Front Mission Evolved
- October 7, 2010
- Double Helix Games
- 10h median play time
Get on SteamFront Mission Evolved is a third-person shooter set in 2171, where the world is divided into two superpowers, U.C.S. and O.C.U. After an U.C.S. orbital elevator is destroyed, young engineer Dylan Ramsey is caught in a new war between the two factions. The game features fast-paced action in various locations, customizable weapons and parts, and online multiplayer.
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Playstation 3
Xbox
Xbox 360
Reviews
- Solid mech gameplay with good customization options
- Fast-paced action that keeps players engaged
- Nostalgic for fans of the original Front Mission series
- Weak story and character development that feels clichéd
- Frequent crashes, especially during on-foot missions
- Limited multiplayer support with a dead player base
- story917 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story of "Front Mission Evolved" has received largely negative feedback, with many reviewers describing it as clichéd, predictable, and poorly executed. Critics highlight the lack of depth in character development and narrative, often comparing it unfavorably to previous entries in the franchise, which were known for their intricate plots and strategic gameplay. While some players found enjoyment in the mech combat and customization, they generally agree that the story fails to engage, making it a weak point in an otherwise action-oriented game.
“The game features a fully voice-acted story campaign with lots of cinematics and very cool moment-to-moment gameplay.”
“The narrative is well-crafted, drawing me into its world with compelling characters and plot twists.”
“The story is not that original, but it suits the classic 'Front Mission' feeling; if you liked old 'Front Mission' games, there is a good chance you will like this one also.”
“The story is terrible but the gameplay and customization is actually great.”
“The story is a travesty.”
“The story is god awful.”
- gameplay219 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by solid mech mechanics and extensive customization options, providing a fun experience for fans of the genre. However, it suffers from clunky controls, repetitive combat, and poorly designed on-foot sections, which detract from the overall enjoyment. While some players appreciate the fast-paced action reminiscent of titles like Armored Core, others find the gameplay lacking depth and variety, leading to mixed reviews.
“Good gameplay and fun to play.. best Front Mission ever.”
“The gameplay is very smooth and good.”
“The gameplay itself is great, fun and reminiscent of the Armored Core games.”
“The game mechanics are clunky, the combat is underwhelming and rapidly repetitive, and I can't advance the story any further because it just decides to crash after 5 minutes into the 'hero' mission.”
“The gameplay experienced is constantly plagued with hard crashes to desktop.”
“Clunky controls, limited customization options, few RPG options, no choices, lack of variety in gameplay all combine to make this game an insipid waste of your time.”
- graphics78 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, with many reviewers noting that they do not hold up well by modern standards. While some appreciate the visual style and find it decent for its age, others criticize the bland colors, lack of optimization, and frequent performance issues, particularly in crowded areas. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics may not be impressive, they are playable and can still provide an enjoyable experience for fans of the genre.
“Beautiful graphic renderings of wanzers, though they felt too stubby.”
“Good game overall, graphics are good, story is simple but good, you can feel the Front Mission vibe and if you love the franchise, go ahead, you won't be disappointed.”
“Graphically, the game looks pretty good, though it might be a bit dated by now.”
“While the graphics are a little outdated by today's standards, the sound design fully makes up for this.”
“On top of that, the game is not optimized at all; the graphics are bad (even for the year of release). Some missions can often crash (had to replay a mission 5 times to complete it), which made me rush the mission resulting in missing some collectibles. In crowded areas, the game lags a lot even if you have a good PC, mouse movement doesn't feel smooth, and the list goes on...”
“The graphics didn't age very well, but the combat is solid.”
- stability12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The game's stability is notably compromised during the on-foot missions, particularly the "war hero" mission, where players experience significant bugs and crashes. While the mech sections run smoothly and provide enjoyable gameplay, the human mode suffers from unresponsive controls and glitches, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these issues, some players still find enjoyment in the game's light-hearted nature.
“Honestly, the mech part of the game isn't bad and I was having fun until I got to the foot sections, and that's where the game gets really buggy and crash-heavy.”
“The on-foot sections are so generic, underdeveloped, and buggy.”
“Everything about this game is a let-down, from the incoherent story, poorly implemented customization, forced and buggy on-foot sections, generic audio offerings, and unlikeable characters.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be overly tedious, often requiring repetitive gameplay to gather resources and upgrade gear, particularly for challenging boss fights. This emphasis on grinding can lead to frustration, especially when players feel compelled to replay levels to collect necessary items for progression. Overall, while the game has its merits, the grinding experience is frequently described as a significant drawback.
“Just way too tedious.”
“Nice game, but in some levels it puts a lot of emphasis on grinding.”
“It got a little frustrating during some of the boss battles since I rushed through and didn't gather all the money pickups, and since I couldn't find any cheats to compensate, I ended up grinding one particular level over and over in order to earn enough cash to upgrade my mech adequately for the last boss fight.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional hilarity and absurdity, with players finding amusement in its poorly executed story and dialogue, as well as the over-the-top mecha anime clichés. While some aspects are genuinely funny, the overall execution is seen as lackluster, leading to laughter more from the game's shortcomings than intentional comedic elements.
“Hokey gameplay and story that had me laughing at its absurdity more than anything.”
“It blows right past the point where the mecha anime genre cliches are annoying to the point where they're so damned hilarious you can't help but chuckle to yourself.”
“Sometimes the terrible dubs made me laugh quite hard.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with users reporting frequent crashes, particularly during specific missions, and poor graphics quality for its release year. While some note that it runs well on low-end PCs, the overall performance issues, including lag in crowded areas and unresponsive mouse movement, detract from the experience, leading many to recommend caution before purchasing.
“It's also perfect for low-end PCs since it's such a good port, very well optimized.”
“On top of that, the game is not optimized at all. The graphics are bad (even for the year of release), some missions can often crash (I had to replay a mission 5 times to complete it), which made me rush the mission resulting in missing some collectibles. In crowded areas, the game lags a lot even if you have a good PC, mouse movement doesn't feel smooth, and the list goes on...”
“Really wished this game was optimized for the PC rather than being a shoddily done Xbox 360 port.”
“Performance: repeated crashes during 'on-foot-outside-of-mech' missions, no fix has been found.”
- music12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely criticized as generic and forgettable, lacking any memorable qualities. While some players noted that it fits the game's style, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is uninspired and does not stand out.
“The controls are decent and responsive; the music goes well with the game style.”
“The soundtrack is generic and forgettable.”
“If I had to criticize one aspect of the game, it would be its rather uninspired music soundtrack, and a sort of console polish that is shared by games like Prototype and Darksiders.”
“If I had to criticize one aspect of the game, it would be its rather uninspired music soundtrack, and a sort of console polish that is shared by games like Prototype and Darksiders.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with many players noting that the main campaign is short, lasting around 8 hours, and offers little incentive to revisit. Despite some customization options, the overall experience does not encourage repeated play, leading to a consensus that the game has virtually no replay value.
“There is literally no replay value, and if I could, I would return it, even after playing for almost 19 hours.”
“However, you probably won't use or try a lot of those customizations out as the main campaign is very short (I beat the whole thing in about 8 hours) and there really isn't a whole lot of replayability.”
“All this combines to make little to no replayability.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of aggressive monetization tactics, distinguishing it from many modern titles that are perceived as cash grabs. Reviewers appreciate the absence of exploitative practices, highlighting a more player-friendly approach to monetization.
“There is no aggressive monetization by greedy individuals trying to squeeze out every last penny.”
“There is no aggressive monetization made by greedy morons to reap a last penny.”
“Modern rushed, cash-grabbing games are not a match for this game.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players experience nostalgia and fond memories associated with controlling mechs, others criticize it for lacking emotional and plot depth, describing the gameplay as repetitive and uninspiring.
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is steeped in nostalgia for Front Mission fans, evoking a sense of charm through familiar elements like the winee rifle and egret missile launcher, all while maintaining a distinctly mecha-themed ambiance.
“This is a nostalgic title for Front Mission fans; it's charming to see old friends like the Winee rifle and the Egret missile launcher in a very different, but still quite mecha-atmospheric play style.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game appears to be underdeveloped, with many users noting that there are indications of a more in-depth narrative and character arcs that were ultimately not fully realized. This lack of depth leaves players feeling that the potential for richer storytelling was missed.
“There are hints here and there that suggest there was going to be more in-depth plot and character development, but apparently it was just decided against or something.”
