Front Mission 2

Infobox VG| title = Front Mission 2


developer = Square
publisher = Square
designer =
composer = Noriko Matsueda
engine =
released = September 25 1997
genre = Tactical role-playing
modes = Single player
ratings = ESRB: Teen (T)
platforms = PlayStation
media = CD-ROM
requirements =
input =
series = "Front Mission" series

nihongo|"Front Mission 2"|フロントミッション セカンド|Furonto Missho Sekando is a tactical role-playing game for the Sony PlayStation developed and published by Square and released in Japan. It is the second game in the main Front Mission storyline. [ [http://psx.ign.com/articles/122/122058p1.html IGN: Front Mission 2 Preview ] ]

This release in the series was infamous for its long loading times, causing a player to wait over 10 seconds for a battle sequence to begin, something which could happen nearly a hundred times in a battle. [ [http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/frontmission/frontmission2.htm Hardcore Gaming 101: Front Mission ] ] This technical flaw was later fixed in the Ultimate Hits version of the game, [ [http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/SLPM-87397.html National Console Support, Inc. | Front Mission 2 Ultimate Hits ] ] which enables the ability to skip battle sequences.

The game was never released outside of Japan due to the presence of situations and vocabulary which would be considered faux pas in North America, according to the series' public relations manager Koichiro Sakamoto. [ [http://www.rpgfan.com/features/squareenix2007/frontmission.html RPGFan - E3 2007: Square Enix Impressions and Interviews - Front Mission Interview ] ]

Gameplay

"Front Mission 2"'s gameplay has many similarities with "Front Mission". This is likely because the game retains the core foundation seen in "Front Mission". This does not mean the game is an exact copy of "Front Mission". Numerous changes are noticeable in "Front Mission 2". First, more weapons now have range as opposed to being limited to merely missile and grenade launchers. Second, terrain (known as Geo) affects conditions such as Accuracy and the ability to successfully counterattack. Another noticeable change is how all weapons now have ammunition, with the exception being Fight-class weapons. The most noticeable changes are the Action Point(AP) and Honor system.

The AP system dictates how much actions can be done with each combatant. Actions such as movement and attacking take a certain amount of AP to use. At the end of a full turn, one Player and Enemy Phase, a certain amount of AP is restored. The AP values, amount and charge, increase as pilots gain levels through clearing missions. These basic fundamentals of the system are present in future installments. The AP system in "Front Mission 2", however, has much more additional factors that give it more layers of strategy.

The amount of AP dictates the potency and effectiveness of several factors such as Accuracy and Evasion. Having close to full AP while attacking often results in landing hits while lower amounts lead to missed hits. AP amount is also a factor in successful counters and skill activations, making it more crucial to manage everyone's AP carefully. The Honor system, which evaluates how the enemies and allies respect each combatant, adds even more factors that tie-in with the AP system.

The Honor system's greatest feature is the team effect, where traveling with allies close by grants advantages over enemy forces. Such a situation results in extra AP amount and charge, as well as boosted stats vital for combat. Likewise, surrounding enemies made it easier to destroy them, as their AP and stats are lowered. The same situations apply to enemy forces as to balance the system. Honor is increased by destroying enemies and successfully utilizing the team effect. Battle skills are only gained through usage of the Honor system as well.

When combining the AP and Honor system, "Front Mission 2" has an impressive amount of layers involved with strategy. Add the other changes to the system and they result in the most strategy-heavy "Front Mission" installment to date. This incredible focus on strategy does have its drawbacks however. The learning curve is quite steep and the game is far from being user-friendly in this aspect. The missions, often throwing 20 or more enemies in tough Geo conditions, only prove this as well.

Battles aside, "Front Mission 2" is relatively the same as "Front Mission". There are town segments where the player can purchase parts at the Shop or fight in the coliseum to gain additional funds. The massive customization involved with wanzer creation has been retained, with even more parts than before. The Network feature is the newest element in Front Mission 2, which is essentially a pseudo-Internet that allows the player to understand more about the world through various websites. This feature is further expanded in "Front Mission 3".

Plot

Characters

"Front Mission 2" begins from Ash's point of view, later changing to Lisa's point of view. After a certain period of time, both groups unite under Ash's point of view.

* Ash Faruk - Age: 25. Ash is a corporal and the leader of the OCU Maritime Defense Force squadron, the Muddy Otters. Ash was previously discharged from the OCU army a few years ago, but was reinstated 2 years before the revolution began.

* Amia McCalum - Age: 25. Amia is the only female in the Muddy Otters and the newest at wanzer piloting. Originally a transport pilot, Amia decided to switch to wanzer piloting after some time and joined the Muddy Otters.

* Joyce Whitfield - Age: 26. Joyce is a member of the Muddy Otters. Joyce has gotten into trouble with OCU due to his playboy attitude and attempts to impress women. Like Ash, Joyce was reinstated into the OCU army and joined the Muddy Otters to be around his best friend.

* Griff Burnam - Age: 32. Griff is a long-time member of the Muddy Otters. Griff acts as a sort of parental figure to the younger members, which is not too surprising as Griff is a father himself. Griff is a licenced wanzer instructor in his time away from the squadron.

* Thomas Norland - Age: 47. Thomas is the leader of the Dull Stags squadron. An experienced soldier having fought in the Huffman Wars and Estonia Civil War, Thomas is instrumental in the fight against The Revolutionary Army.

* Roswell Tarana - Age: 29. An soldier originally from European Commonwealth(EC) Italy but joined the OCU army and Dull Stags. Roswell is one of Thomas' most trusted allies in the Dull Stags. Roswell's hacking capabilities have proven useful in many Dull Stags operations.

* Rocky Armitage - Age: 28. Rocky is a member of the Dull Stags and is often noted as their strategist. Whereas Thomas brings combat experience or Roswell assists with his hacking potential, Rocky constructs plans that maximize the squadron's chance for success.

* Lisa Stanley - Age: 26. Lisa is a special intelligence officer and heads the OCU Defense Force 2nd Division, which is known for espionage and intel gathering. Lisa and her unit are sent to Alordesh to assist the weakened OCU forces and reclaim control of the country.

* Sayuri Mitsuzuka - Age: 21. Lisa's second-in-command with much experience in intel gathering and espionage. Despite her relatively young age, Sayuri has proven to be an excellent addition to the unit and has gained the respect of her comrades.

* Cordy Hoffa - Age: 26. A new recruit to the OCU Defense Force 2nd Division, Cordy is no slouch in the area of wanzer fighting. Lisa recruits Cordy after she is beaten in a coliseum match. She and Sayuri know each other as they served as infantry units for OCU in the past.

* Pike Reischauer - Age: 30. An agent for the Central Intelligence Service of the Union(CISU) assigned to support the OCU forces in Alordesh. Pike is not particularly experienced in wanzer combat, but he proves his worth as a solid support unit to the Ash and crew.

* Maylan Malda - Age: 36. A commander for The Revolutionary Army that has defected to the OCU. Although initially a supporter of The Revolutionary Army's cause, Maylan becomes disillusioned in its ideals and assists the OCU forces in Alordesh.

tory

"Front Mission 2" stars Oceanic Community Union (OCU) "Muddy Otters" commander Ash Faruk. Ash and his squadron are caught off-guard when a revolution begins in OCU Alordesh, just barely escaping an attack on their base. The main army of Alordesh, tired of the poor conditions in the country, revolt under the name of "The Revolutionary Army". OCU divisions and placements are under attack and most attempt to escape Alordesh. The Muddy Otters are among the divisions trying to escape, but The Revolutionary Army is not making it easy to do so.

Within the chaos behind the revolution, an OCU special intelligence unit lead by officer Lisa Stanley arrives at Alordesh. Lisa and her unit are sent to assist the attacked divisions in escaping, but their true purpose is to find the causes of the revolution and take back Alordesh. The Muddy Otters eventually runs into Lisa's unit and after much persuasion, are convinced to help her take the nation back. Remaining divisions such as the Dull Stags assist the Muddy Otters and Lisa to regain control of Alordesh from The Revolutionary Army.

The main focus are the themes of revolution and change. Although the OCU divisions in Alordesh oppose The Revolutionary Army, Ash and the other OCU soldiers share the same beliefs as them in regards to Alordesh. Sentiments such as these are shown throughout the entire game, whether in Ash's or Lisa's point of view. One does not need to play "Front Mission" to understand "Front Mission 2", but several elements here resemble ones from the prior installment. A number of unresolved plot elements are later covered and answered in "".

References

External links

*moby game|id=/front-mission-2|name="Front Mission 2"