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Platform:
Xbox 360
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Chromehounds
One
of the bigger hits for the Xbox has been Microsoft's MechAssault and its
follow-up, MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf. The Mech action shooter franchise
has been one of the most popular Xbox Live hits also. With the Xbox 360
on the way, there's need for the next generation of Mech games to
arrive, and Sega will fill that need for Xbox 360 gamers with Chromehounds, a Mech-based tactical squad shooter that mixes some
Rainbow Six-style tactical shooting strategy. Only you and your squad
are operating pumped-up, powerful HOUNDs, Mechs that pack plenty of
metal mayhem and destruction as the new "hounds of
The
HOUNDs themselves aren't all Mechs in the same exact style as in
MechAssault, although many do indeed appear to be the next generation of
MechAssault Mechs. Instead, many of the HOUNDs are massive, tank-like
vehicles, with guns and turrets everywhere. You'll also have full
customization options to trick out your HOUNDs in a futuristic, military
Mech version of "Pimp My Ride." Theses are the new
"soldiers" of the near future in a splintered New World Order,
as envisioned by developer FromSoft and publisher Sega. There are three
nations you can pledge your Mech squad's allegiance, each nation
possessing a different and unique Mech technology. This is MechAssault
on steroids, with Mechs having a full range of
You'll take the helm as either a Squad Member or Tactics Commander. Naturally, with the success that MechAssault enjoyed online, Chromehounds is being developed with fully integrated Xbox Live gameplay, and that is clearly where most of the developer's efforts are |
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going to be spent. Chromehounds will have cooperative and competitive
Xbox Live campaigns for up to 12 people. If Chromehounds can bring a
Full Spectrum Warrior/Rainbow
Looking at the screenshots and movies of the game at this point in its development Chromehounds takes full advantage of the new raw graphical power of the Xbox 360. The developer touts a photo realistic visual experience, and they most definitely provide |
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it. The level of realism in both the HOUNDs and the environments is highly impressive. Especially the visuals of the blackened plumes of smoke emanating from just-fired turrets and the flames from those same searing-hot turrets shooting rockets and deadly projectiles fired into those unfortunate HOUNDs that have been completely eviscerated of their usefulness as an instrument of war.
As it is completely aimed at the online Mech and solider strategy gamer, Chromehounds will either succeed or fail depending on the level of its online play. If Chromehounds can bring the same excellent Mech controls seen in MechAssault with an infusion of smart tactical shooter commands and gameplay from Full Spectrum Warrior, Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon, then Microsoft will have a heavy metal hit on its hands next spring, just in time to counter the release of the PS3.
-Lee
Cieniawa October 16, 2005 |
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