You need to see Front Mission 3 Remake’s redone Network graphics and photographs

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This week, the 1999 strategy role-playing game “Front Mission 3” is getting a remake. This is particularly noteworthy because it’s the first time this game has been re-released beyond its original PlayStation 1 version. Fans of mech and tactical RPGs are thrilled, but both Paul (with his upcoming review) and I (who reviewed it on our sister site, Nintendo Insider) find this remake underwhelming. To put it simply, my main complaints revolve around the noticeable reduction in visual quality.

Instead of focusing on the technical aspects of the presentation issues, let’s dive right into comparing the visual changes between the recent remake and the original PS1 version. It seems that Forever Entertainment and Megapixel Studios SA employed an upscaling algorithm to enhance the game’s original 2D art assets. However, this process occasionally modified the content of the original images quite significantly. The outcomes are varied, to put it mildly. To provide a clear comparison for everyone, we decided to re-examine the opening hours of both the updated version and the original PS1 release.

Immediately noticeable is Forever Entertainment’s strategy with character portraits, which appear to be a more sophisticated version of the pixelated ones from the original PlayStation 1 game. In simpler terms, you might say they’ve upgraded the character portraits used in the original PS1 game.

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Algorithmic upscaling has been used for many PS1-era remasters, given that the industry has a pretty bad track record of retaining source code and having access to high-quality original assets. These portraits are decent-at-best upscale, but not incredibly offensive compared to other examples shared later in this article. Besides, maybe a high-quality sprite sheet for every sprite no longer existed.

Only when delving into the “Network” section of Front Mission 3 in this remake does a significant flaw become noticeable. For those unfamiliar with the original game, the Network functions as an in-game browser filled with universe-specific websites that enrich the game’s storyline. You could easily lose track of time exploring these pages and learning about events happening beyond your immediate scope. The Network allows you to discover hidden sites or purchase new Wanzer components. Given that you might find yourself accessing the Network after every main mission, although it’s technically optional, its impact on gameplay is far from trivial.

Initially, these web pages displayed pixelated images, either photographs or hand-drawn art. Now, they’ve been updated with improved (using heavy quotes) versions of the new images, specifically created for the remake. However, it seems that these new images are not very successful in accurately representing what was depicted in the original game.

In simpler terms, we’re still trying to figure out what exactly caused these issues in the Front Mission 3 Remake. It might be an AI-generated update, a glitch, or just someone working meticulously – but whatever it is, the outcome isn’t great. Interestingly, there’s no direct mention of AI in the credits, but we think that some original pixelated images were probably run through an algorithm to add extra details, which sometimes resulted in errors. The quality of the original image seems to influence this; higher-quality images are less likely to have these issues. This is why character portraits generally look fine, while other parts suffer more significantly. Additionally, it looks like a filter has been applied to almost all images, either manually or automatically, to make them resemble photographs taken on film.

Let’s look at some examples.

The image on the 2020 section of the JBNN graphics page that caught my attention was the one depicting a man speaking at the U.C.S creation event. However, the revamped image gives the man an unusual and unrealistic look. It appears they’ve made him seem married, adding a wedding ring to his character. Furthermore, the background seems to be enlarged clumsily.


On the 2029 tab of the JBNN graphics site, despite the original picture having a low resolution, it distinctly depicts the upper half of a standing brown-orange Wanzer. Remarkably, the revamped image appears to portray something completely different – what seems to be a laser-red vehicle of some kind. Frankly, I’m unsure as to its intended representation.


In the 2102 section of the JBNN graphics website, the initial portrayal of the Alordesh coup appeared to show a wrecked Wanzer. However, the revised image now presents an odd-looking helicopter with peculiar rotors. Additionally, there appears to be caution tape and what seems like a car merged with a boat.


Subsequently, you’ll find refreshed character illustrations on a page that delves into young female students at Teihoku University. Although it may not be as striking as some alterations seen in Wanzer portraits, take note of how the lips now appear more prominent on all the women. Some of the women’s facial expressions have also been significantly altered from the original versions to the remakes, which could be due to oversight or misinterpretation.


In this revised version, the intricate patterns intended to resemble diagrams appear exaggerated. Specifically, the green lines have been emphasized too much, showcasing details not meant to be visible at this resolution, resulting in what seems like random, illegible scrawls.


At times, it appears as if dissimilar components were randomly assembled and carelessly pasted, trying to emulate the authenticity of the original design. The JBNN’s landing page, unfortunately, is a jumbled mix of incongruous elements that fail to capture the essence of the delightful 90s-style web aesthetic. We notice characters who no longer resemble Japanese people wandering around, alongside an explosion placed inappropriately in the foreground.


The most perplexing contrast on the Japanese Defense Force Forum’s homepage seems to be the blending of helicopters and the appearance of an unusual firearm. Somehow, a soldier is depicted holding this odd gun as if it were a camera. The only element that appears less out of place in this scene is the Wanzer. It strikes us as possibly being an image from one of their new 3D models.












Currently, it’s uncertain how these images were produced within the Front Mission 3 Remake, and Forever Entertainment needs to clarify their creation process, especially considering some of the unusual imagery involved. If ethical concerns about AI-generated images are a priority for you, it might be wise to postpone playing this remake until more information is disclosed. Even if not, you may want to carefully assess the game’s merits, as its enhanced visuals come at the cost of an awkwardly altered in-game internet aesthetic. This serves as a cautionary note.

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2025-06-25 17:56