Which Version of Front Mission 1 Should You Play? - All Ports Reviewed & Compared 

I miss the 90s computer aesthetic. It was that weird robot future from 80s/90s anime that made me love FM.

You destroy so much of my annoying obsessively check for differences and best versions of videogames that I had to do for so many years in succinct, interesting, enjoyable and well researched videos... Thank you!!!!

The Front Mission 2 remake is being developed by Storm Trident and the 3 remake is being done by MegaPixel Studios, different dev teams but both subsidiaries of Forever Entertainment.

Man is a machine getting these out.

Playing unofficial translations is so natural to me now that when it got to the part about the DS localization not asking if you previously played, my first reaction was “why would they go through the trouble of changing that”

ADDENDUM: 1.0.3 patch notes were put out. I'll put some highlights in this comment, but here's the link to patch notes twitter.com/FrontMissionRM/status/1604792265733558272 Some updates added to the game not mentioned in the video: - Statistics comparison before combat. - Alternate route seeking by the AI when the target cell is occupied by an ally (only in Modern Mode) - DPAD navigation in scenario map tile by tile. - Direct attack on enemies by selecting the red square on the scenario map. - Save panel after the campaign is completed (autosave is no longer deleted). - Death animation on the arena when BODY is destroyed. - A "thank you" sound after a purchase in a shop. [this was in the PS1 and DS versions] - Minigun animation when firing. Overall, this is essentially what I meant by they were collecting feedback and going from there

I just want to say your channel might just be the straight up most useful one on youtube for me. Compiling a list of differences is so helpful when deciding which to play and I really want to thank you for them.

I'm still on the fence, but I'm leaning towards the DS version. I like the 2d graphics and it seems like the only advantage of the switch port is the tactical overhead map.

You are on FIRE lately. Hitting all the good games I genuinely think about playing.

Awesome, thanks for releasing this comp so quickly!

You are doing sacred and important work my friend. These port comparison videos are so, so good.

Front mission 3 was my first and last. I still love this game.

Finished up the Switch version the other day and really enjoyed it, going to need to try the alternative campaign eventually. Funny as I played the SNES and DS versions but never managed to get overly far despite liking them. Cool to see the comparisons.

Nice to see some comparisons between fm1 versions, I emulated the famicom version while my buddy played the DS one, it was weird not knowing he had done the opposing campaign

Absolute madman, another great review and comparison video :) I assume then that Forever Entertainement is only acting as Publisher for Front Mission 2 remake, with Storm Trident developping?

Great video! It sounds like the DS version is the way to go for me when considering convenience. You actually made me more interested in trying the series thanks to the clarification that you provided.

The remake certainly looks...With the retro look being so prevalent nowadays this should not be looking like an Asset Flip. Maybe it would've been cool if they have tried to make it look closer to Front Mission 3 for the PS1 but with all the special effects of an Octopath Traveler. Maybe for the next Remake in 28 years? ...mayhaps...

(10:35) The updated environments here makes it seem like playing with mech toys. Any sense of scale is lost.

Man you did a pretty well job with these videos😃

The sheer work ethic required to do this research is award-worthy! Bravo!

Man, the original sprite style looks so much better than the Switch versions

Awesome review. I enjoy the OG OST over the remastered. Thank you.

I really wish "classic" mode let me just play with the original pixel art. It looks so sick.

holy cow, you're on fire my friend! great video as always

I’ve always wanted to get into FM because I’m a sucker for strategy rpgs. Very good work 👍

I was hugely addicted to FM3. Hope that the remake is on the PC

Thank you for the comparison, Austin. It looks like the Switch remake looks like a good point to jump into this series.

This is a fantastic rundown on the versions!

Honestly, I wish someone made a patch for the DS version that made battle transitions faster. I prefer the pixel look even though the remake looks great.

Excellent comparison, I hadn’t make my mind wether to emulate or get the remake.

This was useful. Great job!

I still occasionally replay FM3 & 4 on my ancient PS2, interested in seeing the original games as well.

God, those Famicom sound effects are nostalgic as fuck since I grew up with the fan translation

Eagerly waiting for the Crisis Core video!!

The fan translation got a pretty big update from mteam after this video dropped. I'm gonna be playing through it to see how comprehensive it is, but they seem confident in how complete the fixes are.

Brilliant comparison. I think the parts being "toned down" in DS version come late in the game? I swear I've read lot of people mentioning there was some subplot removed.

What we need is a translation of this PS1 version. The USN campaign looks sick!

I forgot this was coming out. Thankfully, the people around me are mech game nuts and so my recommended feed was filled with mech vids and this was one of them. Thanks for reminding me to pick this one up

Awesome job on this

For me, the UI is the most important aesthetic part of the FM games and I wish they haven't modernized it

Played lots of hours on the SFC fan translation and on NDS lite. Hoping for a physical Switch copy and will get started right away once i get one.

6:55 Glen Duval!?? The same of FM 5 ? Man, how I wanted a video that explained and connected the history of the games in the franchise ..

very loved your video for this front mission

The old versions still look so good, I wouldn't them just being blown up to HD, but the new 3D version covers the major bases surprisingly faithfully. What about the dialogue translation though? Would love for this game to have more breathing room on non-Switch platforms

I kinda wish there was an “original graphics” mode - but the remake is so well done

A frequent bug I encounter is freezing and crashing during missions. I've not yet noticed any save corruption or loss of data, so it's just a mild annoyance, as long as I keep a save file up to date.

12:49 It's funny; I'm the exact opposite. I'm not a fan of the mechs sliding aroundcas if their ice skating, and i prefer the more relatable (to me) stomping/walking animation, even if it is slower in the modern mode, or have it as an option in the modern mode.

Imo the best experience for Western players would be : SFC translated > DS > Remake The SFC version feels as how the FM1 should be and intended.... Superb well designed presentation that fits the setting, grittier, punchier, with the correct sounds/visual theme, very ambitious both for the time and system and with unforgetable story elements with the right dialogue that makes the delivery very strong. Easily of the best experiences i've ever had in my gaming life. DS i would say it's the most accesible way to play the game and a decent way to play it, sadly the sounds effects are very weaker compared to the stronger fx on the SFC version (Eggret or better missile sound effects are just cheff kiss of powerful in the SFC version) and the OST is slighty compromised but not so bad. However the softier dialogue on key scenes of the DS really lessen the impact of the plot reveals A LOT, at times it feels more closer to a Saturday morning cartoon dub rather than the Adult themed tone that the original game was aiming for. Remake would have been amazing.... if they had sticked to the original art direction, both in visuals, perspective and animation, there are way too many things that makes the Remake presentation way too bland and generic something that FM1 excelled. But i have to be fair that i really admired that they kept the game mechanics, balance and Characters portraits as faithful as possible, that was a really good move for the Remake. Thanks for the video! i enjoyed a lot !

DS version for me all the way

Kids nowadays should count their blessings for being given the opportunity to play this gem (even though the majority won’t or will probably never hear about it). I still remember trying to play this back in the emulator days in 2000 and it was all in japanese. I could only do so much before i got frustrated not knowing wth was going on. Didn’t want to play a tactical rpg where the dialogue was completely lost. Now there are english patches. Re-releases and all that stuff.

I just wish these would release on PC.

Very thorough video about the difference! Feels like the new remake lacks the charm of the pixel art. The models and combat look so lifeless in comparison. Also not looking the trend of remastered music being ... "softer" to the original soundtrack. At least the FM2 combat looks more dynamic.

something I've been always curious about this franchise is the story continuity... does it ends with cliff hangers or every installment is a different brand new story?

Thanks Austin!

can you make an updated version of this video on from mission 1st to include the new platform releases too? specifically steam? 🙏🏻

I just wish they'd release these updated versions to something like the PS4 or PC, as I'd absolutely love to play 1 & 2 but don't have a DS or a Switch. I absolutely loved 3 & 4 so I'd get a PS4/PC version pretty much Day 1

The Switch version to me is the best of them all. Difficulty options and it looks and sounds great. After all these years I was finally able to beat both campaigns and experience the story!

Soo important channel, thank you! For me, the DS version is the best version of all. The Remake looks and feels like a botched job. Don’t understand why SQE seems to hate FM and it’s fanbase. I still have nightmares about Left Alive.. Hoping that FM2&3 Remake will be better..

I’m very impressed by the Wonderswan version. I recently got a WS Crystal, so I’m tempted to track it down.

finally some love from SE for this hidden gem

So I'm a bit confused, does the switch version have all the extras that were added to the PS1 and DS versions? Minus multiplayer since the Switch version doesn't have that.

That Switch 'remake' felt more like face lift. That price tag is a bit high for what it is. What would be sweet is a action game using the old stories. FOr me Front Mission Evolved and Front Mission Gun Hazard are the more desired game plays and proof the series not once, but twice, is not always turn based. For turn based. Front Mission 3 is still king and i may just go back and play the one I got.

Think I'll cop this version- I've played the SNES with the fantranslation, so I feel like I oughta pay them for that pleasure now that the opportunity's here. I guess I could go for the DS if I can find it on auctions, but it was only ever released in the US and I'm in EU, and even if I am a 90's kid with massive nostalgia boomer for the pixel aesthetic that this game didn't maintain, I feel like the content here beibg functionally identical only with some more QoL features mean my eyes can swallow some disappointment. Still, I'm looking forward to 2 and 3, haven't played or own those at all!

a video about front mission? thanks youtubes algorithms, here is my like and subscribe ♠

I see it's now available on Steam for PC. Might pick it up.

I honestly would have bought it if the art design was like Octopath Traveler. But the new 3D graphics look so generic. Like a mobile game or bargain bin game. Hopefully, 2 or 3 have more stylized graphics.

Now that the PC version is out, would you recommend that over the Switch version? Or vice versa?

As someone who played only FM3 and was wondering to go back, I think remakei s pretty damn good looking. It shows that was made with people who know what they doing, compared to some other "remakes" of west big titles lately...

Idk if its the same guy but i think this guy also has you youtube channel wiegraf9009 or maybe he just worked on the same project but i watched his front mission 5 gameplay a while back and remembered him talking about translating it alot as well as some mis translations and charecter limits for the english version

ive been a fan of all front mission franchise, from snes to switch, it is still a great game

Very helpful review. Front Mission is one of my favourite franchises. Can’t wait for the 3rd

i'll go with the ds version, thanks for the video! and for the other front mission games?

I’m playing FM1 Remake on PC, and I’m so sad, that you can’t do “cool” wanzers. I remember on SNES I was able to do one looks like tank, or car transporter like from alien [by legs/ body and weapon hands combo], now all non bipedal legs anyway make mechs to “stand” all weapon hands are always so far from body… Nothing big, but I was soooo excited to do those again as I did when I was kid, and nope :/

You said that Forever Entertainment is not making the Front Mission 2 and 3 remakes, but seems like Forever is the publisher to all 3 games and MegaPixel Studio and Storm Trident are the Devs, so i'm kinda confused

I love the first game .

clssic mode ps1 on romstation classic on ds and today modern mode on switch. love this game♥

Thank you for the comparison videos, I played the DS version on the original hardware and had a blast, but now I know it was toned down. I will check the psx version out!

They need to bring this to Steam/PC. I played the original SNES version and didn't get to play the one from ps1/ds. Great potential on this franchise and I hope it gets a lot of sales to warrant better sequels.

I like the pixel graphics more than the modern Switch graphics, it has more charm. I may be biased because it was one of the games I put countless hours into when it was released on the PS1.

Forever ent. did great with 1 hopefully 2 and 3 are in the good hands

wow theyre really doing a full modern revival arent they... i hope they also do fm 4 and 5 too then

I think the DS version looks the best, but I may be biased because it was the first one I played

I still love FM 3 because that game made the philippines a superpower lmao. but got a switch currently playing FM 1 waiting for FM 2

That Switch version isn’t bad visually, but definitely looks “cheap” and is nowhere near as nice as the original sprite graphics. I wish the remake had an option to use the original’s visuals.

The remake seems decent enough. I'll probably get it once it comes out on PC. I wonder who's doing 2 and 3 though?

I knida liked DS-version the most

Despite all naysayers to the contrary, I did play Front Mission USN campaign in English patch on a PlayStation emulator. I can’t find a trace of it now and people now say it never existed.

I would have been all over Front Mission if it came west in the late 90s.

So at the end of the day, the choice is between DS and Switch, and the Switch have quite a lot of improvements an QoL changes with only some elements from DS lacking (like the cameos). Humm...I'll need to think about it whether to download the DS version to my flashcart or buy the Switch version.

I think a good video idea is comparing Fire Emblem 1, Book 1 of Fire Emblem 3, and Fire Emblem 11.

I love these videos.

i liove the switch versin but i would have liked an option to play in the SNES graphics.

Comparing all versions, that includes dialogue change, I feel much satisfied with the Super Nintendo one. I don't like that they watered down the dialogue on the DS version and I just don't like the modern look of the Switch version. Most of all, despite loving the remix of the music tracks, I can't hear a damn noise of gun fire from the Playstation one. What the hell? All in all, the Super Nintendo one is superior. I love this game and its music.

I emulated this back in the day on SNES9x and it was in English & had excellent translation. Nothing beats that jazzy, low-key music during the interludes & shop portions.

Front Mission 2 is comming soon!!

0:52 why is Armored Core in that list?

Ofc the one with you can save/load states.I hate wasting my time because of rng

This game is so good.

I want the switch version with the fan translated text

Front Mission 3, and the Armored Core Project Phantasma.