Edit: Fuck the title change, I'll add shit after my post to make it relevant. This game is awesome and deserves love.
Front Mission 3 - SRPG PS1
Gameplay video
This game is probably one of the best strategy games ever goddamn made. It might not look like much at a glance but there's a ton of depth.
Plot:
You and your idiot friend have 9-5 jobs as delivery guys for mechs. You work for a company that sells mechs, you're expected to give the customers a demo of what the mechs can do and then deliver the mechs to where they want.
As you're on the way out the door you get an email on your PC from your sister and you choose whether you read it before your delivery or after your delivery. This choice changes the game in its ENTIRETY as it determines which side of the coming war you fight on. This game has 2 separate campaigns, well written characters, branching paths, and a fleshed out world.
Combat and Mechanics:
Standard Grid Based SRPG with AP
Action Points AP are based on mech weight, leg type, and pilot skill. Moving a square can cost 1-3 AP depending on terrain, weight and leg type. Using weapons also consumes AP. This leads to situations where you choose between movement or combat, do I let my sniper go for the extra shot or should he retreat?
Mechs have 5 different parts
- Body
- Left Arm
- Right Arm
- Legs
- Pilot
As you fight you do damage to different parts of the mech. If you take out the arms it can't use the weapons attached to either arm, if you take out the legs you limit the mobility, if you destroy the body the whole mech is scrapped, if you kill the pilot the mech ceases function and the remaining parts are added to your inventory.
You can do enough damage to the mech so that the pilot Surrenders. If you hit them while surrendering they'll evacuate the cockpit and the mechs parts will be added to your inventory after battle. Alternatively if your mech is too heavily damaged you can eject your pilot and they can hop into the free mech.
Customisation:
Pilots
Pilots are static in this game. You get most of them through the story missions and are able to recruit some mid missions (like fire emblem). Pilots start off with basic proficiencies (I'm good at melee, I'm good at sniping) but will learn different abilities depending on the mechs they pilot and the weapons they use. This means a sniper unit can become efficient at melee and vice versa.
Mechs
I'll separate mechs into three sub categories, parts, weapons, and packs.
Parts
- Body
- Arms
- Legs
Mechs have weight which effects your Action Points (AP). Lightweight mechs typically have less HP but give you more AP. Heavyweight offers the reverse and Midweight offers a balance.
You can mix and match parts from different sets, name your mechs, paint them, and save load outs.
Weapons
The game offers a wide variety of weapons. They generally fit into categories:
Melee weapons are self explanatory, you get pilebunkers, robot brass knuckles and clubs.
Projectile Weapons are guns. You get Shotguns, Machine Guns, Snipers, and more. You also get shoulder mounted weapons that can launch missiles/grenades.
Shields are a defensive option and can be used to dampen the damage taken and absorb damage over other parts.
A common strategy is to throw a heavy arm on with a shield so it can absorb all the damage, then have a medium or lightweight arm to attack with.
Packs
In this game you can choose between a field pack or an engine. The field pack let's you carry a few items into battle (ammo for reloads, repair kits), or an engine which will give you more AP.
ADDITIONAL STUFF
They built an internet into this game. It is essentially an interactive codex used for learning about the world. You can buy/use programs to hack your way into websites to learn more information about potential upcoming events.
You can also find your way onto the darknet and buy a ton of high tier parts/weapons for your mechs.
EDIT:
Due to title change/not reading OP, here's a game that isn't out yet that I'm looking forward to. It's inspired somewhat by Front Mission, and was an indie gogo game.
DUAL GEAR
There's also MechWarrior coming out that looks super promising.
