after its release, a compilation titled Front Mission History was released in Japan on December 11, 2003. The compilation contained the Front Mission First remake, a modified Front Mission 2
Front Mission 2
is a tactical role-playing game for the Sony PlayStation developed by G-Craft and published by Square Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on September 25, 1997. Front Mission 2 is the second main entry and the third entry overall in the Front Mission series...
, and Front Mission 3
Front Mission 3
is a tactical role-playing game for the PlayStation developed by and published by Square Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on September 2, 1999, and later in North America on March 22, 2000, and in Europe on August 11, 2000. Front Mission 3 is the third main entry and the fifth entry overall in...
. Front Mission First also spawned an enhanced port of the game on March 22, 2007 for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
. A second remake for Front Mission 2089
Front Mission 2089
is a tactical role-playing game developed by Square Enix Co., Ltd., MSF, and Winds, and was published and released in Japan by Square Enix Co., Ltd. in 2005 and 2008 for the mobile phones. The game was released on March 7, 2005 , October 27, 2005 , and June 18, 2008...
was developed and titled as Front Mission 2089: Border of Madness
Front Mission 2089
is a tactical role-playing game developed by Square Enix Co., Ltd., MSF, and Winds, and was published and released in Japan by Square Enix Co., Ltd. in 2005 and 2008 for the mobile phones. The game was released on March 7, 2005 , October 27, 2005 , and June 18, 2008...
. This remake was released for the Nintendo DS in Japan on May 29, 2008.
While all Front Mission video games have seen releases in Japan, only a few been localized overseas. Front Mission 3
Front Mission 3
is a tactical role-playing game for the PlayStation developed by and published by Square Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on September 2, 1999, and later in North America on March 22, 2000, and in Europe on August 11, 2000. Front Mission 3 is the third main entry and the fifth entry overall in...
was the first entry to receive both a North American and European localization on March 22, 2000 and August 11, 2000 respectively. Front Mission 4
Front Mission 4
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on December 18, 2003 and in North America on June 15, 2004. Front Mission 4 is the fourth main entry and sixth entry overall in the Front Mission series...
became the second entry to undergo an English localization and was released in North America on June 15, 2004. A three-year gap followed before the localization of the Nintendo DS port of Front Mission First, which saw a release in North America on October 23, 2007. This marked the third time that a Front Mission title was localized for the North American region. Front Mission Evolved
Front Mission Evolved
is a third-person shooter video game developed by Double Helix Games and published by Square Enix Co., Ltd. and was released in Japan on September 16, 2010, September 28, 2010 in North America, and October 8, 2010 in Europe. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360...
became the first spin-off entry to be localized in North America and Europe, making it the fourth and second titles respectively to reach those regions. It was released in Japan on September 16, 2010, in North America on September 28, 2010, and in Europe on October 8, 2010.
To date, seven (nine for Europe) Front Mission entries have never been localized and released outside of Japan.
Gameplay
Core featuresAlthough Front Mission video games venture into multiple genres, each of them contain core elements that are universal to the entire entries. In the Front Mission series, players use playable units called wanzers, a term for mecha derived from the German word "Wanderpanzer", or "walking tank". Wanzers differ from the typical combat unit in that it has four modular
Modular design
Modular design, or "modularity in design" is an approach that subdivides a system into smaller parts that can be independently created and then used in different systems to drive multiple functionalities...
parts: body, left arm, right arm, and legs. Each part has a specific function and its own health
Health (gaming)
Health is a game mechanic used in role-playing, computer and video games to give value to characters, enemies, NPCs, and related objects. This value can either be numerical, semi-numerical as in hit/health points, or arbitrary as in a life bar....
bar. The legs parts enable movement and evasion, the arm parts are necessary to use hand and shoulder weapons, and the body part maintains the wanzer's operability. In the event the body is destroyed, the wanzer is removed from play completely. Destruction of arm and leg parts does not remove the wanzer from play, but it severely cripples its performance. While the player fights mostly wanzers, vehicles, aircraft, and mobile weapons platforms are also featured. These enemy units generally have only one part, the body, and are much stronger than wanzers themselves.
In the customization aspect of the video games, wanzers can be customized with a variety of parts, computers, auxiliary backpacks, and weapons. The player has full control over customizing their wanzers and can do so as long as its total weight value does not exceed its given power output. To field a wanzer in battle, it must have a complete frame of parts: body, left arm, right arm, and legs. Parts with built-in weapons in the body or arm sections can also be equipped on a wanzer. In most Front Mission titles, computers must also be equipped; these improve the accuracy of the weapons equipped on the wanzer. Auxiliary backpacks and weapons are not mandatory equipment to use wanzers, but are crucial in order to progress through the video games. Auxiliary backpacks serve to give a wanzer special features during combat. For example, storage backpacks allow wanzers to carry ammunition reload or armor repair items.
In terms of weapons, there are four classes of weapons: melee weapons, short-range weapons, long-range weapons, and support fire weapons. Melee weapons are weapons used at melee range and have a tendency to strike the body part of its target. Knuckles, pile bunkers, and rods are examples of melee weapons. Short-range weapons are weapons used at close range and deal damage to all parts of a target. Machine guns, shotguns, and flamethrowers are examples of short-range weapons. Long-range weapons are weapons that have long firing ranges and are ideal for avoiding counterattacks. Sniper rifles, bazookas, and gatling guns are examples of long-range weapons. Support fire weapons are indirect fire weapons; they can never be counterattacked and almost always hit their target, but have limited ammunition supply. Missile launchers, grenade launchers, and rocket launchers are examples of support fire weapons. Lastly, shields can be equipped on wanzers to absorb some of the damage taken from incoming attacks.
Other features
These are other gameplay features that are commonly seen in multiple Front Mission titles.
- Arena, introduced in Front Mission, allows the player to participate in special fights to earn monetary rewards or new parts. These fights take place in either individual matches, or team battles. This feature is also present in Front Mission 2, Front Mission 5: Scars of the War, Front Mission 2089: Border of Madness, and Front Mission: Online.
- Action Points (AP), introduced in Front Mission 2, determines the amount of actions that can be taken during a Player and Enemy Phase. Every action, such as movement or counterattacks, has a certain AP cost. After one full turn (which is made up of one Player Phase and Enemy Phase) has passed, a set amount of AP is recharged. This feature is also present in Front Mission 3, Front Mission 4, and Front Mission 5: Scars of the War.
- Links, introduced in Front Mission 2, allows multiple units to assist each other in battles. A linked unit can provide support to other units offensively and defensively. This feature is also present in Front Mission 3, Front Mission 4, Front Mission 5: Scars of the War, and Front Mission 2089: Border of Madness.
- Network, introduced in Front Mission 2, is a pseudo-Internet that allows players to gain a better understanding of the Front Mission world, its characters, and the storyline through a series of websites and web pages. The player can also access online shopping (to purchase new equipment), battle simulations, and check e-mail messages through the Network. This feature is also present in Front Mission 3.
- Battle Simulator, introduced in Front Mission 3, allows the player to participate in VRVRVR may refer to:In communications:* Vatican Radio, the official broadcasting service of the VaticanIn music:* Vengeance Rising, a Christian thrash metal band* Velvet Revolver, a hard rock supergroupIn people:...
training exercises. These training exercises can be used to increase the fighting proficiencies of the player's pilots and can be taken as many times as needed. This feature is also present in Front Mission 4, and Front Mission 5: Scars of the War.
- Survival Simulator, introduced in Front Mission 5: Scars of the War, is a survival simulation in which the player goes through a set number of floors with one pilot. Along the way, parts and weapons can be collected and brought back for usage in the main game upon the completion of a simulation. This feature is also present in Front Mission 2089-II.
Fictional Nations
These are the fictional nations that play a major role in the Front Mission series.Oceania Cooperative Union
The Oceania Cooperative Union (OCU) is a supranational union that is made up of countries in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, Oceania
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
, and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The OCU capital, where the OCU Central Parliament operates, is located in Canberra, Australia. The union's roots date back to 2006, when the Association of Southeast Asian Nations reorganized itself into the Bangkok Economic Alliance. The alliance is later renamed into the Oceania Cooperative Union in 2019 and finally consolidates as a political union in 2026.
United States of the New Continent
The United States of the New Continent (USN) is a supranational union North
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and South American countries. The USN capital, where the USN Central Government operates, is Washington DC. The union's roots date back to 2011, when its relations with Australia began to sour over the detention of an Australian ship named "The Trinidad". The United States and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
begin negotiations on merging with South American countries after the Republic of Zaftra is formed in 2015. These talks culminate in the creation of the USN five years later.
In the localized versions of Front Mission First
Front Mission (video game)
is a tactical role-playing game developed by G-Craft and published by Square Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on February 24, 1995 for the Super Famicom. Front Mission is the first main entry and the first entry overall in the Front Mission series...
, Front Mission 4
Front Mission 4
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on December 18, 2003 and in North America on June 15, 2004. Front Mission 4 is the fourth main entry and sixth entry overall in the Front Mission series...
, and Front Mission Evolved
Front Mission Evolved
is a third-person shooter video game developed by Double Helix Games and published by Square Enix Co., Ltd. and was released in Japan on September 16, 2010, September 28, 2010 in North America, and October 8, 2010 in Europe. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360...
, the USN is presented as the Unified Continental States (UCS). The localized version of Front Mission 3
Front Mission 3
is a tactical role-playing game for the PlayStation developed by and published by Square Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on September 2, 1999, and later in North America on March 22, 2000, and in Europe on August 11, 2000. Front Mission 3 is the third main entry and the fifth entry overall in...
retains the original naming convention.
European Community
The European Community (EC) is a supranational union that is made up of nations in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The capital, where the EC Central Assembly operates, is Paris, France. The union's roots date back to the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
's (EU) genesis in 1993. In the late 1990s, the EU's founding member-states began to convince other European countries to join their banner. The EU is renamed as the European Community in 2005 as the last of the non-EU countries agree to join the bloc.
Organization of African Consolidation
The Organization of African Consolidation (OAC) is an alliance of African countries. The union's roots date back to 2026, when the EC and the OCU assists the African nations to merge as a super-state. Unlike the other unions, the OAC is divided into five regional blocs - the South African United States (SAUS), Union of North African States (UNAS), West African States Community Union (WA), the Community of Central African States (CA), and the East African Community (EA).
Republic of Zaftra
The Republic of Zaftra is a supranational union that is made up of nations from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and the Commonwealth of Independent States
Commonwealth of Independent States
The Commonwealth of Independent States is a regional organization whose participating countries are former Soviet Republics, formed during the breakup of the Soviet Union....
. The Zaftran capital, where the Zaftra Central Administration operates, is located in Moscow, Russia. The union's roots date back to the end of the USSR in 1991. The former Soviet republics struggled to survive on their own after it collapsed, facing economic hardships and civil conflicts. In an attempt to remedy their issues and make capitalism work, the splinter states reformed as the Republic of Zaftra in 2015.
Republic of Ravnui
The Republic of Ravnui is Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
renamed after it secedes from the Commonwealth of Independent States
Commonwealth of Independent States
The Commonwealth of Independent States is a regional organization whose participating countries are former Soviet Republics, formed during the breakup of the Soviet Union....
rather than join the Republic of Zaftra in 2015. The nation's capital is Minsk.
People's Republic of Da Han Zhong
The People's Republic of Da Han Zhong (DHZ) is a nation formed from the presumably peaceful reunification of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. The nation's capital is Beijing.
Related media
Since 1994, the Front Mission series has spawned numerous products in various media outside of video games. The series has a long-running line of mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
and novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s that are expanded universe supplements to the stories of the Front Mission video games. Likewise, the series has produced two live-action film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s directed by Yoshihiko Dai and a nine-episode radio drama
Radio drama
Radio drama is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story...
directed by Hiroshi Yamaguchi, both of which further expand the Front Mission universe. Some of the actors and actresses that have been involved in these productions include Banjō Ginga
Banjo Ginga
, sometimes credited as his real name , is a Japanese voice actor who was born in Kofu, Yamanashi. Ginga is currently affiliated with Aoni Production...
, Hiromi Tsuru
Hiromi Tsuru
is a Japanese voice actress from Kanagawa Prefecture. She is currently affiliated with Aoni Production.She is most known for the roles of Bulma , Ukyo Kuonji , Dokin-chan , Madoka Ayukawa , Miyuki Kashima , Reiko Mikami and Naomi Hunter is a Japanese voice actress from Kanagawa Prefecture. She...
, Dax Griffin
Dax Griffin
-Career:Griffin is known for his role as Tim Truman on the NBC serial Sunset Beach from January 1997 until November 1999. He had one more appearance in the series finale in a dream sequence. He also played assistant district attorney Justin McCoy on All My Children in 2003.Griffin joined the cast...
, Danielle Keaton
Danielle Keaton
Danielle Wiener Keaton is an American actress from Pasadena, California. She is sister of the singer and actor Josh Keaton.- Filmography :-External links:...
, and Tina Cote. Apart from these media, there have been numerous books, toy
Toy
A toy is any object that can be used for play. Toys are associated commonly with children and pets. Playing with toys is often thought to be an enjoyable means of training the young for life in human society. Different materials are used to make toys enjoyable and cuddly to both young and old...
s, and soundtracks
Soundtracks
Soundtracks may refer to:* The plural of soundtrack* Soundtracks * Soundtracks , an album by Tony Banks of Genesis...
that have been published under the Front Mission brand name.
External links
- Front Mission official website at Square-Enix.com
- Ten-Mou / Worldwide Network System
- FrontMission.info