Games PS2 FRONT MISSION 4 User Manual

WARNING: READ BEFORE USING YOUR PLAYSTATION®2 COMPUTER

ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM.

A very small percentage of individuals may experience epileptic seizures when

exposed to certain light patterns or flashing lights. Exposure to certain patterns

or backgrounds on a television screen or while playing video games, including

games played on the PlayStation 2 console, may induce an epileptic seizure in

these individuals. Certain conditions may induce previously undetected epileptic

symptoms even in persons who have no history of prior seizures or epilepsy. If you,

or anyone in your family, has an epileptic condition, consult your physician prior

to playing. If you experience any of the following symptoms while playing a video

game — dizziness, altered vision, eye or muscle twitches, loss of awareness,

disorientation, any involuntary movement, or convulsions — IMMEDIATELY

discontinue use and consult your physician before resuming play.

WARNING TO OWNERS OF PROJECTION TELEVISIONS:

Do not connect your PlayStation 2 console to a projection TV without first

consulting the user manual for your projection TV, unless it is of the LCD type.

Otherwise, it may permanently damage your TV screen.

USE OF UNAUTHORIZED PRODUCT:

The use of software or peripherals not authorized by Sony Computer Entertainment

America may damage your console and/or invalidate your warranty. Only official or

licensed peripherals should be used in the controller ports or memory card slots.

HANDLING YOUR

P

LAYSTATION 2 FORMAT DISC:

• This disc is intended for use only with PlayStation 2 consoles

with the NTSC U/C designation.

• Do not bend it, crush it or submerge it in liquids.

• Do not leave it in direct sunlight or near a radiator or other source of heat.

• Be sure to take an occasional rest break during extended play.

• Keep this compact disc clean. Always hold the disc by the edges and

keep it in its protective case when not in use. Clean the disc with a lint-free,

soft, dry cloth, wiping in straight lines from center to outer edge.

Never use solvents or abrasive cleaners.

CONTENTS

02>GETTING STARTED
02>SAVING AND LOADING
03>BASIC CONTROLS
04>CAST OF CHARACTERS
06>BASIC GAMEPLAY
06>DEPLOYING UNITS
07>THE BATTLE SYSTEM
07>ACTIONS ON THE BATTLE MAP
08>THE COMMAND MENU
08>ATTACKING
09>BACKPACKS
11>THE STATUS SCREEN
11>STATUS DAMAGE
12>THE SYSTEM MENU
12>THE MINIMAP
12>THE BATTLE SCREEN
13>LINKS
14>SKILLS
14>VICTORY
15>WANZER SETUP
19>PILOT SETUP
20>WANZER SHOP
20>COMPUTER SHOP
21>THE SIMULATOR
22>CREDITS
25>LIMITED WARRANTY

GETTING STARTED

2

BASIC CONTROLS

3

MEMORY CARD slot 1
MEMORY CARD slot 2

disc tray

DUALSHOCK®2 ANALOG CONTROLLER CONFIGURATIONS

L2 button
L1 button

RESET button

OPEN button

directional buttons

controller port 2
controller port 1

USB connector

Set up your PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system according to the instructions in its Instruction

left analog stick

(L3 button when pushed down)

SELECT button
ANALOG mode button

Manual. Make sure the MAIN POWER switch (located on the back of the console) is turned ON. Press the
RESET button. When the power indicator lights up, press the OPEN button and the disc tray will open. Place the

FRONT MISSION

®

4 disc on the disc tray with the label side facing up. Press the OPEN button again and the disc

START button

tray will close. Attach a game controller to controller port 1. Follow on-screen instructions and refer to this
manual for information on using the software.

The main menu will appear after the opening demo or when the START button is pressed.

NEW GAME Begin a new game
LOAD Continue a previously saved game from a memory card (8MB)

(for PlayStation

CONTINUE Resume a mission saved with the quicksave function from a

memory card (8MB) (for PlayStation

®

2)

®

2)

SOUND Select stereo or monaural sound

> Sound selection (stereo or monaural) only applies if you begin a new game.

SAVING AND LOADING

There are two ways to save your game in FRONT MISSION 4: saving during missions, and saving during
intermissions or in towns.

SAVE TO A SAVE FILE

You can save your game in town by selecting “Save/Load” from the menu, and
then selecting “Save.”

> A memory card (8MB) (for PlayStation

required to save the game.

> Up to 30 FRONT MISSION 4 save games can be saved on one memory card

(8MB) (for PlayStation

®

2).

®

2) with at least 35KB of free space is

Left analog stick Move cursor
Right analog stick Move camera on battle map
Directional buttons Move cursor / Select command

≈

button Confirm command / Advance messages and dialogue displayed in windows / Speed up movement of units

Ω

button Cancel command / Return to previous menu / Speed up cursor movement on battle map / Skip battle

ç

button Toggle display of HP bars on battle map

√

button Change unit’s current weapon
START button Display system menu during missions / Skip events
SELECT button Display minimap during missions
L1 button Cycle through targets in range on battle map / Cycle pilots in shops and during setup
R1 button Move cursor to friendly unit on battle map / Change turn order of friendly units / Cycle pilots in shops and

L2 button Zoom out from battle map
R2 button Zoom in on battle map
L3 button Activate and deactivate jetpack
R3 button Rotate battle map 90 degrees

*See p. 12, THE SYSTEM MENU for more information.

> This software does not support the vibration function.
> The ANALOG mode button and red LED light are always set to ON.
> This game may be incompatible with controllers other than the DUALSHOCK

SAVE TO A QUICKSAVE FILE

Press the START button during missions to open the system menu. Then select
“Quicksave” to save your game to the quicksave file.

> A memory card (8MB) (for PlayStation

®

2) with at least 342KB of free space is

required for a quicksave game.

> Only one FRONT MISSION 4 quicksave file may be saved per memory card

(8MB) (for PlayStation

®

2).

R2 button
R1 button

button

button

button

button

right analog stick

(R3 button when pushed down)

on battle map* / Speed up missile flight animations during battle sequences*

scenes / Skip messages and dialogue displayed in windows

during setup

®

2 analog controller.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

4

CAST OF CHARACTERS [CONT.]

5

RENGES

Holding the rank of corporal, Renges is
technically under Darril’s command,
but the two soldiers are brothers at
heart. Equipped with a dry wit, Renges
is continually skeptical and aloof when
dealing with others. He disguises his
emotions well, but when they come to
the surface, he’s a totally different
person.

Age: 35

DARRIL

Darril is a sergeant in the U.C.S. Army 332nd Company.
Darril worked his way up the military ranks to become
a promising young officer. However, his strong sense
of justice—combined with an unfortunate tangle with
a commanding officer—resulted in his demotion.
Darril has been cynical ever since his loss of rank,
and is disinterested in military matters. On the outside
Darril seems light-hearted and carefree, but deep
inside, he is looking for a cause he can believe in.

CHAEFFER

A private first class in the U.C.S. Army,
Chaeffer is the youngest member of his
squad. Though his age marks him as the
platoon’s little brother, Chaeffer’s double
dosage of carelessness and recklessness
frequently leaves situations in tatters.
Despite his class-clown demeanor, he is
very compassionate towards others, and is
always there to help someone in need.

Age: 32

Age: 24

ELSA

Age: 22
Formerly a wanzer pilot for the French Army,
Elsa was recently transferred to the E.C.’s
Armored Tactics Research Corps, also known as
the Durandal. Honest and upbeat, Elsa has an
admirable grasp of wanzer combat theory,
but she understands little of the mechanical
engineering behind the giant fighting machines.
Still young, she has a strong sense of justice—
and is a stickler when it comes to principles.

ZEAD

Age: 45
A former British officer, Zead is the
Durandal’s de facto commander. With a
strong military background, Zead is
eternally courteous to others and hard on
himself. He does not, however, demand the
same rigid discipline from his colleagues;
he is patient enough to accept their
individuality. Zead’s subordinates regard
him as both a dependable leader and a
kind father figure.

HERMES

Though Hermes has no military
experience, his elite computer
hacking skills make him a natural as
the Durandal’s systems engineer.
Hermes is always positive and jovial,
but he can be childish when arguing
with those of different opinions.

Age: 20

LATONA

Latona is a skilled wanzer pilot and a
former member of the Zaftran military.
She cannot stand being looked down
upon. Due to her extensive military
background, she talks and behaves in
a masculine way; coaxing a smile out
of her is a herculean task. She is strict
towards both herself and others.

Age: 28

LUIS

Age: 20
Luis is the young leader of la Alianza de
Libertad Venezolana, or “The Venezuelan
Freedom Alliance.” He embodies the spirit
of righteousness, aiding the oppressed
and yielding no mercy to the dishonorable.
Though just and fair, he is occasionally
overcome by his sense of duty.

INES

Ines is a fellow member of la Alianza. She
is also Luis’s lover, and shares his passion
for justice and honor, but she is better able
to assess situations and act accordingly.

Age: 20

WAGNER

Wagner is the commander of the
German Blauer Nebel Special Forces
unit. Always levelheaded and calm, he
speaks in a cold, uncaring manner that
forever masks his true emotions.

Age: 28

GLAESER

Brigadier General Glaeser is a hard-line
career soldier who spent his life working
his way up the chain of command. He
speaks to everyone in the same
displeased tone. He will not tolerate
slack from his subordinates, who fear
nothing more than his icy wrath.

Age: 50

BASIC GAMEPLAY

6

The story of FRONT MISSION 4 is told through event sequences and combat missions.

SELECTIONS IN EVENT MODE:

Talk with other characters
Buy parts and weapons from wanzer shops (see p. 20)
Buy skills and abilities from computer shops (see p. 20)
Set up wanzers (see p. 15)
Set up pilots (see p. 19)
Run battle simulator (see p. 20)
Save or load game data (see p. 2)

Shop Setup

Event Scene

World Map Battle Map

FRONT MISSION 4 alternates between the viewpoints of Elsa, a fresh recruit in the E.C.’s “Durandal” research
group, and Darril, a sergeant in the U.C.S. Army.

> Some event scenes feature voice, while others consist of only text.
> Press the START button to skip events.

DEPLOYING UNITS

Before a battle begins, you must select which units to deploy, then place them
on the battlefield. Several of the U.C.S. scenarios feature pre-selected
mercenary units.

> Press the

√

button to cycle between unit placements.

THE BATTLE SYSTEM

7

VIEWING THE BATTLE MAP
Unit Data Window

2 3 12 14
4
5
6

1

7
8
9

10

11

13

1 Pilot Portrait Picture of the pilot controlling the unit
2 Pilot Name Name of the pilot controlling the unit
3 Unit Name Name of the pilot’s wanzer
4 Action Points Points used to perform attacks and other various actions
5 Backpack Type of backpack equipped on wanzer
6 Armor Type of armor equipped on wanzer indicated by icon
7 Weapon Type Type of weapon indicated by icon
8 Damage Damage multiplied by number of attacks

9 Ammunition Current ammo / maximum ammo
10 Weapon Properties Weapon damage type indicated by icon
11 Wanzer Parts’ HP Current HP of wanzer parts, presented both numerically and as gauges
12 Experience Gauge Displays pilot’s experience (pilot gains a level once this gauge becomes full)
13 Status Damage Displays current types of status damage induced by enemy
14 Level Pilot’s current level

THE AP SYSTEM

Action Points (AP) dictate how many actions you can perform in one turn.
Every unit must spend AP when moving or attacking. For example, moving one square
costs one AP. Attacking costs a different amount of AP depending on the weapon
used. When a unit runs out of AP, it can no longer move or perform any other action
for the remainder of the turn.

AP is restored at the beginning of each turn. AP capacity differs by pilot. To increase AP totals, upgrade your
computer or purchase skill sets from computer shops.

ACTIONS ON THE BATTLE MAP

Movement

Once you select a unit, a blue grid will appear, indicating how far the selected unit can
move in the current turn. Move the cursor to the unit’s destination and press the
button. The unit will remain stationary for a turn if you move the cursor to the current

≈

location and press the

button, then select “End” from the command menu.

> Your units take turns in a pre-selected order, but you may use the R1 button to select

another unit if you wish to change the order. Wanzers that have completed their turns are marked with an E icon.

Movement Restrictions

A wanzer’s mobility is limited by its currently equipped leg parts. Note that specific leg
types may be required to climb certain surfaces. Jetpacks that greatly affect your
mobility are available, but their performance varies by model. Several jetpacks allow
you to climb to higher surfaces while sacrificing general mobility.

≈

Spending AP

As a rule, moving 1 square costs 1 AP. If you are equipped with a jetpack, the jetpack’s
performance determines the amount of AP required to move 1 square.