8Bit/Digi

A Look at the Front Mission 2 Remake Demo

Last year; mecha fans got to enjoy the Front Mission remake while Nintendo gamers got to experience the sequel. Following its success on the Nintendo Switch, Front Mission 2: Remake is now coming to the PlayStation, Xbox, and the PC. To have an idea of what to expect, a demo of the game is now available for those who have never played this beloved classic. 

This is a look at my experience of playing Front Mission 2: Remake Demo for the PC. Please note that this is not a review as there are elements that will only be available in the full game. This preview is based on me playing the demo for an hour.

The World of Front Mission

The Front Mission series has been one that is rich in lore and world-building. Its overall world is one where nations have come together under different multinational unions to protect their economic and political interests. The defining weapon of this world are the wanzers, mechs that are employed by national armed forces and PMCs. 

Front Mission 2 is set 12 years after the event of the first game and follows three Oceania Cooperative Union (OCU) soldiers during a conflict brought on in the aftermath of the Second Alordesh Coup. The pro-OCU government of Alordesh is overthrown while the Revolutionary Army launches a surprise attack on every OCU base in the country. After surviving one of these attacks, a group of OCU soldiers attempt to flee the country. 

Playing the Front Mission 2 Demo

The demo begins at the Rimian Base when the Revolutionary Army launches a surprise attack. Most of the OCU forces have been taken out or are unaccounted for. In the midst of the chaos; Ash Faruck, Amia McCalum, Joyce Whitfield, and Griff Burnam must defend the base. While successful, they are forced to retreat with the arrival of reinforcements. But not before Griff sacrificed himself so the others could flee. 

The second mission is set in the Batari Forest and has the squad meet up with other OCU forces. They to were able to escape when their base was attacked. However, they have been ambushed by Revolutionary forces. It’s here both squads have to work together to overcome the enemy forces and escape.

Final Thoughts on Front Mission 2

Compared to its predecessor, I’m already seeing a lot of improvements in regard to the gameplay and attention to detail. For starters, no longer are the combat maneuvers determined too much by randomized chance. Instead, it’s a system in which the probability of hitting a target is more reliable while missing is left more to chance. Jungle settings have been better designed while urban environments have been overhauled. 

The gameplay is the standard turn-based JRPG that has been a staple of the series. Players will still command a squad of wanzers in battle while plotting each move on a grid. Combat is done either using short to long-range weapons with attacks resulting in strikes to a critical section of the enemy wanzer. While it’s a familiar setup, it has also been polished. Among the updates are improved camera angle adjustments and a more robust operating system.

Front Mission 2: Remake will launch on additional consoles and the PC on April 30th. It will be available for the PlayStation and Xbox consoles along with the PC. PC gamers could pick it up on either Steam, GOG, or the Epic Game Store. 

Disclaimer: I downloaded the demo via Steam. 

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides an insight into the video game community and industry of the San Francisco Bay Area.