Front Mission 4

If mechs could fight only on chessboards, Front Mission 4 would be the name of the sport.

If you have a fetish for mechs and love to indulge yourself with turn-based strategy games like Final Fantasy Tactics, then whoot!, is this game for you. Although Front Mission 4 is a great conjunction of fully customizable Armored Core?like mechs and the regulatory yet familiar mechanics of a turn-based battle system, there are definitely some areas where the game could have been improved.

One of the sweeter things about Front Mission 4 is the mech lineup themselves?each one is fully customizable to complement your strategy as you reinforce your mechs with changeable parts and weapons in preparation for the next battle. Things start off simple: In the beginning, you may have only a few options to toy with (a puny gun or two, a shield, and a couple different colors to paint your mechs with), but rest assured with each victory comes the discovery of new body parts, weapons, items, and even camouflages that could mean some heavy-duty retaliation. In addition to tuning your mechs, players have to pay attention to the skill levels and traits of their respective pilots. Pilots are given EP, or experience points, which are essential to obtaining new and interesting skills and abilities. Again, you control what each pilot learns.

The game also features a linked battle system in which units can combine to form a very lethal force. The A.I. constantly ramps up the level of difficulty, too, readjusting its strategy after you conquer each group of mechs, making it harder for you to overcome your opponent. Don?t be surprised when you find yourself spending countless hours retrying one battle after another?the game requires a significant time investment.

Square?s irrefutable ability to produce some of the most realistic CG movies in video games is once again on display in this title?just put down your controller and let the title screen pass a couple of times, and already you?ll find your first two must-sees. Unfortunately, the graphics during gameplay are a different story. A fair amount of detail was put into the mechs, but what about the landscapes? Empty streets and generous acres of nothingness in open fields won?t entertain us for long?if we?re going to be in a battle for hours, at least give us something more than just pretty fireworks. Nothing dramatically exciting ever happens in the music, either. And while some cut-scenes are blessed with decent voice-acting sequences, the rest of them are cursed with silence; be prepared to have to read at some point.

Maybe if Square took advantage of the PlayStation 2?s networking ability and allowed a couple of buddies to put their customized mechs against each other, then perhaps this game may have been well worth the purchase. Though for now, all that can be said is pick this game up if all you need is a good challenge and you have the patience for turn-based strategy games. Mech games have a pretty good fan base, so you can trust to see more of these kinds of games in the future. If the inconsistent presentation and lack of multiplayer options have you unconvinced, then perhaps it may be a good idea to wait for another one to come along.

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