Front Mission 3
Release Date: September 2, 1999
Tactical Japanese RPG, in which players lead a team of two-legged robotic pilots, vanzers. Production is considered to be one of the best in the history of the species.
Prepared by veteran jRPG specialists at Squaresoft, the discussed title is a strategy game with turn-based combat of heavily-armed mechs. The title is distinguished by its excellent audiovisuals, two storylines to choose from and refined mechanics.
Story
Depending on the decision made in the first hours of the game, the players can get to know one of the two stories prepared by the devs. The characters of two pilots, Kazuki Takemura and Ryogo Kusama, are the element connecting them. The action is set in 2112, and its background are, among others, events connected with political conflict and actions of countries wishing to leave the OCU federation. Within each version of the story, players will have a chance to encounter many distinctive characters, as well as discover details of the futuristic vision of the world created by Japanese artists.
Mechanics
Front Mission 3 departs from its predecessor's emphasis on strategy to develop RPG elements. The game is built on a simple formula - players get to know the subsequent events through scenes generated on the game engine, then participate in turn-based battles, after which they gain a chance to modify/improve their wanzers, as the mechs are called, before they set off for the next objective.
Battles in the game take place in squared arenas, on which piloted machines move using AP (action points). The points also used to determine the number of actions available in a given turn for each hero. Both sides of the conflict move alternately. In battles, machines use installed weapons, from melee weapons to rifles, shotguns and rocket launchers. Every wanzer is formed by several structural elements, each of which has its own strength points. The developers have envisaged the possibility of immobilizing the a wanzer by damaging the legs or disarming it with a well-aimed shot to the arm. There is even the option of wounding the pilot or ejecting and continuing the fight on foot, or even taking over an abandoned unit.
The devs have prepared many different objectives that are waiting to be performed - from traditional elimination of all enemies on the map, to the protection of a selected wanzer and reaching a specific place within the imposed time limit. The cornerstone of immersion in the game world is the fictional World Wide Web, operating in Front Mission 3, where you can find a lot of information about current events and the whole world of 2112.
Technical aspects
Front Mission 3 is based on a 3D engine and, like many other Squaresoft titles, stands out from the rest of the genre in terms of detail and texture quality. The advantage of the game is the soundtrack prepared by Koi Hayama, Hayato Matsuo and SHIGEKI.
Last updated on April 15, 2020
Front Mission 3 Summary
Game Series: Front Mission
Platforms:
PlayStation 1
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Age restrictions: 16+
