Front Mission is a tactical role-playing game about giant mechs, released only in Japan for the Super Famicom on 24 February 1995. G-Craft developed it and Square published it. Toshiro Tsuchida first pitched the idea as 100 Mission; Square kept telling him "no robots," so he built a prototype to prove the concept. Yoko Shimomura and Noriko Matsueda composed the soundtrack, and Yoshitaka Amano's cover illustration was judged too imposing, so only part of it ended up on the box.
The game sold over 500,000 copies in Japan. A WonderSwan Color port followed in 2002, and in 2003 Square Enix remade it for PlayStation as Front Mission 1st, adding a second campaign on the USN side.
That remake was later ported to Nintendo DS. Released in North America in 2007 simply as Front Mission, the DS version was the only one sold there.1
Names and releases
| Region | Title on the box | Platform | Date | Publisher | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA | Front MissionThe only version released in North America | Nintendo DS | Oct 23, 2007 | Square Enix | 1 |
| JP | フロントミッションFuronto MisshonSuper Famicom original, developed by G-Craft | SNES | Feb 24, 1995 | Square | 1 |
| JP | フロントミッションFuronto MisshonWonderSwan Color; direct port | Other | Jul 12, 2002 | Square | 1 |
| JP | フロントミッション ザ・ファーストFuronto Misshon Za FāsutoFront Mission 1st, remake with a new USN scenario; English Wikipedia gives both 23 October and 23 November 2003 | PlayStation | 2003 | Square Enix | 1 |
| JP | フロントミッション ザ・ファーストFuronto Misshon Za FāsutoPort developed by Tose | Nintendo DS | Mar 22, 2007 | Square Enix | 1 |
| JP | フロントミッション ザ・ファーストFuronto Misshon Za FāsutoPlayStation version re-released as a PSOne Classic (Game Archives) on PlayStation Network | PlayStation 3 | Nov 12, 2008 | Square Enix | 1 |
Also known as: フロントミッション JP2Furonto Misshon JP2Front Mission 1st JP1フロントミッション ザ・ファースト JP2100 Mission JP1
Box art by region
JP フロントミッション
Box art © its publishers, shown to identify each release. Scans: libretro-thumbnails.
Version differences
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ContentPS1 (Front Mission 1st)DS
The 2003 PlayStation remake Front Mission 1st added a second campaign from the USN side and new characters such as Darril Traubel and Billy Renges; the DS version keeps this scenario.1
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GameplayDS
The DS version spreads battles across both screens and adds characters such as Griff Burnam and Glen Duval, parts and weapons from other games in the series, and nine secret missions.1
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AudioPS1 (Front Mission 1st)DS
For the PlayStation and DS remakes, Hidenori Iwasaki arranged the original score by Yoko Shimomura and Noriko Matsueda.1
Translations
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English Official
Square Enix2007Nintendo DS · Front Mission 1stReleased · complete
The DS version, released in North America in 2007 simply as Front Mission, was the first official English release.1
Best version
The DS version (2007) is the only official English release of the original game; it is based on the PlayStation remake Front Mission 1st and includes the added USN campaign. Front Mission 1st: Remake (2022) is a separate full remake.1
Reception
The Super Famicom original sold over 500,000 copies in Japan and received 31/40 from Famitsu. The DS version scored 72/100 on Metacritic, and Nintendo Power called it a stark, futuristic Advance Wars.1
In lists
Sources
Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13
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