Chromehounds Xbox 360

Chromehounds the next great mech game?

By ben  Jul 22, 2006 | 1 out of 1 found this Chromehounds review helpful

Pros: in review

Cons: in review

Gameplay - 8.5

The single player is short and mostly training for what is to come once you get online. The six role types provide 6 missions with one training ground for each (which becomes a bit boring after the first time). The training does help though and gives you some extra help you may have not known without it, but there really should only be one training ground for all since it becomes repetitive. Other than that the single player is what you might have been expecting from a mech game and is somewhat decent but could use some improvement. Now onto the multiplayer greatest part of this game and where the game makes up for its mediocre single-player. If you are just starting up and are trying to jump in a game and just run around and shoot it will be hard for you to get into the game. You must join a clan that plays frequently to fully enjoy this aspect of the game. Without one you will view the multiplayer as one of your worst experiences yet. Once you are in a clan this game just get so much better (if you are into strategic type games). Having to have full cooperation between members and having to work things out before you go into battle gives this game the edge on most shooters now a day which are mostly pick-up games. Knowing what hound does what and what parts are good against which hounds will make for a drastic difference when gong online. Thats why its good to ask your clan members (see this is where the whole clan thing comes in) what's the best option for you. The combat part of this game is mostly simulation so for those of you looking for a game where you speed across the level in record speed you may not be to fond of it. Apparently they have the power to make mechs walk but not make them drive over 30-mph :( (which disappointed me the most). I had to do with a chassis with wheels (which is t he fastest I can get as of now (pretty sure later on when you can win a fast chassis on tracks). Shooting your weapons also has that simulation feel, since you cant use the cross-hair as an accurate measurement for rockets since they arc down. At first I was pissed off at that since I kept aiming straight at the object but im starting to get the hang of it and enjoy that aspect of the game more often.

Graphics - 9

The graphics, in my opinion, are the best we have seen to date on the 360 (on the shelf as of now I mean). The level of detail and the fact that everything doesn't create a glare like the sun is what made me enjoy the games graphics. The landscapes didn't seem to have as much of detail as the hounds. The reason being is that the trees seem to be somewhat last gen (the main problem I have with the environments). There also seems to be some glitches in the environments such as walking in between buildings makes your hound flip out and makes you look directly to the ground or something else. The landscapes are superb though, its just the trees that bother me for the most part and some of the textures. There is nothing better in this game than playing a game in the dark and then turning on your light and walking around it gives you a perspective of how good the lighting is on this game (something I happen to be very picky about).

Sound - 8

The sound is way too low, that is the first thing that I noticed so you have to and adjust it and then when you switch to another game its blasting. It happens to be very very annoying especially when your trying to listen to the person talking and you can barely make out what they are saying. That is the most annoying part of this game by far. Other than that one problem the sound is excellent. The little extras such as when turning on the light on your hound and hearing the sound of a spot light turning on. I haven't really taken notice to much of the soundtrack (not even sure if there is one since im not paying too much attention to it).

Value - 10

This games replay value is something we have not seen in awhile (only if you have a Li