History VideoGame / FrontMission

** A remake on the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch in 2022

** A remake on the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch (date unconfirmed)

* {{Cyberpunk}}: Downplayed. While Front Mission doesn't have the stereotypical NeonCity associated with the cyberpunk genre, the series has clear cyberpunk elements. Aside from the [[CrapsackWorld general grimness]] of the setting, this series has a strong focus on technology blurring the border between humans and machines - examples include [[spoiler: BD technology connecting human brains to machines]] and of course, the wanzers (vaguely human-looking war machines) themselves.

* {{Cyberpunk}}: Downplayed. While Front Mission doesn't have the stereotypical [[NeonCity giant electronic cities]] associated with the cyberpunk genre, the series has clear cyberpunk elements. Aside from the [[CrapsackWorld general grimness]] of the setting, this series has a strong focus on technology blurring the border between humans and machines - examples include [[spoiler: BD technology connecting human brains to machines]] and of course, the wanzers (human-looking war machines) themselves.

* {{Cyberpunk}}: Downplayed. While Front Mission doesn't have the stereotypical giant electronic cities, the series has clear elements of the cyberpunk genre, such as the [[CrapsackWorld general grimness]] of the setting. Also, this series has a strong focus on technology blurring the border between humans and machines - examples include [[spoiler: BD technology connecting human brains to machines]] and of course, the wanzers (human-looking war machines) themselves.

* {{Cyberpunk}}: Downplayed. While Front Mission doesn't have the stereotypical giant electronic cities, the series have clear elements of the cyberpunk genre, such as the [[CrapsackWorld general grimness]] of the setting. Also, this series has a strong focus on technology blurring the border between humans and machines - examples include [[spoiler: BD technology connecting human brains to machines]] and of course, the wanzers (human-looking war machines) themselves.

* ''VideoGame/FrontMission1'' (1995, [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem Super Famicom]]) (2002, UsefulNotes/{{Wonderswan}}).

* ''[[VideoGame/FrontMissionGunHazard Front Mission: Gun Hazard]]'' (1996, SFC) - A side-scrolling action spin-off, taking place in an alternative universe.

There is a character page [[NeedsWikiMagicLove desperately in need of work.]]

Two thinkgs set it apart from other mecha games: it is a TurnBasedStrategy (unheard of in 1995 outside of ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars''), and it applies as much realism as can be expected with giant robots. Logistics matter, the Wanzers are easily destroyed, winning battles requires teamwork, and the stories are heavily packed with {{Realpolitik}}.

* TacticalRockPaperScissors: ''Front Mission 3'' and on introduced damage types, which weapons inflict and armor (settable by the player) protects from. The flow goes Piercing beats Impact, Impact beats Flame, Flame beats Piercing. There's also a fourth type used energy weapons that ignores defense modifiers.

* FrickinLaserBeams: Quite a few of these show up.
** In ''Alternative'', there are three instances of laser beams appearing:
*** In Mission 24, the IMAC have to escort a trio of Yagisawa [=WAWs=], who are testing out a giant railgun. But instead of shooting a shell, it spits out a big blue laser.
*** Towards the finale, when the IMAC [[spoiler: infiltrates the secret underground factory run by the EC,]] they come across a shoulder laser cannon oddly nicknamed "Blassty".
*** In the final mission of the true ending, the IMAC [[spoiler: is given a demonstration of the [[WeaponOfMassDestruction Saryshagan Rifle]] by Gustav Zelman and the EC's remaining forces at Timgad. The Saryshagan Rifle is a laser weapon which, at its full power, can destroy small settlements with a massive beam of doom.]] In-game, [[spoiler: it's a OneHitKill weapon.]]
** In the USN campaign of ''1st'', laser beams appear [[spoiler: when the USN Army calls in a laser strike on the HQ of the [[WesternTerrorists Star of Freedom]].]]
** In ''Evolved'', the laser beams sadly are either (a) in the hands of enemy units or (b) only shows up in the [[CutScenePowerToTheMax cutscenes]].
** TruthInTelevision. The military use of laser ''is'' indeed being researched.
** There are also [[TheHero Walter Feng]] and [[TheDragon Glen Duval]] in ''5''. In childhood, they were best friends before being forcefully repatriated by both the OCU and the USN thanks to the First Huffman Conflict. They remain friends even if they won't hesitate to shoot each other's wanzers down. [[spoiler: Not even Glen killing Randy can break that bond.]]
*** Justified, Glen [[spoiler: is BrainwashedAndCrazy when he kills Randy.]]

** Serov Warren from ''3'' probably counts as well, considering that he attacks his own allies in a fit of madness. In his case, it is [[JustifiedTrope justified]], however: [[spoiler: He's a flawed Imaginary Number]].

** [[TheHero Walter Feng]] from ''5'' counts. Though [[spoiler: the [[WesternTerrorists Grimnir]]]] are all pilots using [[spoiler: BD S-Type devices to control their wanzers like their own bodies (making them [[SuperSoldier Super Soldiers]])]], Walter is able to beat them simply through hard work... after he trains with [[spoiler: the Barghest's own S-Type pilots for ''years'']]. Your squad as a whole can count if you have no S-Type pilots in it, [[spoiler: except for Hector Reynolds, who's badass enough anyway]].
** Royd Clive from ''1st'' sports no such flashy "upgrades" as [[spoiler: BD Devices]], but still kicks [[spoiler: [[TheDreaded Dris]][[OneManArmy coll]]]]'s butt, multiple times, [[spoiler: even when the latter goes for the [[BiggerIsBetter Mir Orlen]]]].
** Kazuki Takemura and Ryogo Kusama from ''3'' are this without a doubt. Though they seem to be ordinary young adults at the beginning of their story, they somehow manages to keep up with all the military personnel they meet, all of whom are far more experienced in combat than they are. Oh, they take on [[spoiler: the [[SuperSoldiers Real and Imaginary Numbers]], and WIN]].
** Darril Traubel and Elsa Eliane from ''4'' can be considered this. In the case of [[BrilliantButLazy Darril]], he is, as ''5'' shows, actually better than most of the [[spoiler: augmented humans]]. Of course, if this is any indication, he is at least on par with Walter Feng...

** Darril Traubel and Billy Renges in the [=PS1=] remake of ''1st'', as [[spoiler: the two soldiers seen to depart on an USN peacekeeping mission led by [[TheHero Kevin Greenfield]]]]. Formally introduced in ''4''.

* ColonelBadass: Come on, how can a military-themed franchise ''not'' use this trope?
** In the expanded universe, [[TeamDad Zead Elger]] is said to have been a Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army prior to joining the Durandal.
** [[TheDragon Anizka Ivanovna Aleksandrov]] is good enough to become a Colonel in her ''early 20s''.

** ''4'' brings us [[TeamDad Carl Thammond]]. Now, imagine you have a group of LaResistance hiding in your little village. They are fighting to liberate your people, so you love them. Then one day, they are being chased down by soldiers of the corrupt, oppressive government. Things are starting to look bad... [[spoiler: until your 50-year-old school teacher is revealed to be a RetiredBadass, jumps into a wanzer, leads a gang of guerilla fighters into the field and saves the day]].

* FourStarBadass: Again, this is enforced.
** In ''4'', we have General Niklas Glaeser, who [[spoiler: fights the Durandal in a [[BiggerIsBetter Svinet mobile weapon]]]].

** Rolf Wagner from ''4'' is a Major and he leads the [[EliteArmy Blauer Nebel]], [[spoiler: while being a DeepCoverAgent for Zaftra at the same time, no less]].
* {{Manchild}}: Phillip Chaeffer from ''4'' can come off as this.

** [[spoiler: Lukav Minaev]] from ''3'' is a DoubleReverseQuadrupleAgent.

* MeaningfulName:
** ''4'': [[NaiveNewcomer Elsa Eliane]] gives her wanzer such a cutesy name as '''Verseau''', French for "Aquarius".
** ''4'': [[AmazonianBeauty Latona Rodiona Vasilev]] calls her wanzer '''Koroleva''', which means "Queen" in Russian.
** ''4'' again: [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits Darril Traubel and his buddies]] name their mechas '''Infernal''', '''Mundane''' and '''Celestial''' respectively, perhaps reflecting [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism their worldviews]].
** More ''4'': [[RetiredBadass Carl Thammond]] names his wanzer... '''Abominator'''.

* MyCountryRightOrWrong:
** [[spoiler: [[DeepCoverAgent Rolf Wagner]] from ''4'' turns out to be this to the Republic of Zaftra, his ''real'' home country]].
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast:
** '''Ivan'''ovna is a vindictive, merciless, blood-thirsty [[spoiler: Zaftran]] colonel, delighted at slaughtering her enemies with her [[SpiderTank Zhuk]] mobile weapon.

* NotBloodSiblings: ''3'' - [[spoiler: Emir "Emma" Klamsky and [[TheHero Kazuki Takemura]],]] tied with [[spoiler: Alisa]] [[IncrediblyLamePun as the knot]]. [[spoiler: Alisa is Emma's blood-tied and Kazuki's adoption-tied siblings, respectively.]]
** In Emma's campaign, the ShipTease is already thick at the beginning, Ryogo playing ShipperOnDeck notwithstanding. But that culminates with the ending, where [[spoiler: Alisa and Isao Takemura pull off {{Heroic Sacrifice}}s.]] THIS is their last piece of dialogue:
-->'''Emma''': This is where we were born. And where we grew up together. I only have good memories of this place. We were a true family.
-->'''Kazuki''': A true family...
-->'''Emma''': I'll come back here when everything is done.
-->'''Kazuki''': We'll do that... with a new family.

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: The British Prime Minister Lionel Noland and the Vice Minister Cecil Allison fill this role towards the [[BadassCrew Durandal]] (''4'').
* RedOniBlueOni:
** [[HairTriggerTemper Kazuki]] [[HotBlooded Takemura]] from ''3'' is the red to... nearly everyone else.

* YoungerThanTheyLook: Ralph Dian in ''1st'' is only ''34''.

* YouShallNotPass:
** [[spoiler: [[BattleButler Pierre Wells]]]] in ''3'', and he almost says exactly that.

** Masao Sasaki in ''2''. [[spoiler: One of the news updates in the in-universe internet mentions violent pro-nationalist demonstrations in OCU Japan and that a certain "Masao Sasaki" had been arrested for starting them.]] Sasaki is formally introduced in ''3'', [[spoiler: as a [[WellIntentionedExtremist key antagonist]]]].

* PostFinalBoss
** In the Emma scenario of ''3'', [[spoiler:Kazuki Takemura and company face off against some USN Capital Police wanzers as they try to break through the convention center in order to expose the conspiracy behind the MIDAS incident. This comes after the final battle against Lukav Minaev and his lackeys back at Ocean City in Okinawa.]]

* DifficultySpike: The first three missions of the notoriously unforgiving UCS Scenario in ''1st'' are barely manageable on your first playthrough but it soon becomes downright impossible when you reach the fourth mission where you have to stop two rampaging Type 90X prototype Wanzers. Even though the prototypes are in critical condition, your weapons will (at best) inflict scratch damage on them while they can destroy your best available, albeit largely inferior, Pheasant wanzers with only a few devastating punches. To further complicate matters, you will automatically fail the mission if the prototypes reach the exit and escape which forces you to risk your units to rush into a blocking position in order to prevent that. The only way to have a sure chance at completing this mission without dying is to grind a hundred battles at the Arena which, in turn, makes the rest of the scenario disappointingly easy as you will now be overleveled.

** Ash Faruk, Thomas Norland and Lisa Stanley from ''2'' are also good examples. This is true even after [[spoiler: Lisa gets the [[SuperPrototype final Raven]], considering this version doesn't rely on BD technology to have maximum combat performance]].
** [[TheChick Lira Labra]] from ''2'' is a young lady barely out of her adolescence... and on multiple occasions, she [[SilkHidingSteel fights the Revolutionary Army]] along with Burg Transportation forces. In a Zenith, to be exact. Nobody bats an eyelid about it.

* BrokenHero: Another trope that the franchise loves. In general, this is [[LighterAndSofter only implied]] in the games, but the other media often [[DarkerAndEdgier elaborate further]]. Many of the protagonists [[ShellShockedVeteran suffer from PTSD]] and other aftermaths of the horrors they have endured. A few go beyond this. Some of the most noteworthy contestants include:
** Royd Clive from ''1st''. In the ending of his original story, he gives off hints that he isn't very right in the head. The other media show that [[spoiler: he has been a real headcase since he was discharged from the army after the [[PretextForWar Larcus Incident]]. Not only did he have PTSD, but he also suffered from outbursts of rage, alcohol and drug abuse, and was at a point suicidal. Though he does put on a happy face after what occurs in Longrivers Island, his sanity doesn't last as [[ManipulativeBastard Morgan Bernard]] plays into his grievance. By the time Rocky Armitage sees him during the Alordesh coup, he is little more than a [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds globalist-hating mass murderer]], so Rocky has to kill him]].
*** His story is sad even by this series' standards. And that's saying something.

*** Thomas Norland from ''2089''. Formally introduced in ''2''.

** Of course, there're also the non-game media to consider. For instance...
*** Rocky Armitage. He [[spoiler: shows up first in the ''Front Line Report'' novel. There, he was assigned to pursue [[BrokenHero Royd Clive]], who was by then a terrorist fighting against the supernations. Rocky later appears in ''2'' as a member of the [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits Dull Stags]], alongside Thomas Norland and Roswell Tarana. Oh, and in the said game, he's tasked with pursuing the now full-on mass-murderer Royd and ends up killing our beloved Huffman Hero]].
*** Sayuri Mitsuzuka. She [[spoiler: first appears in the ''Front Line Report'' novel, where she is revealed to be the daughter of [[TagalongReporter Frederick Lancaster]], who joined the Canyon Crows and exposed the dirty businesses behind the Second Huffman Conflict. Two years after the novel's release, Sayuri shows up in ''2'', in which she, along with Lisa Stanley, investigates the Alordesh coup d'etat]].

** [[WellIntentionedExtremist Ven Mackarge]] from ''2'' is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Alordesh Army. He orchestrates a violent coup d'etat which involves thousands of anti-OCU soldiers doing timed attacks on OCU bases, ''across the whole Alordesh'', ''in a single night''. And that's just the opening of the story.
*** Oh, in-game, Ven fights you more than ten times throughout the story and he survives ''every'' instance you blow up his machines [[spoiler: (he's killed by the [[TheMenInBlack Dark Geese]], not you.)]]
** Inverted/Subverted in ''2'' with Andrew F. Hordman, who is rather inept.
--> (An operation to rescue OCU politicians from coup d'etat forces begins, under Hordman's leadership.)
--> '''Cordy''' (Staring at the dense enemy forces): There're so many of them!
--> '''Lisa''' (Frowning): I know, this hardly looks like a rescue mission to me...

** We have a case of [[GenderInvertedTrope Defrosting Ice King]] in ''2'': [[BrokenHero Ash Faruk]] has never smiled since [[spoiler: he became the scapegoat for the failure of the First Alordeshi Coup D'etat...]] until Lisa Stanley comes around.

** Franz Herschel from ''2'' [[spoiler: is a proxy of Dr. Morgan Bernard]].

** General Willas E. Blakewood from ''1st'' is this. [[spoiler: During the final arc, when the Canyon Crows are about to take off and [[FinalBattle head for Longrivers Island]], more PMO units come to pursue the crows... Then General Blakewood nonchalantly pulls a YouShallNotPass, while making [[TheHero Royd]] promise to keep [[DaddysGirl Natalie]] safe. Yeah]].
** Subverted with [[spoiler: Patrick S. Winger]] from ''1st''. He's a general, but [[NonActionBigBad we never see him in combat]].

** ''1st'''s USN campaign introduces Kevin Greenfield as friend to the Hell's Wall unit commander Grieg Demetrius and the rest of the unit. In the OCU campaign, they are [[TheDreaded notorious]] for a [[ThatOneLevel very good reason]]. But in here, they are portrayed as tough-but-loyal to each other and concerned about keeping ally casualties to minimum. Ghetta Cedric even [[spoiler: joins the Silver Lynxes later to avenge his fallen comrades.]]

* TheManBehindTheMan
** ''2'': [[spoiler: Ven Mackarge looks like BigBad at first glance... but as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the revolution is backed by '''a certain party''' represented by [[EvilOldFolks Franz Herschel]], whom [[ColonelBadass Ven]] seems somewhat ''afraid'' of. Much to Ven's sorrow, the revolution turns out to be a charlatan show, a cover used by that certain party to obtain a copy of the [[WeaponOfMassDestruction FENRIR]]...]]

** ''2'': [[TheScapegoat Ash Faruk]]'s wanzer is called '''Bounder'''.
** ''2'': [[TeamDad Griff Brunman]] names his wanzer '''Kasumi''', [[spoiler: after his wife.]]

* MyCountryRightOrWrong: Ash Faruk (''2'') would've been much [[BrokenHero better]] [[TheScapegoat off]] if he was less devoted to the People's Republic of Alordesh...

** Speaking of mobile weapons, there's the [=ISV09A-S=] Bismillah from ''2''. ''Bismillah'' means "in the name of God" in Arabic, and the namesake mech is appropriately ungodly in terms of health, weapon loadout, skills, and immunity to status anomalies. Expect a OneHitKill when you encounter this twice in the game.

** General Willas E. [[spoiler: Blakewood]] is this to the [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits Canyon Crows]].
** Don't tell this to Kazuki: His dad Isao ''does'' play this to his crew.

** In ''1st'', [[ByronicHero Royd Clive]]'s the red to [[TheSmartGuy Ryuji Sakata]]'s blue.

** Also played in ''Alternative'' [[spoiler: with Dal Furphy when he jumps in front of Liebert Dwyer's machine gun fire to shield Earl [=McCoy=];]] ''2089'' has Dragoon/Lancer [[spoiler: when he rushes right in front of Rei Amamiya to shield her from Demon's charging attack;]] and ''2'' with Lira Labra [[spoiler: when she runs to protect Ven Mackarge from missiles fired from a VTOL aircraft.]]
* TeamMom: Natalie F. Blakewood is this to the Canyon Crows. [[spoiler: [[TheMole Kind of]].]]

** Also, [[BlackAndNerdy Hermes Sturges]] is the token black guy in the Durandal.

** [[ByronicHero Royd Clive]]'s response to the request to join the Canyon Crows is always "Do what you want."

*** Karen Meure from ''2089-II''. Formally introduced in ''1st''.

** ''1st'' has [[BaldOfAwesome Alder Weiss]], the no-nonsense and slightly full-of-himself mercenary (and it isn't like he has no reason to be so).

* DudeWheresMyRespect: In ''1st'''s OCU campaign, after the hospital raid in Grey Rock, Olson - the man interested in putting sworn enemies in their places more than anything else - makes no mention of a raid unit being blitzed by the Canyon Crows. The crows are probably thinking "Uhh, Colonel, '''''you're welcome!'''''" Much, '''''much''''' later on [[TheReveal the story unveils why]] all Olson could say was...
-->'''Olson''':''Under normal circumstances, you would all be facing a court-martial right now, but General Blakewood, the Supreme Commander of this unit, has ordered me [[YouWillBeSpared to be lenient with you]]''.

** Though [[ForSCIENCE Dr. Gilmore]] from ''1st'' isn't much of a villain, he has the look of it.

** In ''1st'''s OCU campaign, [[spoiler: Guri B. Olson pulls back and aims, threatening to have Keith Carabell [[WeHaveReserves "expended"]]. Where the wind-up ends and the kick begins is rather subjective.]]

* KickTheSonOfABitch: Royd Clive [[spoiler: almost [[BerserkButton goes off the handle]] and tries to kill Driscoll when they briefly [[TeethClenchedTeamwork team up]] against the Spirit of Huffman forces.]]

** ''1st'': [[spoiler: Brigadier General Patrick S. Winger, a High-ranking Officer who is responsible for managing the UCS side of the BD Project, was released back to civilian status after a lack of evidence and key witnesses to prove his involvement in the conspiracy concluded his trial in only a dishonorable discharge. The UCS Intelligence Agency actually allowed Winger to go free in order to find his superiors who are the real authority behind the BD Project.]]

* MercyKill: In ''1st'', [[spoiler: after the final fight in Longrivers Island,]] Royd Clive [[spoiler: sets his wanzer on fire, with Karen Meure still inside it as a [[BrainInAJar B-Type]] [[AndIMustScream Device]], and relieves her from the torture of being reduced to a biocomputer. [[TearJerker Karen is able to resist it, but she doesn't]]]].

* TheMole: [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig Zags]] in ''1st''. In terms of good and evil, [[spoiler: President Sakata through and through. And, as clues seem to indicate, the ole mole Guri B. Olson just as much.]]

* OlderThanTheyLook: Koichi Sakata from ''1st'' is ''28''.

* ReassignedToAntarctica: In ''1st'''s USN campaign, an unnamed USN general expresses the intent to reassign [[TheHero Kevin Greenfield]] to Alaska "to push up papers until he was dead" as the punishment, for blowing a critical mission to bring down the [[WesternTerrorists Star of Freedom]]. Fortunately for Kevin, he is sent to Huffman Island instead, at the request of the Special Weapons Research Division known as the "Nirvana Institute". Upon arrival, however, [[TheDreaded Driscoll]] threatens Kevin with reassignment to Alaska if he doesn't follow through on his orders without question.

* TheScapegoat: During the mission to destroy the Star of Freedom Headquarters in the Andes Mountains, Captain Maria Paredes gets hung up for some reason during her infiltration of the base interior. This delay proves to be very costly as it allows the resistance leadership to avoid the orbital strike which then spurs the Star of Freedom to continue their efforts against the [=UCS=]. Although Maria is clearly at fault for the embarrassing failure, Kevin Greenfield takes the blame instead as Maria is too important to be removed from the Black Hounds.

* StopOrIWillShoot: Variation. [[spoiler: [[RulesLawyer Natalie F. Blakewood]] in ''1st'' threatens (if she's deployed) to shoot Royd when he prepares to engage Driscoll against orders. If she isn't deployed, then it is Olson threatening to execute the '''whole unit''' by firing squad.]]
** In Olson's case, it is [[spoiler: rather subtle {{Foreshadowing}}...]]

* TokenMinority: Joynas Jeriaska (J.J.) from ''1st'' is your token black guy, making him Keith's TokenBlackFriend. Porunga is an Australian Aboriginal. [[TheFaceless Gentz Weizer]].... well, who knows?

* WeCanRebuildHim: [[spoiler:Driscoll]] in ''1st''.
** Turns into HoistByHisOwnPetard when you factor in events from the USN campaign.
* WelcomeToCorneria: [[spoiler: One of these is a hint that Guri B. Olson's a lying bastard.]]

** Anizka Ivanovna Aleksandrov from ''4'' shows some signs of this as well. Anyone who doubts her (mild) insanity should watch how she [[CurbStompBattle decimates USN forces]] in her [[SpiderTank Zhuk]] mobile weapon while [[EvilLaugh laughing]] in her cockpit and refers to the said mobile weapon as her "toy." Bar these quirks, she is a [[BunnyEarsLawyer fairly competent colonel]], so she's more of a downplayed example.
** Interestingly, [[spoiler: [[BigBad Morgan Bernard]]]] from ''5'' subverts this. [[spoiler: Given [[MadScientist what]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist he]] [[WesternTerrorists is]], many would expect him to play this trope straight. Well... [[TheChessmaster HE DOES]] [[EvilGenius NOT]]]].

* BigBrotherInstinct: Kazuki Takemura and [[spoiler: [[LongLostRelative Emir "Emma" Klamsky]]]] to Alisa [[spoiler: Klamsky]] in ''3''.
* BigDamnHeroes: During the climax of the final arc of ''5'', [[spoiler: [[BadassInDistress the Barghest are outnumbered]], fighting a losing battle against the Grimnir's superior numbers. Things are looking bad... then Lynn leads the Strike Wyverns in a [[ItsRainingMen airdrop]], bringing DeathFromAbove and turning the tide of the battle]].

** Morgan Bernard in ''2'' and ''4''. [[spoiler: In ''2'', he shows up via a proxy, and acts as the story's final villain. In ''4'', he is referred to by [[TeamDad Zead Elger]] as a terrorist behind a major hostage crisis in EC Germany back in the latter's British Army days.]] Morgan Bernard is formally introduced in ''5'', [[spoiler: in which he is ''the'' [[BigBad main]] [[EvilGenius antagonist]]]].
** Walter Feng and Hector Reynolds in ''2''. [[spoiler: A soldier clad in [[IconicOutfit black piloting gear]] and inside a black USN wanzer with the call sign "Black 6" radios the commander, "Black 1," about being attacked by [[TheHero Burg Transportation]] forces and ceasing covert operations]]. Formally introduced in ''5''.

*** Lynn Wenright from ''1st''. Formally introduced in ''5''.

* ChildhoodFriendRomance: [[spoiler: Walter Feng and Lynn Wenright were friends as children, and in the epilogue of ''5'', we learn that they eventually got married and had a daughter]].

** Anizka Ivanovna Aleksandrov from ''4'' is this when she goes for a wanzer. She seems to prefer her SpiderTank, however.
** Glen Duval from ''5'' turns into this, [[spoiler: once he goes BrainwashedAndCrazy thanks to the S-Type Device (forcibly) implanted in his head]].

** Lynn Wenwright in ''5'' is promoted to this. Hector Reynolds is one as well, although in a bit of a twist, he's a CombatMedic. [[spoiler: Walter Feng eventually get promoted to one as well, years after the incident in Alaska]].

** This trope hits a new height in ''5'', where we have Hector Reynolds. Although [[spoiler: he's supposedly in his ''60s'' by the time of the final arc, he is still the CO of the Barghest, and more than capable of helping [[TheHero Walter Feng]] kick asses in the battlefield.]] Wait, did I mention that [[spoiler: he helps stop a group of SuperSoldier terrorists from [[ApocalypseHow vaporizing Alaska]] in the said story arc?]]
*** Justified, Alder and Thammond are both veterans, while Hector [[spoiler: is a [[SuperSoldier S-Type user]] himself]].
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: There are a couple of these among the villains.
** Like [[spoiler: Koichi Sakata from ''1st'', for instance]].
** Government-entrenched versions take their place in ''Gun Hazard''.

* DeepCoverAgent: Enforced.
** [[spoiler: Mikhail Ilyich Rezanov (aka "Driscoll"), Niklas Glaeser, Rolf Wagner, and most members of the [[EliteArmy Blauer Nebel]] are, in fact, Zaftran spies]].

** In ''5'', Lynn Wenright begins as a cold, no-nonsense military officer, but slowly defrosts towards Walter Feng. [[spoiler: They later get married and have a daughter]].

* DisproportionateRetribution: In ''5'', after the oil rig mission, Hector Reynolds offers Walter Feng some... embarrassing information about Lynn Wenright: Back when she was in the Barghest, [[spoiler: [[StalkerShrine her room was filled with pictures of Walter]]]]. They are soon interrupted by Lynn, who earnestly tries to kill Hector, and threatens to shoot Walter if he mentions any of this again.

** [[AvertedTrope Averted]] in Walter Feng's story in ''5''; he begins as a nobody... but by the time of the third arc, he [[spoiler: is famed as the hero of the Cambodian campaign and renowned in certain circles for being a veteran platoon commander of the Strike Wyverns and a Barghest operator]].

** Walter begins ''5'''s prologue as nothing more than a grunt infantryman, trains as a normal army wanzer pilot, [[spoiler: joins the [[SemperFi Strike Wyverns]] after the Second Huffman Conflict, and is finally invited to join the Barghest [[note]] which is essentially Delta Force with wanzers[[/note]].]]

* TheGadfly: Hector Reynolds, whenever he's teasing Lynn Wenright.

* GoMadFromTheRevelation: Karen was so horrified to see what was inside the factory in the Larcus District that she was at a complete loss of words which allowed Driscoll to sneak up and destroy her wanzer without breaking a sweat. In the [=USN=] side of the story, Kevin Greenfield is confused by Karen's barely coherent rambling (she was still in shock) as she was taken aborad the transport chopper and points out to Driscoll that her physical injuries were minimal and she was obviously in psychological distress.

* HeroicMime: Downplayed in ''5''. Although [[TheHero Walter Feng]] does speak during cutscenes, you'll almost never hear him talk outside that. You can choose what he says in some conversation, however.
** ''Somewhat'' justified. Walter isn't a very talkative person.

* LetThemDieHappy: [[spoiler: Walter does this for Glen at the finale of ''5'', after the latter has shaken off his BrainwashedAndCrazy, assuring him that Randy is alive and well, though Glen already knows the truth and calmly accepts his fate.]]

* NotSoStoic: [[spoiler: [[IceQueen Lynn Wenright]]]] totally freaks out when [[spoiler: Walter Feng is badly wounded from TakingTheBullet for her at the end of the Cambodia arc.]]
** Earlier, she flips out when it's revealed she [[spoiler: used to have a StalkerShrine of Walter.]]
** And when Lynn is promoted after the Cambodia arc, she can't hide her glee. Edward Collins describes her as a kid with a new toy.

* RankUp: Happens to Walter in ''5'', which is quite reasonable, given that his story spans a 20-odd career in the armed forces. He starts as a buck Private, later gets promoted to Sergeant when he completes wanzer training. He's then promoted a few times to Captain amidst the Strike Wyverns timeskips, and later, after he joins Barghest, he's promoted to Major. By the end of the story, he's a full-blown [[ColonelBadass Colonel]].
** Lynn is also promoted from Major to Lieutenant Colonel.

* SemperFi: Walter Feng joins the USN Marine Corps' Strike Wyverns Armored Detachment during the middle arc of ''5''.

* ShutUpHannibal: Kazuki's response to the villains' attempts to justify their actions in ''3''.

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Roid/Lloyd/Royd's names in the original ''1st'', FanTranslation, and DS port, respectively.

** Lynn Wenright gets the Gracilis in ''5'', the spiritual successor to the Belladonna Atropa. It packs a powerful [[ColdSniper sniper rifle]] and is designed for aerial combat, with its landing boosters and verniers. [[spoiler: It is also exclusively designed for S-Type pilots.]] Sadly, Lynn is not a playable character when she's piloting it, and the wanzer's flight mode is only seen in a [[CutscenePowerToTheMax cutscene]].

** [[spoiler: Remember that blue Zenith that BrainwashedAndCrazy Glen uses to [[CurbStompBattle hand you and your team your asses]] and kills poor Randy with?]] It is one of the best wanzers that you can get in ''5''. The catch? You have be playing on [[NintendoHard Hard Mode]] and grind in the complete Survival Simulator at least ''four'' times to get the full set.

* SurprisinglyGoodEnglish: Seen via FreezeFrameBonus on the Strike Wyverns application form that Walter Feng fills up in ''5''.

* TookALevelInBadass: [[spoiler: Lynn Wenwright]] in ''5'''s backstory. She went from being a shy bookworm to a [[SemperFi Marine Corps]] Special Forces ''and'' Special Operations commanding officer. [[spoiler: She's also an [[SuperSoldier BD S-Type pilot]].]]
* TranquilFury: Interestingly, the hotheaded Kazuki pulls this at the end of Emma's campaign in ''3''. Right before the final battle, [[spoiler: [[BigBad Lukav Minaev]] kills his father in front of him.]] After a few moments of enraged silence, he...
--> '''Kazuki''' (without yelling like he normally would): [[ThisIsUnforgivable ".......... NO MERCY."]]

* {{Tsundere}}: Lynn Wenwright, Walter Feng's superior officer and LoveInterests in ''5''. Her dere side is very rarely seen, however.
* TragicKeepsake: Glen's grenade-shaped lighter, [[spoiler: which Walter holds onto for 22 years.]]

** Glen Duval (''5'') even has a [[AceCustom Zenith model custom-made for him]]. He [[spoiler: is TheDragon, though]].

** Interestingly, [[spoiler: [[BigBad Morgan Bernard]]]] from ''5'' subverts this. [[spoiler: Given [[MadScientist what]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist he]] [[WesternTerrorist is]], many would expect him to play this trope straight. Well... [[TheChessmaster HE DOES]] [[EvilGenius NOT]]]].

** Glen Duval in ''2''. [[spoiler: During the battle against the Canyon Crows, [[WesternTerrorist Royd Clive]] references Glen as a contact who can help him out against the [[TheHero Dull Stags]]]]. Glen is formally introduced in ''5'', [[spoiler: in which he's TheDragon]].

*** The Sword of Damocles are an expy of the Grimnir from ''5''. Both are WesternTerrorist groups led by a WellIntentionedExtremist EvilGenius in an attempt to manipulate the supernations in order to achieve their goals.
*** Apollos Chariot are an expy of the Crimson Blow from ''Gun Hazard''. Both are elite [[HiredGuns mercenary groups]] made up of [[PsychoForHire psychos for hire]] that serve as their respective games QuirkyMinibossSquad. Both are also employed by [[spoiler: their games WesternTerrorist [[TheSyndicate conspiracy group]] hellbent on taking down the supernations.]]

* ''VideoGame/FrontMission2'''' (1997, [=PS1=]) - A direct sequel to ''Front Mission''.

* {{BFG}}: Played straight to a somewhat ridiculous level with ''Evolved'''s bazooka weaponry. It resembles nothing so much as an enormous sewer pipe with a grip, and has the ability to destroy anyone unfortunate enough to be at the open end. Naturally, the more dangerous enemy units tend to carry it.

** ''Evolved'' has a bunch of these, but it's most evident during one of the Antarctica missions when [[spoiler: [[BigBad Cornelius]] uses the power of E.D.G.E. on some destroyed wanzers, resurrecting them (yes, '''resurrect'''). These "zombie" wanzers are completely shot up, with the skeletal frames beneath their armors showing]].
* DamnYouMuscleMemory: May happen ''in the same game'' in ''Evolved'' because in wanzer, if you use two-handed weapon, you use left click (or z) to zoom and right click to shoot, while on foot you use right click to zoom and left click to shoot.

* HeadsIWinTailsYouLose: ''Evolved'' uses this trope very frequently. Enemy characters, such as Marcus Seligman and Gloria Leguizamo, can get knocked down and disabled in combat... but still functional enough for a tactical retreat in the cutscene that immediately follows.
** [[BigBad Corneillus Werner]] has ''two'' versions of this. The first is where he taunts [[TheHero Dylan Ramsey]], and the second is where he [[spoiler: outright knocks down the latter and [[DamselInDistress captures Adela Seawell]].]]
** Averted in all other entries of the series.

* ItsUpToYou: In ''Evolved''... it is probably no surprise that not much will get done if you spend your time on all those OneHundredPercentCompletion scavenger hunts for sensor pods, emblems, and various pickups/item destruction bonuses. All allies will sit there waiting on you instead of taking most any part of the mission (save basic self-defense) into their own hands.

* PsychoForHire: The [[HiredGuns Apollo's Chariot]] in ''Evolved''. [[AxCrazy EVERY]] [[BloodKnight LAST]] [[CombatSadomasochist ONE]] OF THEM.

* AdamSmithHatesYourGuts: The original SFC/WS version of ''1st'' lets player sell items for 75% of their actual values, whereas the remake has you selling them for... only 25%. This leads you to a miserly scenario in which you simply cannot afford new equipment for every single unit you have, as the parts salvaged in missions are generally inferior to what you may already be using, and the only other ways to earn money are completing missions or competing in arena battles.

** And of course... we have the legendary Canyon Crows (''1st''). Sure, the USN can boast about the [[BadassArmy Hell's Wall]] all they want, but at the end of the day, the crows just blow them into bits and march straight into Freedom City anyway.
** The Silver Lynxes (''1st'') are pretty awesome. See the SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome page for some details..

* BittersweetEnding: The franchise has a thing for this trope, and is pretty good at it too.
** ''1st'': Sure, the Canyon Crows [[spoiler: expose a plot to [[BrainInAJar make wanzer control devices from the brains of kidnapped soldiers]], called the B-Type Device]]. Problem is, [[spoiler: they are now wanted terrorists. Factions from the OCU and the USN, as well as Zaftra's PMO, all control Huffman Island, and are sending assassins after them]]. Further compounded as shown in Kevin Greenfield's story, in which [[spoiler: the deaths of [[TheDragon Driscoll]] and the [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Sakata Industries bigwigs]] throw a wrench into the court martial of [[BigBad Patrick S. Winger]]]].

** [[spoiler: Endorse a project which involves soldiers being kidnapped and [[BodyHorror having their brains extracted]], in order to research technology that will enable the creation of [[SuperSoldier Super Soldiers]] (''1st'')]].

** In ''1st'''s USN campaign, we have [[ItsRainingMen wanzer parachutes]] before the invasion of Freedom City.

** [[spoiler: The [[WesternTerrorists Spirit of Huffman]]]]'s members are all in the typical dark masks and helmets which terrorists wear, though [[spoiler: all their targets are the Sakata Industries villains, not civilians]].
** ''1st'''s OCU campaign generally portrays USN soldiers in a grim light - the prime example being the [[TheDreaded Hell's Wall]] unit full of scarred freaks. But the USN campaign shows that they are not really bad once you get to know them.

** [[TheHero Kevin Greenfield]], Johnny Sanders and Matthew D. Lorenzo in ''1st'' start off as members of the elite [[BadassCrew Black Hounds]], before being posted to the equally renowned Nirvana Institute. They are temporarily "demoted" to regular grunts in the USN Army during the Second Huffman Conflict, but end the story [[spoiler: under the employment of the top-class USN Military Intelligence.]]

* EnemyChatter: In most games, enemies occasionally speak when fought for the first time in that mission or defeated. This in general applies to named enemy characters.
** ''1st'': In a bit of a twist, one of the first hints that [[spoiler: Guri B. Olson]] is not all he seems to be (aside from the {{Anvilicious}} cutscene a few missions earlier) is the chatter from a random person at a bar that [[spoiler: the OCU isn't entirely a hopeless cause and that their tank squadrons are competent enough to win against the USN]].

* FourTemperamentEnsemble: In ''1st'''s OCU campaign, we have a fairly large cast that doesn't fit too well into a FiveManBand...
** Choleric: Alder Weiss and [[spoiler: [[TheSixthRanger Gentz Weizer]].]]
** Melancholic: [[KnightTemplar Royd]] [[ByronicHero Clive]] and [[spoiler: Dr. Mizette Brown.]]
** Phlegmatic: Paul C. Grieber and [[ShrinkingViolet Yang Yeehin]].
** Sanguine: [[TagalongReporter Frederick Lancaster]] and [[BloodKnight Gregorio Mainas]].
** Chol-mel: [[RulesLawyer Natalie F. BlakeWood]] and Molly O'Donnell.
** Mel-phleg: Bobby Hopkins and [[spoiler: [[BigGood General Willas E. Blakewood]].]]
** Phleg-sang: [[ManChild Peewie Richburg]], [[TheIdealist Joynas Jeriaska]], and [[GentlemanAndAScholar Hans Goldwin]].
** Sang-chol: [[BoisterousBruiser Keith Carabell]] and [[TheMcCoy Porunga]].
** Eclectic: [[TheSmartGuy Ryuji Sakata]], Yang Meihua, and [[TheStoic Ralph Dian]].
** As for the BigBad quartet, we have Driscoll (sanguine), [[spoiler: [[TheMole Guri B. Olson]]]] (choleric/melancholic), [[spoiler: Patrick S. Winger]] (phlegmatic), and [[spoiler: Koichi Sakata]] (leukine).

* FriendlyEnemy: Handled more realistically than most examples; the USN and the OCU are sworn enemies since the First Huffman Conflict, but the USN frequently ends up helping the OCU with the latter's domestic conflicts. Foreign intervention or salvation, these two world powers become quite friendly by 2112 (''3'').
** TruthInTelevision. Just ask any political scientist.

* TheGoodTheBadAndTheEvil: In ''1st'''s OCU campaign, OCU and later the PMO are the "good"; the USN and the [[WesternTerrorists Spirit of Huffman]] are the "bad"...
** That is, [[spoiler: until the PerspectiveFlip switches PMO and the Spirit of Huffman;]] The Nirvana units [[spoiler: the Republic of Zaftra]] are the '''evil''', [[spoiler: as are some particulars of the PMO, namely [[TheMole that ole mole]] Guri B. Olson.]]

* MeaningfulName: In the DS port of ''1st'', the wanzer of [[TechnoWizard Hans Goldwin]] is named '''Trojan'''.
** In fact, most characters' wanzers have... interesting names.
** ''1st'': [[TagalongReporter Frederick Lancaster]]'s machine is called '''Witness'''.
** Also from ''1st'': [[spoiler: Ghetta Cedric]] nicknames his wanzer... '''Nothing'''.

** PoorPredictableRock: A melee build in ''1st'' without the skill First can easily have their arm(s) rifled off before they can do so much as glare at you. Even if they initiate the attack.

* RageBreakingPoint: In ''1st'', one has to ask: Is it wise for soldiers to wander out of towns against orders and constantly try the patience of their colonel?

* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: The franchise has three notable examples.
** The Canyon Crows (''1st'') consists of a ByronicHero leading a gang of HiredGuns, about half of whom jump onto the boat at the said hero's apathetic "Do what you want."

* RedShirtArmy: In Olson's words from ''1st'', the OCU "couldn't fight its way out of a paper bag", so they need mercenaries to do all the heavy fighting for it. This turns out to be [[spoiler: [[SubvertedTrope subverted]]. The OCU supposedly wins the war because of its tank squadrons, not any of its HiredGuns.]]
* TheReveal: In the OCU campaign of ''1st'', Guri B. Olson's... [[UngratefulBastard lack of gratitude]] for the crows' rescue attempts is explained '''far''' later in the story. Driscoll's scheme, with the Grey Rock hospital raid as part of it, has been [[spoiler: a big secret agenda that [[TheMole Olson]] is [[VillainWithGoodPublicity trying to protect]] from the "nosy but innocent" crows.]]
** He even [[spoiler: takes care to make sure that the Nirvana Institute does not run into the Canyon Crows from then onward, especially after what ''nearly'' happened.]]

* ScratchDamage: In ''1st'', any attacks with a weak weapon and a low job skill against an enemy wanzer with high Defense will only yield 1 point of damage.

** See LethalJokeCharacter above.

** In the DS remake of ''1st'', one of the OCU missions has you detonating a trio of charges under a number of bridges to destroy a supply train. The codenames for each are those of the female protagonists of ''Anime/BubblegumCrisis''.

* SortingAlgorithmOfEvil: Glaringly obvious in ''1st'', when you realize that the USN has had some of the best parts in the game just sitting in stores in their capital city, while you're stuck with your oh-so-impressive Zenith.

** Six years pass from the end of ''Gun Hazard'' to its epilogue.

** Happens a few times on both campaigns in ''1st''; what happens in the time skip of one campaign is explored in the other. [[spoiler: When [[TheHero Royd Clive]] and [[TheLancer Ryuji Sakata]] are excommunicated by the OCU GDF after the Larcus Incident, the OCU story jumps from 2090 to 2091. The USN story after the Larcus Incident covers the events that occur afterwards, up until it catches up to the OCU story. Later on, there is a time skip in the USN side which happens when [[TheHero Kevin Greenfield]] is arrested towards the final stages of the Second Huffman Conflict. The events that take place afterwards are explained in the OCU side, up until it catches up to the USN story a few months later.]]

* WhamEpisode: Many. Far too many to list.

* Creator/YokoShimomura: Composed part of the music for ''1st''.

** In ''1st'''s OCU campaign, [[spoiler: [[FourStarBadass General Willas E. Blakewood]] plays just this when the Canyon Crows are about to [[FinalBattle take off from Rupidis]]]]. See FourStarBadass above.