Front Mission 4 is the 4th game (duh) in the series, and definitely the best. It is based in the future where the battlefield is clearly dominated by mechs with big guns. So you ask, why didn't I give it a 1, or a 10? Read on and you'll find out.
Story 8/10
This game, like many other TBS (turn-based strategy) is very story-driven. It talks about two separate people; Darril (South America) and Elsa (Europe), who are on different parts of the world, and how both of their stories come together and intertwine.
Gameplay 9.5/10
This is where the game really shines. You can customize your mech to you liking; such as the colour of different parts of the mech, the guns they use, the replaceable mech parts, and you get the point. The game is also very rewarding to those who try to keep their mechs in the best shape possible. The system they use is simple but effective; you get money (points) every time you complete a mission, but some points will be deducted according to how much damage all of your mechs have taken. I would've given it a perfect 10/10 if some of the battles didn't last a few hours each, and the deep learning curve. Other than that, the game is deep and rewarding.
Graphics 9/10
The graphics for this game are above average. There are many jagged edges which you can see, and the environments are okay, but both hinder the score. But other than that, the graphics are pretty good. The explosions and gun-fire are well done. Also, being able to change the camera angle to your liking helps the score. So you're wondering, hey, you gave it a 9/10, isn't that really good? Well, I have given it a few points for the excellent CG movie at the beginning of the game, and the cut-scenes are well done too.
Sound 8/10
The sounds are extremely well done in the CG's and cut-scenes, but there is a highly noticeable drop in quality in-game. I'm not saying that the sound sucks, I'm just saying if they paid the attention to make the in-game sounds as good at the CG's, then the score would've been a 9 at least. The gun-fire just doesn't sound strong and powerful when it hits the mech's, all I can hear is a weak clang clang clang. I'd rather hear something that sounded like the bullets were piercing the mechs, not bouncing off of them. The only sounds that that appeal to me are 1. The explosions 2. When your mech does double the damage with a skill. If they could've done everything as good as 1 and 2, the game would be flawless...well almost.
Replayability 7/10
Fans of this genre and series would definitely play this game multiple times to gain every secret weapon and such, but people who aren't as interested as the fans would probably bring it back to EB and sell it.
Rent or Buy 8/10
For the FM fans, mech fans, or TBS fans, this game is definitely a buy for you. For those who are looking to try a new genre, it'd be better to rent first, and see how you like it.
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