Front Mission Alternative

Overview

Front Mission Alternative is a real-time tactics video game developed and published by Square, and was released in Japan on December 18, 1997. Front Mission Alternative is the second spin-off entry and the fourth entry overall in the Front Mission series. Unlike other Front Mission titles, Front Mission Alternative is the precursor to the serialized storyline and features a completely standalone story and cast of characters.

As a real-time strategy spin-off, the gameplay of Front Mission Alternative differs from the tactical role-playing game entries of the numbered Front Mission titles. Rather than being played out on a grid-based map and using a turn-based structure, battles takes place in real-time on full 3D maps. The player controls up to three platoons, each platoon consisting of three mecha, the wanderwagen, or WAW. During missions, they have complete control over where their platoons move, and what enemy platoons they can attack. Movement on the battlefield is done through waypoints; the player must select preset waypoints on the map in order to move their platoons.

Set in 2034, the story of Front Mission Alternative takes place in Africa. In the early 21st century, nations around the world form regional entities to combat a global recession and other crises. While many regions thrive under their newly formed supranational unions, the nations of Africa fall deeper into environmental, racial, and ethnic conflicts. In an attempt to help them, the European Community (EC) and the Oceania Cooperative Union (OCU) assisted the African countries in forming a continental alliance called the Organization of African Consolidation (OAC).

The game was developed at the same time as Front Mission 2. Alternative was created in order to recoup the costs of that game's development. The music of Front Mission Alternative was done by DJ Riow Arai. A preview of the game was shown off at the 1997 Tokyo Game Show.

The game was released on December 18, 1997 in Japan for the Sony PlayStation. Front Mission Alternative sold over 160,000 copies in Japan. It was listed as number 6 on Famitsu's top selling games list for the week of January 15 to the 21st in 1998. It was re-released in Japan as part of Square Enix Co., Ltd's Ultimate Hits line on October 5, 2007. The game was made available on the PlayStation Store game platform in October 2008 and was made available to those outside Japan for the first time.

Greg Kasavin of GameSpot praised the graphics and audio experience, but criticized the game for being too short and rewarding players with more elaborate story sections if they failed to achieve game missions, indirectly rewarding failure. He also called the soundtrack "a bunch of dizzying techno that doesn't suit the onscreen grandeur". Hardcore Gaming 101 noted it was not a very deep real time strategy game, but praised its branching stories and variety of endings.

Official trailer

Trailer. Watch on YouTube

Screenshots

Game details

Genres

Real Time Strategy (RTS)

Developer

Square

Publisher

Square, Square Enix

Series

Front Mission

Platforms

PlayStation 3, PlayStation, PlayStation Portable

Modes

Single player

Yes

Local multiplayer

No

Online multiplayer

No

Co op

No

Age ratings

CERO

B

GRAC

12+

Release dates

Playable today

Playable offline todayYes

Single-player only, with no online features.

Online

Plays offlineYes

Credits

Region

US