FRAME GRIDE | July 15, 1999

 

FRAME GRIDE was released on July 15, 1999, as a 3D robot battle fighting game for the Dreamcast, developed by From Software.

The game is set in a medieval fantasy world, where enormous humanoid battle machines called "Frame Grides" exist. The story follows a young protagonist who, riding a Frame Gride, battles the nine knights led by the rebel Seirakuto, who has taken control of the empire. The player collects a resource called "Material" by defeating Frame Grides and their companion mechs, Squares, and uses it to synthesize new parts and weapons to customize their own Frame Gride, much like the Armored Core series.

However, Frame Gride differs significantly from Armored Core in that all missions are 1v1 duels, and the game plays more like a fighting game, with a system similar to Virtual-On, where players engage in direct combat without exploration. Each part of the Frame Grides and Squares has durability, and once it turns red, it stops functioning; if it turns black, it is completely destroyed.

In addition to the story mode, the game includes local VS mode, and an online mode via Dreamcast's communication function (NET GAME), where players can battle each other. Rare Materials can be obtained through online battles, which give an advantage. These Materials can also be collected in the story mode or local battles.

While the game's story, world-building, and character profiles are only revealed in short text in the opening, ending, and stage select screens, detailed information can be found through various strategy guides and setting books.

Story

The story takes place on the planet Elssequa. In the distant past, a highly advanced civilization ruled using magic as a technological force, enjoying an age of glory until a devastating war involving colossal humanoid battle machines led to the fall of the civilization. Over time, everything became legend or myth, and survivors built a new world based on the remnants of this ancient knowledge, with the most powerful weapon being the Frame Grides—giant humanoid battle mechs.

The Empire of Kult, which ruled the Rude continent, once maintained peace through the Selection System, where a new Emperor was elected after the death of Emperor Alkansa III. However, after centuries, the Selection System deteriorated, and only seven noble families remained. One of these, Lord Zolt Marock of the Ferbelk family, found an ancient Frame Gride, "Cidranell," and secretly decided to hide it after discovering its overwhelming power.

In the year 700 of the Empire, following the death of Emperor Regirio Kredwuls, Lord Zolt leads a rebellion with his nine knights, killing five of the six other remaining electors. The fall of the Empire seemed inevitable. The last remaining elector, the High Priestess Miranje Sika, who ruled the distant Juria region, entrusts a young man (the protagonist) with the task of defeating Zolt and his knights, having secretly discovered his connection to Zolt's family.

Miranje had long suspected the protagonist's lineage after a chance encounter with him, realizing he was the younger brother of Zolt's son, Valentine. She had secretly investigated his origins and kept him hidden, preparing for the rebellion that was eventually led by Zolt. When the rebellion broke out, the protagonist took up the mantle to face the nine knights one by one.

After defeating the knights, only two remained: Valentine, Zolt’s son, and the Empire's strongest knight, the "Sunset Knight" Rashinu. Valentine, believing in his father's ideals, faces the protagonist in combat without knowing their true relationship. Rashinu, who sought revenge for the destruction of his family, was also defeated by the protagonist, ending his plans for vengeance.

Finally, after defeating all nine knights, the protagonist confronts Zolt himself. However, Zolt's Frame Gride, Cidranell, is not just a superweapon but has a deadly flaw: it possesses a self-regeneration ability that absorbs its pilot into it, creating a new personality. Zolt is absorbed by Cidranell, and the mecha seeks the lost knowledge from the "Lost Tower" to gain ultimate power. The protagonist faces off against the transformed Cidranell in the collapsing tower.

After destroying Cidranell, the protagonist disappears, and peace is restored to the Empire. Though the protagonist’s appearance is never seen again, their deeds and legacy are passed down through history.

Frame Grides

Frame Grides are ancient war machines, discovered in the ruins of a lost civilization. These colossal humanoid battle machines are powered by a mysterious energy source known as the "Frame" and are equipped with various armor and weapons, allowing them to transform into different forms for combat. However, only a few select knights, chosen for their special abilities, can pilot these machines.

The Frame Grides are constructed with unknown technology, and modern techniques cannot replicate or repair them. The Frame generates life energy that powers artificial muscles in the machine, allowing it to move. This energy is dormant in the Frame until the machine activates, where it is used for movement and combat. Once the energy is exhausted, the Frame enters a dormant state. In battle, the Frame can release energy, which is consumed to power weapons, but it quickly regenerates. The performance of the Frame Grides can vary greatly depending on the armor attached.

The Frame can heal naturally, recovering in a few days, but once a part is completely destroyed, it is unrecoverable. If the entire Frame is destroyed, both the machine and its pilot will die.

Frame Types and Armament

There are three main types of Frames based on their characteristics:

• General-purpose Knight (Vanguard): Balanced for all-around use.
• Light Knight (Scout): Focused on speed and mobility.
• Heavy Knight (Tank): Focused on durability and firepower.

Each type is suited for different combat roles such as assault, support, or defense. The Frame's performance depends heavily on the armor it wears, and each part (head, torso, arms, legs, and the key component known as the "Liberate Stone") affects its abilities.

Liberate Stones

A key element in customizing Frame Grides, Liberate Stones are large cylindrical stones that enhance the Frame’s magical abilities and performance. They are crafted using Material and serve to activate various powers, improving the Frame Grides' abilities.

There are three main types of Liberate Stones:

1. Stone 1: Affects the elemental property of the Frame Gride (fire, water, wind, earth).
2. Stone 2: Boosts the Frame's performance.
3. Stone 3: Enhances the capabilities of the Square (support mech).

Each Liberate Stone can be fitted into a Frame, affecting its elemental type and providing advantages in combat, depending on elemental strengths and weaknesses.

Weapons and Armor

Frame Grides have a variety of weapons:

• Swords: Melee weapons capable of unleashing special "Sword Magic" effects.
• Guns: Ranged weapons that consume energy when fired, including bomb-launching functionality.
• Cannons: Powerful weapons that fire special shells, requiring the Frame to be stationary when using them.
• Shields: Used for defense and can break through enemy defenses with a punch. They also provide energy shields and, in dire situations, can release an explosive burst.

Squares (Support Mechs)

Squares are smaller, unmanned machines that assist the Frame Grides by harnessing the energy they emit. A Frame Gride can support up to five Squares, which have various abilities, though not as powerful as the main Frame. Squares have their own elemental properties and are also subject to repair—if destroyed, they are lost permanently.

Materials

Materials are rare, magic-infused minerals found in ancient ruins and are used to synthesize parts, weapons, Liberate Stones, and Squares for the Frame Grides. They are critical for upgrading and customizing your Frame, and can be collected through combat, either by defeating Squares or destroying enemy Frame Grides. Some rare Materials are highly valuable and used for the currency in the empire, with one of the most valuable being the "Mar" material, which is used for high-value transactions.

Materials are essential for crafting new parts or upgrades, and the player must strategize to collect and use them effectively throughout the game.