Chromehounds
MAY 17, 2006
Sega's Tactical Mech Action Shooter Comes to Xbox 360 Live.
-- By Des Manttari, Editor-in-Chief,
Phoenix Genesis
Sega of America has utilized the talents of Japanese game developer FromSoftware to bring its squad-based tactical shooter Chromehounds to the Xbox 360. Slated for a summer 2006 release, this mech action game will allow up to 20-player interaction on Xbox 360 Live. The ESRB has given the game a teen rating, perhaps to draw in a large online audience of teenage boys who grew up in the age of Transformers. This game is also available as an offline single player experience, although it seems that the real action will be found online.
Global combat plagues three politically opposed superpower nations: the Kingdom of Sal Kar, the Democratic Republic of Tarakia, and the Republic of Morskoj. Each nation is clearly marked for the player with its respective flags on a world map. All out war has now ensued between the three. This is a vast world with 115 maps spread over the three war-torn nations.
The goal of the game is to conquer enemy territory and ultimately achieve world domination. The player will navigate mountains, deserts, snowy regions, rivers, and forests, providing a diversity of interesting environments. Map coordinates for locating enemy bases can easily be pulled up. Sega describes the game environment as heavy war zones, so expect to find a great deal of combat action and heavy firepower.
This is the first time that HOUND combat can be found in multiplayer mode online. The player controls a giant metal HOUND for its cockpit, navigating war zones while utilizing heavy artillery. Additionally, the player will oversee a squad of five other live players, also in HOUND mechs, who must successfully dodge and counter the firepower of six other members of an opposing HOUND team. This will not be an easy task to say the least, as the player is not pitted with predictable computer AI, but with the tactical minds of real players via the Xbox Live interactive experience.
Voice commands will allow the assigned Tactics Commander to lead his squad through the various missions.
The giant mech weapons are customizable and fully armed. However, they cannot be overloaded with too much
weaponry. Successful completion of each mission unlocks valuable new items.
Sounds too difficult? Don't worry as Chromehounds conveniently offers training missions and modes to familiarize the player with the HOUND mech controls. There are also a multitude of single-player missions that will gear the player up for total victory on the battlefield as he or she hones their tactical skills and creates the perfect customizable mech. Garage Mode allows the player to inspect his or her mech stats.
The player controls the HOUND movements as well as the turret with the analog sticks. The game allows for both
first and third person mode. Weapons can be cycled through the shoulder buttons. There is a targeting system
and zoom feature for each weapon. Although missions may be somewhat straightforward, adding time elements into
some missions adds to the challenge. Some weapons may experience delayed load times, so strategy is critical
in this situation. Cooperation with one's squad will perhaps be the key to military success rather than the
power of one's artillery.
Gamers who love the Armored Core series will enjoy this game immensely.
Links
- More Video Game Reviews by PG Editor
- Go to Dave's Gaming Domain
- Go to Dave's Slaves
- E3 Expo 2006 Index
- Xbox 360 News Index
- Sega of America
