Front Mission Evolved

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.

"Quotation Forthcoming"

This game is in a lot of ways very simple. The graphics aren't really special and the gameplay is relative easy and simple. The audio is nice, but has a few problems while playing, so that means Front Mission Evolved is a nice game for fans, but for the most of us it isn't interesting.

Front Mission Evolved offers one of the worst single player experience of the entire series, but multiplayer saves the day. Bring some friends, take the fight online or leave it on the shelf.

Hamstrung by a long list of issues, Front Mission Evolved is just not a very good game. [Issue#198, p.93]

Ultimately, Front Mission Evolved isn't a particularly satisfying title for those who are fans of the series, mech games or even third-person shooters in general. It might be worth a rental if you're a fan of pyrotechnics, but other than that, expect an utterly mediocre title.

Square Enix has taken a step back from the usual RPG-themed games and manages to deliver an above average third-person shooter. Especially the graphics and the sound aren't up to today's standards.

Front Mission Evolved is a standard product, without any particular ideas worthy of note. You can't find nor a very negative aspect of the game, neither any feature that differentiate it.

With sluggish controls and tedious gameplay it's hard to recommend Front Mission Evolved to anyone.

Evolved's fun but you'll feel little attachment to it and once the campaign's over you won't ache to go back through. [November 2010 p78]

These problems aside, there is a genuinely good time to be had with portions of Front Mission Evolved, provided you bring with you a certain love for mechs. It's probably not the high point of the series, but fans of the Front Mission universe and/or giant robots might find something to like here.

With the strategising gone, all that's left is a poor narrative and mediocre shooting.

Front Mission Evolved has potential and fans of big-bot wars will enjoy it, but it feels like a flat experience.

I really do understand the intention behind the franchise's overhaul but sadly, it just doesn't work as well as it could've. I'm just not sure who they're going to satisfy. The strategy/RPG fans won't touch it with a ten-foot cattle prod and the action fans don't usually flock to mech titles, which dominate the Japanese culture but aren't as big here.

Front Mission Evolved can sit well with mech game fans especially with its multiplayer. However as a third-person action shooter not very much stands out unless you quite enjoy boss battles with lots and lots of strafing, reloading, repairing and firing volley after volley of missiles, rockets and bullets.

Long time fans might not enjoy the changes and will probably want a return to their roots but every other mech-combat fan should find some enjoyment in it.

A lackluster third person action game that doesn't respect the name of this cult franchise.

There are emblems to collect in the story and ranks to crawl through in multiplayer, but Front Mission Evolved just feels like a flat experience.

Blowing stuff up is the only enjoyable part of Front Mission Evolved, a mediocre third-person shooter featuring giant mechs.

Fold in an uncomplicated multiplayer mode and lots of silly cutscenes awkwardly trying to tell a sentimental war story, and Evolved is pleasant, accessible junk food for mecha fans. [Nov 2010, p.81]

For all its shortcomings, we still quite like Front Mission Evolved, especially as it manages to imbue a feeling of power in the player with its well made shooting mechanics better than many other shooters. While it is unlikely to be remembered for having any particularly remarkable features, it does what it does mostly very well.

Front Mission Evolved has some interesting ideas, but none of them are polished.

Front Mission: Evolved uses the undeniable charm of giant robots, and offers an interesting action experience. But as an action title fails in some important aspects, and its multiplayer doesn't have enough modes.

In the end, Front Mission Evolved feels like more of a lateral step. As a mech shooter, it's functional, but unremarkable.

Front Mission Evolved is an interesting experiment from Square Enix. It is far from a success and at times feels far too removed from the key components that made the series popular. Double Helix Games have attempted something new, which is commendable, albeit considerably flawed.

Front Mission Evolved is a bold risk, a gamble, and a new direction for the series. Unfortunately the negatives outweigh the positives making a purchase a tough decision when games are expensive.

Front Mission Evolved is competent but average. The good ideas were here but they couldn't translate into the execution.

It's only the poor provision for mech-fans in recent years that hold this game's score up to a respectable level so if you don't count yourself in their number, you're probably best advised to avoid this one.