Front Mission Evolved

 PC
User Score
5.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 60 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 60
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 60
  3. Negative: 24 out of 60
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  1. Dashery
    Feb 21, 2011
    5
    Going into this game I didn't know much about the Front Mission series, only playing Front Mission 4 several years ago, and I haven't played a Square game since Final Fantasy IX, so I had a mixture of expectations. The expectations I had were quickly dashed. I was hoping for a giant robot war game that put me on the front lines of a battlefield with a complex story that early Square gamesGoing into this game I didn't know much about the Front Mission series, only playing Front Mission 4 several years ago, and I haven't played a Square game since Final Fantasy IX, so I had a mixture of expectations. The expectations I had were quickly dashed. I was hoping for a giant robot war game that put me on the front lines of a battlefield with a complex story that early Square games had (I say early because I don't know how they hold up today). The game doesn't deliver any of this. Level design is linear, with many moments of, "Follow the designated path," and, "Kill these several baddies," to move on. This would be moderately okay if your allies and enemies would stop telling you to do it. Before you even have a chance to realize the level started, someone will shout, "What are you doing!? Kill those [whatever] now!" and then proceed to repeat themselves every several seconds. And this happens every single mission.
    As for the story, it has a very strong anime vibe. And along with that, the voice acting isn't the greatest, and with not viable means to switch to the native Japanese, you'll sigh every time you hear the General talk. All-in-all, it's a forgettable story with forgettable characters.
    Gameplay, gameplay, gameplay... This was the biggest draws and drawbacks of the game. The controls are nice and tight, however, that's the extent. They make a big deal over targeting different body parts, yet it's ultimately ineffectual. As well, your own armor goes down obscenely fast, even during boss fights, they know this, laying respawning health packs around the battlefield. There just weren't any tactics to this. It's a simple hold down the button until the other guy dies. In multiplayer, there is some tactical value to be had, but I have found a lack of opponents dampening my want to play it. Though, a friend and I both bought the "Last Stand" DLC which in it's own right is good fun.
    Graphically, the robots look good, characters look good and environments look okay. But the game doesn't have the feel of "Giant robot!" In other giant robot games, destructible enviorments are there, no questions asked. This game everything is a solid block, you bullets don't even leave dents. When everything is said and done it comes down to this:
    Front Mission Evolved is a decent substitute to games like Armored Core, yet still has a long way to go before being a must have. I'd say only die hard AC fans should look into this game seriously until the price drops.    … Expand
  2. BorschtOfGlory
    Dec 10, 2011
    5
    If you're expecting this game to be a new MechWarrior so forget it. This game is to boring to be a mechwarrior, it's an anime style s**t with boring characters, boss fights and very boring and non user-friendly gameplay, enemies are spawning right behind the . I was playing on normal difficult first time and was wondering: "Why my wanzer is to hard to bit, and my enemies are destroyingIf you're expecting this game to be a new MechWarrior so forget it. This game is to boring to be a mechwarrior, it's an anime style s**t with boring characters, boss fights and very boring and non user-friendly gameplay, enemies are spawning right behind the . I was playing on normal difficult first time and was wondering: "Why my wanzer is to hard to bit, and my enemies are destroying with 3-4 rockets" then i've tried to play on hard difficulty - nothing changed.… Expand
  3. QuatokyTonberry
    Jan 23, 2019
    5
    Gameplay: - Mediocre
    Story: - Bad
    Visual: - Normal
    Music and sound: - Mediocre
    Average time: - 7H
    Score: - 5 (Mediocre)
  4. PancakePuppy
    Feb 28, 2016
    5
    I'm a big fan of the Front Mission turn-based strategy games starting at the SNES original (and its wonderful Nintendo DS re-release.)

    What Front Mission Evolved carries over from its strategy predecessors is Wanzer (robot) customization wherein you choose your legs, arms, torso, and weapons, as well as body part destruction, and some minor place names from the old titles are mentioned.    I'm a big fan of the Front Mission turn-based strategy games starting at the SNES original (and its wonderful Nintendo DS re-release.)

    What Front Mission Evolved carries over from its strategy predecessors is Wanzer (robot) customization wherein you choose your legs, arms, torso, and weapons, as well as body part destruction, and some minor place names from the old titles are mentioned.

    The story is depressingly simplistic and full of predictable tropes. The characters are 2-dimensional and uninspired, but there's lots of diversity in character race/color/creed (for whatever that's worth.)

    There are on-foot cover-based third person shooter levels which I am not a fan of at all, they feel cheap and tacked-in, like the developers played Kill Switch and wanted some of that for their game. The robot-on-robot combat feels acceptable. Playing on PC with a keyboard can seem less than desirable when you want to use both shoulder-mounted weapons (bound to Q and E by default) as well as strafe (typical WASD directional controls) simultaneously. Cut-scenes look ripped straight out of Freelancer with their half-realistic half-cartoonish character models.

    If you're a robot combat fan and can pick the game up for less than $5, I'd say go for it. Not really worth more than that.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

84
#84 Most Discussed PC Game of 2010
74
#74 Most Shared PC Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
63

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 13
  3. Negative: 4 out of 13
  1. GamingExcellence
    Jan 13, 2011
    45
    In the end, Front Mission Evolved took the concept of third-person mech combat and took all the fun out of it. It is hard to not compare it to other games like it because the other ones got the core of it right. If Square Enix decides to take the series back to being a tactical RPG, I wouldn't blame them.
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  2. Hardcore Gamer
    Jan 13, 2011
    65
    While Evolved may not be a game of the year contender and definitely has some faults, it is also probably the most fun I have had in a mech game since the original MechAssault on Xbox.
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  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 13, 2011
    80
    Totally conventional, corridor straight mech-shooter surprises with many twists and monumental boss fights. Mech modularity adds a strategic touch to otherwise plain playability. [Issue#197]
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