PlayStation

Front Mission 3

In conclusion, Front Mission 3 is a well rounded title that lives up to it's image. What few flaws it has (extreme pixellation when textures are seen close up, nearly imperceptible slowdown at some points) are honestly unavoidable with the Playstation's capabilities, and it's virtues are many. Plus, with two long main plotlines and various minor variations, it can easily maintain one's attention for well over 100 hours. All in all, a very pleasurable experience.

Buy this game. If you are a fan of Square or just like strategy games you will really enjoy this game. The story is compelling, the graphics are nicely done, the combat is good, and the options are extensive -- everything required to make a great game.

Sans tergiversation, Front Mission 3 est le meilleur jeu de rôles tactique qui ait réussi à arriver jusqu'à nous, pauvres français : durée de vie gigantesque, scénario et mise en scène accrocheurs, réalisation superbe, richesse tactique indéniable, le jeu a tous les atouts. Seule l'absence de localisation vient entacher ce superbe tableau, mais les amateurs du genre sauront pardonner cette lacune, qui gâche surtout le plaisir de suivre le scénario dans toute sa splendeur.

Front Mission 3 is a game I wholeheartedly recommend. It's deep, involving, hugely replayable and its almost contemporary content makes it a refreshing change from games set in the far distant past, or on strange alien worlds. It certainly had some interesting views on international relationships and how they might change in the future. Personally I don't care about the political stuff, but dammit I hope the future contains Wanzers while I still live to see it!

Front Mission 3 is yet another winner from Square's stable. The PlayStation is showing it's age, and the mission structures for some of the in-game action can tend to repeat itself, but you really can't beat the very Final Fantasy Tactics-ish addictiveness that it offers. A tight, narrative blend of music, effects, and those great Square graphics (even if they aren't as flashy as the Final Fantasy series) await the gamer that can handle a slightly boring story and slower pacing than most games. If you liked Final Fantasy Tactics, and mechs, then this is the perfect marriage. It's a solid, well done game, but doesn't really stand out in any way either. It may be the PlayStation gray hairs showing, but Front Mission 3 doesn't really seem like much more than a good strategy game in the PlayStation's final days.

Overall, Front Mission 3, while lacking in some areas, is still as great as games like Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics. Kudos to Square for an excellent game.

Au final, Front Mission 3 s'avère être une très bonne surprise avec une interface solide, des graphismes splendides et un scénario captivant.

In the end, if you want a game with a lot of battles that could entertain you for hours on end, FM3 is for you. If you want a great mecha game where you could see robots ripping each other apart, FM3 is for you. If you want a game that will give you a constant adrenaline rush while supplying a story that makes you think, ala Metal Gear Solid, FM3 is not for you. Any others can rent the game and find out for themselves whether they like it or not.

Front Mission 3 has managed to retain its strategy-simulation aspects, albeit at a relatively simpler level, which will let beginners feel comfortable playing the game and keep the hard-core gamers satisfied, too. Square has managed to deliver a good human drama based on the theme of war in the Front Mission series, and this game fits the series nicely.

Front Mission 3 är ett perfekt alternativ för de som snöat in i strategigenren. Speelt har en otrolig mångfald trots att det till en början bara verkar vara ett simpelt robotspel. Att pyssla om sina wansers, köpa in ny utrustning och uppgradera olika kroppsdelar är en fröjd i sig och tar åtskilliga timmar. Striderna är intensiva och utmanande. Och när äventyret sedan bjuder på en djup handling känns det bara som en fet bonus.

In that regard, FM3 is a game with high aspirations to which it lives up to, but barely. What makes it such a close call is a few things. First, the actual characterizations of all the protagonists in the story fall short. FM3 paints an incredibly vivid and believable vision of a future where nations are wrought with internal as well as external conflicts (most of this is conveyed through the mock Web sites and reiterated in the dialogue). Alliances with foreign countries often appear paper-thin, perceived threats of war seem to loom over every government action and rival political parties are just itching for coup-de-tat at a moment's notice (is this the future or present?). The histories and motivations of individual characters are interesting and believable enough as well.

With all the negative comments that I've lobbied against FM3, readers may find it strange that I still gave the game a rather positive rating. There's no mistake because I usually have the most vocal about games that fall just shy of greatness. FM3 may have many faults, but there are many positives as well. I found the Network feature to be a very unique approach and provided much needed diversity from a genre that is almost always plagued with repetitiveness. The final integration of the Network to the actual gameplay isn't as tight as I would have liked, but it still deserves recognition for being so comprehensive and convincing.

Front Mission 3 is tot mijn grote verbazing een uiterst verslavende titel. De game ziet er niet uit en heeft net zo veel verhaallijn als een drol maar biedt op de een of andere manier toch urenlang speelplezier.

Apart from these discrepancies Front Mission 3 is eminently enjoyable on a variety of levels. The story is entertaining, but it is the thrill of capturing new Wanzers, and uncovering their inherent abilities, then integrating those options into a mech army that will keep gamers playing until the unhealthy hours of the morning. There are few games like this, and thankfully Square have given us reason to look forward to more.

But Front Mission 3's greatest strength can also be its greatest weakness. Gamers with little patience need not apply, as you'll need to spend almost as much time customizing your wanzer as you do battling. Since there are now four parts of each character that can be switched around, upgraded, changed and re-equipped, there are tons of numbers to add and subtract. This is a horribly boring activity for some, a great thinking exercise for others. You decide for yourself.