Front Mission 1st: Remake is coming and I hope it does well
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The latest Nintendo Direct had a lot to show this February 2022 and one that stood out for me was the announcement of a Front Mission 1st Remake for the Nintendo Switch. A reimagining of the tactical turn-based game that came out in 1995 for Japan.
I used to be a big fan as I was first introduced to the series with Front Mission 3 on the PlayStation When it was released, I'd already built an appreciation of tactical turn-based games thanks to being exposed to Final Fantasy Tactics and Tactics Ogre. When Front Mission 3 released, I jumped in not only because I was familiar with it’s past game but because it was the genre I couldn’t get enough of at the time. Soon enough, I was hooked with the game as the ability to customize each part of a Wanzer unit was something I’ve never seen before, and the fact that you can target specific parts to disable its effectiveness made my kid-self just enjoy every mission.
Image: screenshot from Front Mission 3
This is also the first game where I experienced the Philippines being used as the setting for one mission of the game. I was hearing terms and places I was familiar with and as a kid back then it blew my mind.
The 4th game game in the series was the last great title I enjoyed. Games like Front Mission 5 and other spin-offs weren't given the western treatment. Front Mission Evolved and Left Alive followed soon after and while it’s set in the Front Mission world , let’s just say we can disregard these two as these were Square Enix’s attempts at reviving the series in a different genre. Something that clearly never worked.
It’s been years since we were given a proper turn-based Front Mission game and while Front Mission 1st Remake isn’t technically a new game, it will be for many (me included) as I missed out on playing the game that started it all, and i’m excited to give it a go later this year. I do hope this does well as I see this as Square Enix testing the waters with not only more remakes of classics but also a gauge on how many will appreciate more from the Front Mission series.
Front Mission 1st Remake is set to release on the Nintendo Switch this Summer. The remake of Front Mission 2 but currently has no release window.
