Front Mission 2 Remake for Nintendo Switch: A Missed Opportunity in SRPG Revival

Front Mission 2 Remake: Assessing the Nintendo Switch Release from Forever Entertainment When "Front Mission 2 Remake" launched on the Nintendo Switch, excitement surged within the tactical RPG community.

Developed by Forever Entertainment and published in partnership with Square Enix, the game brought a long-elusive entry of the cult-favorite mecha franchise to Western audiences for the first time.

As one of the most requested strategy RPG localizations from the PlayStation era, its debut marked a pivotal moment—delivering not just nostalgia, but also the promise of modern enhancements and accessibility through the Nintendo eShop. Yet, despite initial enthusiasm and a foundation built on beloved gameplay systems, Front Mission 2 Remake’s reception has been complicated.

Early impressions painted a picture of promise; however, criticism quickly coalesced around persistent translation issues, inconsistent quality-of-life improvements, and technical shortcomings that have taken months of post-launch updates to address. Repeated updates and balance tweaks from Forever Entertainment have improved critical facets of the SRPG experience.

Recent patches have refined gameplay balance and resolved specific bugs, signaling active developer support.

Despite these improvements, some core issues remain.

The translation has particularly drawn attention, as it frequently features stilted phrasing, grammatical errors, and inconsistent localization—a significant departure from the quality seen in Square Enix’s remaster of the original Front Mission on Nintendo DS.

This has led to confusion and diminished the impact of the story, making it difficult for players—both new and returning—to fully engage with the characters and narrative. Gameplay-wise, Front Mission 2 Remake remains true to its roots, bringing challenging, RNG-driven combat and deep Wanzer (mech) customization to the Switch.

While mecha aficionados will appreciate the detailed modeling and customization options, the removal of dynamic battle animations found in the original PlayStation release has led to a more generic visual presentation.

Distinctive elements—such as idiosyncratic menu features and atmospheric window palettes—are notably absent, further diminishing the remake’s unique character. Technical issues, including bugs, inconsistent AI, and occasional crashes, have been widely reported by players and documented in Forever Entertainment’s official Discord server.

While system performance is generally stable, the game does not fully exploit the Switch’s capabilities, staying visually conservative and never quite reaching the polish fans expect from a modern remake.

The user interface also struggles to convey information clearly, sometimes making battles less intuitive and more tedious. A recent statement from Forever Entertainment articulated ongoing commitment to refining the localization and gameplay: “We continue to listen to fan feedback and are rolling out updates to ensure the experience matches the expectations of longtime series enthusiasts and newcomers alike.” However, for many, the translation and artistic choices represent a lost opportunity to fully revitalize a classic. Front Mission 2 Remake, initially a Nintendo Switch exclusive, sought to bridge a gap in the franchise’s global legacy.

Unfortunately, despite notable attempts at modernization—such as improved balance and active patching—the absence of a refined script and preservation of original artistic details renders this version less impactful.

While dedicated fans may still find value, most strategy RPG veterans will agree this remake currently falls short of the heights set by its source material. As the title continues to receive updates and approaches its promised physical release, the hope is that localization and critical features will see substantial improvement.

Until then, Front Mission 2 Remake stands as a cautionary tale in the complexities of reviving beloved classics on modern hardware like the Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch Front Mission Front Mission 2 Remake Forever Entertainment Square Enix SRPG Nintendo Direct Nintendo eShop