Front Mission 3 Remake Review: Nintendo Switch Update Misses the Mark on Artistic Integrity

Front Mission 3 Remake Review: Nintendo Switch Update Misses the Mark on Artistic Integrity Front Mission 3 Remake, developed by Forever Entertainment and published in partnership with Square Enix, is the latest attempt to revive the beloved tactical RPG series for modern audiences.

Released on the Nintendo Switch, the game has garnered significant attention from strategy RPG enthusiasts, especially those with fond memories of the original 1999 PlayStation release.

The original Front Mission 3 was monumental for Western fans, marking the first time the franchise was officially localized outside Japan.

With its dual campaigns, intricate Wanzer (mech) customization, and an in-depth in-game internet known as the Network, the game set a high bar for the series. The remake brings the classic tactical combat system to today’s hardware, retaining signature features such as pre-battle mech customization and enemy-targeting mechanics.

Players still experience the unique thrill of critical strikes on individual mech components, with diverse weapon types affecting range and damage distribution.

Ejection and boarding systems add tactical layers—players can capture enemy Wanzers and decide to assign them to units or disassemble them for parts to enhance their machines.

While many RPG purists have criticized the series for its reliance on random number generation, this element injects chaotic realism into the fierce world of mechanized warfare. From a gameplay perspective, Front Mission 3 Remake offers a more responsive experience than its predecessor, Front Mission 2 Remake.

Navigating menus and initiating attacks feels intuitive and swift, ensuring both newcomers and returning players can enjoy accessible and deep tactical sessions.

Evidence of continued improvements and lessons learned from earlier remakes is clear throughout, illustrating Forever Entertainment’s commitment to refining the player experience, despite previous missteps. The localization, based largely on the original English script with minor edits, exhibits some rough edges—most notably, awkward line breaks in Network text boxes.

However, the core script is coherent and updated for present-day understanding. Audio remains faithful to the series’ spirit.

The updated soundtrack complements the game effectively, and the option to toggle the original music honors the nostalgia of veteran fans.

Minor audio inconsistencies, such as mismatched text scroll effects, disrupt the flow but do not overshadow the otherwise solid aural presentation. However, the most contentious aspect of this remake lies in its visual overhaul.

Unlike the PlayStation original, which boasted evocative 2D backgrounds, dynamic camera work, and expressive low-resolution art, the remake’s visuals rely heavily on AI upscaling and asset replacement.

Many 2D assets, especially within the in-universe Network, have been processed through generative AI models, leading to perceptible inconsistencies and loss of intended details.

Character portraits display oddities—blended features, mismatched hair, and strange artifacts—that detract from the game’s authenticity.

Environmental and lore images, once rich in style, now seem generic and confusing, with some AI-created visuals introducing entirely fabricated details untrue to the original vision. Across the interface, these changes dilute the unique artistic identity that defined Front Mission 3, undermining the painstaking work of past artists and developers.

According to observations from multiple reviews, these decisions were likely made to expedite development, but the trade-off for speed has come at the expense of legacy and visual fidelity.

As industry platforms like the Nintendo eShop make remakes more accessible, the impact of such choices reverberates beyond this release, raising questions about the future of classic game revivals and respect for their original creators. In conclusion, Front Mission 3 Remake on Nintendo Switch offers enjoyable tactical RPG gameplay improvements but fails to preserve the visual artistry and soul of the original.

For those new to the series, it serves as a functional introduction.

However, for longtime fans and those sensitive to the preservation of gaming history, the heavy use of AI-generated assets and the perceived disregard for the original’s creative vision are significant setbacks.

The remake stands as a cautionary tale for the industry: gameplay improvements alone cannot compensate for the loss of artistry and intent that made the classic Front Mission 3 a standout in its era.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch AI Front Mission 3 Remake Front Mission Forever Entertainment Square Enix Front Mission 2 Remake PlayStation