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Front Mission 5
jclast
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So I've played and loved Front Mission 3 and 4.
5 came out last October, and I haven't heard anything about it coming out here. Has anybody imported it? Is it import-friendly enough that somebody who doesn't know any Japanese (i.e., me) could understand the menus and story and whatnot?
Also, if you're interested, Play-Asia has it for $35. link
One last thing: if it is import-friendly, how do I go about playing an import game on my PS2? Is there a simple GameCube FreeLoader-esque solution? I'm not interested in playing backups or anything like that; I just need some strategic stompy wanzer action.
5 came out last October, and I haven't heard anything about it coming out here. Has anybody imported it? Is it import-friendly enough that somebody who doesn't know any Japanese (i.e., me) could understand the menus and story and whatnot?
Also, if you're interested, Play-Asia has it for $35. link
One last thing: if it is import-friendly, how do I go about playing an import game on my PS2? Is there a simple GameCube FreeLoader-esque solution? I'm not interested in playing backups or anything like that; I just need some strategic stompy wanzer action.
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I've personally only played 3, and I loved it.
Whatever happened to 1 and 2? SNES games, weren't they?
Maybe Front mission just doesn't have a good history of sales in the states?
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Kor: Only Front Missions 3 and 4 actually came out in the US.
The story is somewhat hazy, but the more FM games you've played the more easily you can understand the general gist of it. The game spans FM1, 4 and 3 and makes references to the events of each. There are plenty of cut-scenes and these are much more lively and cinematic than before, what with seeing characters outside of their wanzers for once.
When you load up the game you have a Theater Mode that allows you to rewatch any cut-scene you've unlocked, which is pretty nice since it allows you to keep track of the story and events or simply make up for a moment of inattention.
There's a fair bit of english in the game. Acronyms are all in english, so HP, job types, etc. can all be identified. Things like Evasion, Accuracy and armor can all be deduced or you can take note of the order they appear in the menu of any previous game since that's never changed.
A quick check of gamefaqs.com shows a couple of FAQs and a walkthru that will help you.
Personally, the Hiragana/Katakana isn't that hard to learn so you might want to look into that, just so you can recognize characters. I suggest "Remembering the Kana" by James W. Heisig.
New question time. If I decide to import this, how do I play it on my fatty PS2? Do I need a new memory card or will a Japanese FM5 save play nicely with a card full of North American saves?
Thanks for all the help guys. Aside from Nintendo Puzzle Collection, this will be the first game I import.
This must be how Europe feels.
As for playing import games, JP/Euro/US saves can be stocked on the same memory card. You can usw a few methods to load up a JP disc. The simplest is a loader and the easiest is a mod chip, but that's a no go on this forum.
I can't remember too many specifics but I wrote up an article for it on my website last year detailing the whole series:
http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/frontmission/frontmission.htm
I made a video and posted it on Youtube, though I'm work at the moment and can't dig up the exact link. Just run a search and you'll find some stuff.
The battle segments are really cool, because they're constantly changing camera angles, and it's all done to emulate a shaky cam style to make it look like war footage. Plus the mechs look fantastic, and I'm not really a fan of mechs in general. The linking system was fixed to be less obnoxiously complicated too. Outstanding music also, it was composed by the same guys did FM4, but again, they took the style and made this one MUCH better.
Most of the other games in the series feature English menus, so they were pretty easy to play, but this one is fully in Japanese. However, if you've played imported SRPGs before, it shouldn't be a problem figuring out what it all means.
It's a complete shame that nonsense like Dirge of Cerebus is localized and one of the best SRPGs in recent memory was completely passed over. As much as I dig the Nippon Ichi games, I think there's a stigma that SRPGs only sell if you can play as 13-year old girls in sparse clothing.
It's still in the works. SE's just been a little more focused on promoting some of their other DS projects.
FM4 was garbage, but I hear this one is actually good.
I was about to ask; I really liked 3 but didn't have a system to play it on back when it was more widely available. Is 4 an adequate substitute, or should I hold out until I find 3 in a bargain bin?
Although you should be able to get FM4 for less.
IMO, FM4 wasn't bad, but in comparison to FM3, it's just not even in the same league. Chalk it up to nostalgia or whatnot, but if given the choice between playing FM4 or replaying FM3 yet again, I'd dust off FM3 any day of the week.
This drove me insane, too. You're stuck with shitty mechs for ages because you don't get to play as a group for long enough to upgrade much. And good fucking god did the game drag.
On a side note, hearing about the PS3 being compatible with PlayOnline and Final Fantasy XI makes me hope that Squeenix will release Front Mission Online for download in the PS Store, since they kept the PS2 version in Japan after all of the bullshit that SCEA pulled on the PlayOnline crowd.
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I think horrible is a better word. However, it's not as easy as 4 is, so there's at least that going for it. 1 might have had the best plot, although the "twist" was visible from space.
But now I find that none of that is true. No pictures, no translation, no moistness.
Anyway, I guess I'll be on my way now.
I KISS YOU!
I'm thinking Front Mission First though, because it's mechs rather than swords spells etc.
If I had more of a chance to play PS2 (we only have one TV in my house) I would get FM5 - looks beautiful.
Still loved the game though. I just don't think I'm ever going to devote the time it'd take to train my units up enough to get through that roadblock.
I didn't find the story missions that hard unless I was going for an achievement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re-sSb1UWW8
Looks so awesome in action.
If I ever get a ps2, it will be to try out the sequels.
don't bother. its not that good
But its so hard to find customisable mecha action. Especially SRPG based customisable mecha action.
Some people like tweaking cars in Gran Turismo. I like giant customisable robots.