ChromeHounds
The world has descended into chaos and war. Military factions have brushed aside political dynasties with their sheer power, and now fight over territories and arms. This alternate history is the backdrop to Sega’s first next-gen mech title, ChromeHounds.
Chromehounds is a squad based mech combat game designed exclusively for Xbox 360. Three super powers are at war over the continued battle for world domination. Through the use of gigantic metal machines called ‘Hounds’, players need to use strategic planning in order to win and defend territories. In a series of intense battles over varying landscapes, a tactical mind is crucial - you’ll need to choose from a variety of vehicles, all of which have different strengths, and manoeuvre these walking weapons in order to outwit the opposing armies.
Click for larger imageMech games are an acquired taste and I’ll have to admit I’ve gone into the hands-on preview of Chromehounds having never played the likes of Mech Assault or Steel Battalion .
Oh well, onto the action! First off you’ll immediately be aware of the speed of the game, it’s slow and deliberate - the ‘Hounds’ move along the ground with the speed of a one-legged tortoise. The best way to describe how the mechs move is by comparing them to the Velociraptors in Jurassic Park. Although they don’t have the speed and agility of these dinosaurs, they do display a predatory-style movement that immediately thrusts you into the hunting mind-set
Click for larger imageThe action is far from fast paced but, for those looking for a more intense, deep gameplaying experience the speed of the game won’t be an issue. There are 6 ‘Hound’ role types to choose from, all of which will give you a vehicle that plays to a specific strength. Choosing from the Soldier, the Sniper, the Defender, the Scout, the Heavy Gunner, or the Tactics Commander will depend on whether you enjoy using a certain vehicle or which vehicle is best suited to the job in hand. In the preview that we played we had the choice between either a Soldier or a Sniper vehicle. The ‘soldier’ is billed as the front-line specialist and has a choice of three weapons which you can switch between using the right shoulder button. You’ll often be switching between these weapons due to either running out of ammo, or because the weapon that is currently selected doesn’t do the required job. For example, the short sharp bursts of the gun on the left turret are ideal for taking out ground troops, but switching to the missiles will ensure the swift destruction of mechs, buildings, and base camps.
