How can there have been a turn based Mech series made by Square Enix and I've never heard of it? Apparently the Front Mission series has been banging around since 1995 and had ten games made so far and yet I've somehow missed all of them. I've been addicted to Mech's since misspent childhoods sitting in dim living rooms watching Robotech instead of going out and enjoying the summer sun. Since then I've played a pretty large range of mech game series from the better known Armored Core, Zone of the Enders and Mech Warrior to more alternative stuff like the excellent but unusual PS2 game Ring of Red (a turn based alternative history mech game that featured steam powered mechs that constantly over heated).

The next Front MIssion game looks interesting. Unlike its turn based predecessors it's actually a real time action game with some strategy elements rather than turn based. The developer diary video below has some interesting info on the development and collaboration between Square Enix and American developer Double Helix who did the heavy lifting.

The US release for Front Mission Evolved is June 30.

Here's a few more screen shots to wet your whistle. Note the four legged crab style mech!