Chromehounds
I’m going to say this right now: CH is a niche game. If you don’t like the old MechWarrior style of combat, where moving a large mech around a battlefield is a slow methodical process, and coordination with your compatriots is a necessity, look elsewhere.
For anyone else, this is your wet dream. Chromehounds comes in two modes: story mode, and Neroimus War. In story mode, you go through a series of missions for each role type, or RT. RTs are basically your mech archetypes, such as scouts, heavy gunners, soldiers, etc. Each defines a particular type of gameplay for your mechs but it’s only a guideline, you can build mechs however you like. Story mode is fairly weak, and is meant as basically training for each of the RTs. Doing well in Story mode unlocks equipment you can use in your garage on your mechs.
The core of the game is really the Live play, where you fight in the Neroimus War. It’s basically a persistent battlefield between three nations, and after you pledge allegiance to a particular nation you can embark on missions. Success and failure will determine where the borders are drawn, and ultimately who wins the war.
After joining the war, you group up with friends as a squad which can contain up to 20 players. This is where the game really shines, where close coordination between mechs will really pay off on the battlefield. In order to communicate, you must capture COMBAS points, basically large radio towers. The towers create a perimeter in which voice communications are possible. Strategy is key here, whether your squad is going against the AI or other humans.
I can’t begin to describe how amazing this game looks, the graphics effects really lend an air of realism to everything you do. Your mechs feel like large hulking piles of metal, explosions all have the proper impact. Night fights through nightvision look like some kind of Desert Storm footage, it’s truly beautiful. You can also build literally any kind of mech you want to roll with, the only restrictions being that the combination of equipment must meet power and weight restrictions. Mechs look incredible with all sorts of small details, such as generators with shaking exhausts, shiny hydraulics which gling in the sunlight… the list goes on.
So far I’ve not been bored even when playing the same map over and over again in order to control the region. The enemy can come at you with scout mechs or all heavies, which means your squad will have to change its tactics on the fly. It’s entirely fun, and entirely addictive.
As a mech fan, again, this is a wet dream come true. Persistent battles, a market to buy/sell equipment, rare items, and limitless possibilities in piloting the mech of your dreams makes this an absolute must buy.
Related links:
- Product information page at Xbox.com