Front Mission series
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Front Mission (フロントミッション Furonto Misshon?) is a series of turn-based tactical role-playing video games produced by Squaresoft, now Square Enix. The series was created by Toshiro Tsuchida. It began in 1995 with the release of the first game, Front Mission.
The main draw of Front Mission is the use of giant mecha called "Wanzers" (from the German "Wanderung Panzer", or walking tanks) in battle. The storyline in the series revolves around military conflicts and political tension between powerful consolidated nations that form during the 21st and 22nd centuries. The average Wanderung Panzer is bipedal and stands at 20 feet and 25 tons. Throughout the game there are many types of Wanzers, each with different attributes.
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[edit] Releases
[edit] Japan
Five main games in the series have been produced:
- Front Mission (SNES, 1995, WonderSwan Color, 2002, PlayStation, 2003, Nintendo DS, 2006)
- Front Mission 2 (PlayStation, 1997)
- Front Mission 3 (PlayStation, 1999)
- Front Mission 4 (PlayStation 2, 2003)
- Front Mission 5: Scars of the War (PlayStation 2, 2005)
In addition, there are three "side-story" games in the series. They depart from the turn-based tactical strategy gameplay of the rest of the series:
- Front Mission: Gun Hazard (SNES, 1996) - a side-scrolling action shooter
- Front Mission: Alternative (PlayStation, 1997) - a real-time action/strategy game.
- Front Mission Online - an online action game for PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Windows.
[edit] North America
- Front Mission 3 (PlayStation, February 29, 2000)
- Front Mission 4 (PlayStation2, June 15, 2004)
- Front Mission 5: Scars of the War (PlayStation2, tentative)
Front Mission was remade for the PlayStation in 2003 as Front Mission 1st, but was not localized for North America, due to the declining market for PlayStation games in that region. As for Front Mission 2, no real reason exists for the lack of U.S. localization, but it could possibly be due to Sony Computer Entertainment America (then-publisher for Squaresoft titles in the U.S.) simply passing on releasing the game.
[edit] Europe
[edit] Unofficial Translation
- Front Mission, through emulation
- Front Mission: Gun Hazard, also through emulation
[edit] Front Mission Major Political Powers
[edit] Oceana Community Union (OCU)
Consists of the modern day nations of Japan and Australia and encompasses Southeast Asia including the Philippines and a number of Pacific islands. One of the ongoing conflicts centers on the extent of their Pacific island holdings, which are continually contested by the USN.
Bangladesh (after a name change to the People's Republic of Alordesh) was a member, but broke away in the events leading up to Front Mission 2. Even after formally joining the OCU in A.D. 2094, the already stagnant Economic Status of Alordesh did not improve. Curtailed with a severe depression, The Revolutionary Army declared Independence from the OCU, stating that the OCU was exploiting its resources.
Some of the Membership Nations of the OCU have been struggling to maintain the organization since the events of the Alordesh Coup which has led to more outbreaks of civil wars. The OCU nearly broke up during a Coup in Japan. Luckily, the Coup was aborted when the DHZ invaded Okinawa Ocean City.
[edit] United States of the New Continent (USN)
North America and South America consolidated into a single supernation. Often at an uneasy standstill against the OCU, with regards to the Pacific Island region. There is a large disparity in quality of life throughout the USN, which has lead to disaffectation and open rebellion in several member states.
The USN got a name change in the English version of Front Mission 4 to the UCS (United Continental States).
[edit] European Commonwealth (EC)
The modern day European Community, with more central control. Member states still maintain their own military forces, however, extra-EC foreign policy is set by the EC Assembly in Paris, France. The EC also funds several research groups. One of these - the UK-based EC Armor Tactics Research Corps, Durandal - is one of the foci of Front Mission 4.
[edit] Republic of Zaftra
Comprised of western Russia, Zaftra is a power in decline, especially with the EC becoming self-sufficient thanks to the discovery of resources in Poland.
In Front Mission, The Republic of Zaftra used the PMO (Peace Meditation Organization) as a front to establish and maintain control over Huffman Island with the heartless intent of exploiting it's people and it's resources.
Later, Zaftra serves as the antagonist in Front Mission 4.
In Russian, "Zaftra" (pronounced "zavtra"), means "Tomorrow", as referred to Communist idea of the "Bright Future".
[edit] People's Republic of Da Han Zhong (DHZ)
The People's Republic of China after a cosmetic name change in 2111(plus the absorption of Taiwan). Much of the story arc of Front Mission 3 took place here.
The creation of The People's Republic of Da Han Zhong was a plot concoted by Jie Bo Lao so that he could gain power and control over the Nation as the first step to his plans of World Domination.
On XX/XX/2112, After Chairman Bai's death, Vice-Chairman Ming Huang Jiu was to be sworn in as the new leader, but his assistant, Jie Bo Lao, secretly ordered the Rapid Reaction Force to shoot down his plane during a routine flight. His only son, Kwang Ming, was the sole survivor of the assassination attempt. As soon as he became Chairman, Jie Bo Lao promoted the country's policies and changed its name as well. In a change from free market policies, all industries were nationalized to create a "National Corporation".
Chairman Jie would silence anyone that stood in his way. Thus the people suffered greatly under the brutal oppression of his Government. This led to the rise of an internal resistance faction called the Hua Lian Rebels. Although under-equipped and outnumbered by the Changli Army, the Hua Lian Rebels seek to put an end to Jie Bo Lao's Dictatorship at any cost.
The Hua Lian, like the mujahideen of Afghanistan, were armed and financed by the USN.
- Changli Army (Regulars)
- Rapid Reaction Force (Special Forces)
- Tianlei - Mobile Land Fortress and HQ of the Rapid Reaction Force.
[edit] External links
- Square Enix's official Front Mission website (Japanese)
- Ten-Mou / Worldwide Network System (Japanese)
- FrontMission.org
- The Front Mission series at MobyGames
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Front Mission • Front Mission 2 • Front Mission 3 • Front Mission 4 • Front Mission 5 |
