Front Mission Evolved

Robot battles...who doesn't love them...but don't let us "so" down!

Developer: Double Helix Games

Publisher: Square Enix Co, Ltd

Platform: Microsoft Windows, X-Box360, PS3

Release dates: October 8, 2010

Players: 1, online multiplayer

System Requirements: OS:Windows XP/Vista/7, Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or AMD Athlon 64 x2 2.4 GHz, 2GB RAM (XP), 3GB RAM (Vista/7), 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800 series graphics card or better, DirectX: 9.0c, 11 GB Free Space, DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card

This is year 2171. The world has been divided in 4 major corporations, who fight for total domination. With technology allowing the usage of more sophisticated surveillance methods and satellites, those corporations have build space elevators, large structures which connect Earth and space stations. Cold War has broken between those corporations, monitoring and waiting for an excuse to start a war.

The story begins with a USN engineer Dylan Ramsey. He is testing a new type of robot combat suit (aka “Wanzer”). In the middle of the test the USN space elevator is being attacked by an unknown force. The defenders were taken by surprise; nearly none had enough time to mount a Wanzer and defend the base. Dylan worried about his father, rushes with the prototype to rescue his father who is in a building near the elevator. On his way he aids a few USN soldiers and faces the Apollo chariots leader (a mercenary group). Generally, Dylan tries to find his dad, find out what is going on; save the world and get the girl (typical Japanese plot, there will be some crying too).

Gameplay

Wanzer customization is the heart and fun, if you like, of the game. There are many types of Wanzer parts to choose from and weapons. Each type has its own unique parts, for example: Zaphyr A torso, Zaphyr A Legs, Zaphyr A, Right/Left arm. Each torso produces a certain amount of power, which is necessary for mounting heavy armored parts and more powerful weapons. It also effect the turning speed of the torso. Some types for example have a very slow turning rate making it hard for them to track and shoot down a very fast opponent. When the torso’s armor is worn out the Wanzer gets destroyed. Legs affect the speed of the Wanzer. Being fast enough to get to cover until the torsos nanites repair it, or get to a lying health pack, is vital for your survival. Bear in mind that slower parts are the most armored. Arms affect targeting at excessive firing. A destroyed arm offers poor targeting even in controlled bursts.

There are many weapons types to choose from: both arm and shoulder weapons.

Arm weapons are: Light/Medium Submachine Guns, Assault Rifles, Burst Rifles, Shotguns, Melee, Shield, Bazookas and Sniper rifles, the last two types can’t be dual wielded.

Shoulder weapons are: Miniguns, Rockets, tracking Missiles and Grenade launchers.

There are also backpack parts which give the Wanzer some extra abilities or ammo.

For example the Agility back pack allows the Wanzer to fly and skate its way out of danger.

Finally each weapon can use some special abilities, which will shorten the fights and help win any boss fight much quicker.

You can also change the Wanzer’s look; simply you change the color of every part as you like, use badges and camouflage tattoos, which unfortunately are 4-5 to choose from.

That was the good part. Dylan Ramsey is an engineer in a prototype combat suit and totally pawns enemy trained personnel and experienced soldiers. Skipping this, all your allies actually do ZERO damage to the enemies, they get no aggression and they do not provide any sort of assistance even when you are about to explode. This can be explained by the fact that each enemy destroyed offers you a sum of money, money that are to be used in the customization panel (a Fixed amount of money earned at the end of the mission would have allowed a much better AI, hopefully). If the A.I of your allies was better the whole gaming experience would have been a lot better.

This will get you frustrated at the beginning but after you get the hang of it you won’t really have any problem. Enemy A.I however is a lot better, when you missile lock them, the fast medium assault Wanzers will most probably dodge them by covering behind a structure, other heavier Wanzers will either stand still and take the hit or walk towards them. Generally, however, such poor AI could have been avoided.

Furthermore, the game can be finished, even in the hard difficulty, within only 4-6 hours (neglecting the customization panel).

Multiplayer

The multiplayer, on the contrary, can offer an extreme gaming experience. Tactical gameplay among the players can result to great battles and lots of fun. Weapons and parts are unlocked as you progress in levels. Unfortunately, there aren’t many players online and to join a game it will take plenty of waiting, for a game with less than 8 players.

Graphics

The graphics are very nice, although it should have supported DirectX 11. The sceneries are not of the highest quality, poor would have been most appropriate. Emphasis has been given on the Wanzer designs and animation, and easily we can say that in this part the developers have been successful. The rest of the world is rather disappointing.

Sound

There aren’t many to be said about the sound. The sound effects are truly magnificent and that is all to say (the sound the Wanzer makes when it walks is very nice). Music is supposed to be accompanying you in the battles to save the world, but it should be better to turn it off due to the fact that the soundtracks are horrible. The voiceovers are those too of poor quality, say, if the dialogues are poor so should the voice be.

Summarizing

This title would have been a great hit if it had a decent plot (how can the Wanzer be synchronized with the human nerve system, when the user sits in a chair uses sticks to move around has no cables wired at his body and another one person can control his mind!!!???), better A.I, better sceneries and a decent soundtrack background.

For its price I think it shouldn’t be part of any collection.

Prons: Robot customization, boss battles
Cons: Poor A.I, not long enough, naive plot, no custom battles

Plot 3

Gameplay 6

Graphics 6

Sound 2

Constitution 7

General 5