FRONT MISSION 2: Remake
- April 30, 2024
- Storm Trident S.A.
- 18h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"FRONT MISSION 2: Remake" is a tactical RPG, remake of the second game in the main Front Mission series. The game takes place 12 years after the Huffman conflict, where players will switch between three characters uncovering a conspiracy behind a coup in the impoverished People's Republic of Alordesh. Experience intense strategy and a deep storyline in this long-awaited release.
PC
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Xbox
Reviews
- The game retains the classic Front Mission experience with deeper tactical gameplay, including new mechanics like Action Points and armor types.
- The graphics and character designs have been improved, making the game visually appealing while still being true to the original.
- Fans of the series will appreciate the engaging story and the ability to customize mechs, providing a nostalgic yet fresh experience.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including issues with save data, dialogue loops, and glitches that can disrupt gameplay.
- The user interface is clunky and outdated, making navigation and combat management frustrating for players.
- The difficulty balance is uneven, with some missions feeling unfairly challenging, leading to a reliance on luck rather than strategy.
- story89 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of Front Mission 2's remake is described as engaging yet flawed, with a mix of political intrigue and military drama that fans of the series appreciate. However, many reviewers note that the pacing can be slow and the narrative lacks the depth and excitement of the first game, leading to a somewhat predictable experience. Additionally, technical issues and bugs detract from the overall storytelling, making it feel less polished compared to its predecessor.
“The story is interesting, but FM1 was better; however, FM2 still kept me engaged.”
“I did enjoy the story, as, like many other Front Mission games, it is a conspiracy that unfolds throughout the game.”
“The story, I think the second half of the game gets pretty boring.”
“I'm conflicted about the storyline: on one hand, it's not as crazy as in the first game and the characters have a bit more, uh, character, in them; on the other hand, twists and turns are predictable and kind of meh.”
“The story, just like the first one, deals with groups of people stuck in the middle of a geopolitical power struggle, though it admittedly lacks a bit of punch due to quality-control issues with the translation that make it difficult to judge.”
- gameplay24 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Gameplay in the latest installment of the Front Mission series offers a mix of classic mechanics and new elements, such as action points and ammo limits, which can enhance strategic depth but also lead to frustration due to unclear mechanics and uneven difficulty. While the 3D graphics have seen some improvement, the user interface is criticized for being outdated and hindering the overall experience. Players are advised to engage with the tutorial to better understand the complex systems, as the game often fails to communicate its mechanics effectively.
“The game expands on the core gameplay from Front Mission 1/remake by adding elements such as action points, armor resistances, ammo limits, status effects, and other tweaks that change the dynamic of how battles will play out.”
“The gameplay is fun, but the UI desperately needs to be cleaned up and modernized a bit for this game to shine; it would not be removing any of the difficulty or depth of strategy to make your players better informed.”
“Do yourself a favor and go through the tutorial; it helps a lot to actually understand game mechanics.”
“Several cutscenes are busted and auto-repeat, and it's nearly impossible to aim for the achievements related to enemy surrender mechanics because an enemy surrendering has a chance to brick the game.”
“The difficulty in general is very uneven: some missions are almost impossible to win if you're not an expert in game mechanics, while others are as simple as you can imagine.”
“The UI is absolutely awful; it makes the gameplay feel horrendous.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the improvements and enhanced visual effects compared to the original, while others criticize the animations and overall quality as basic or subpar. Issues such as graphics settings not being saved and various graphical glitches detract from the experience. Overall, while there are notable enhancements, the graphics still fall short of modern standards and can feel outdated at times.
“The graphics are great and the levels are perfectly recreated from the original.”
“They seriously improved the graphics, visual effects, and music - everything looks and sounds way better.”
“This remake is more than I could hope for: they kept the game as it was, while improving the graphics.”
“While not too jarring, the graphics and animations are a bit basic and sometimes even subpar.”
“The other issue is that it doesn't remember my graphics settings; it keeps resetting to a default fullscreen 640p instead of a windowed 4k.”
“Downgraded combat view of the mechs just quickly making an attack instead of moving on the battlefield and actually fighting like in the original PS1 release. 2008 graphics, they did not bother to even paint over UV sims on the hard rod, basic animations from the same period, and the mechs' attacks look just basic, almost like toys.”
- stability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The game suffers from numerous bugs, particularly in the map and dialogue, leading to a frustrating experience for players. While the core gameplay elements like battles and mech customization are mostly stable, the overall stability is compromised by glitches, awkward menus, and a lack of autosave functionality. Players are advised to save frequently and may encounter issues with achievements due to these bugs.
“The actual battles and mech customization, the meat and potatoes of this game, are generally bug-free.”
“I appreciate how stable the game runs during intense battles; it really enhances the overall experience.”
“The game's performance is impressive, with minimal crashes or glitches, allowing for a smooth gameplay experience.”
“It is extremely buggy.”
“I cannot believe how buggy this is; basic testing would have revealed some of these bugs.”
“There are some typos in the dialogue, the menus are awkward, there’s no autosave, and I saw some graphical glitches during my playthrough.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the music in the game has received positive feedback, with many players noting significant improvements in quality and enjoyment compared to previous installments. Some users specifically highlight the music as a standout feature, complementing the game's characters and visuals.
“They seriously improved the graphics, visual effects, and music - everything looks and sounds way better.”
“I liked the characters, art, and music though.”
“Fm1 has this crazy plot and borked but fun eat or be eaten balance, while fm3 has peak gameplay mechanics, just as good characters, and even better music.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
In the transition from the first to the second installment, players note a shift in grinding mechanics; while the first game required grinding for levels and skills in the arena, the sequel limits skill acquisition to specific missions, reducing the need for extensive grinding.
“In the first game, you could grind for levels and skills in the arena, but in the sequel, you can only gain those skills through missions.”
“The grinding in this game feels tedious and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I found the grinding mechanics to be overly time-consuming, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely unintentional, stemming from outdated graphics and animations that make combat appear comical rather than engaging, with mechs and tanks exhibiting absurd behaviors that detract from the overall experience. Players find the lack of polish and the simplistic attack mechanics laughable, leading to a perception of the game as more of a parody than a serious contender.
