Chromehounds

Chromehounds
Developer(s)	From Software
Publisher(s)	Sega
Artist(s)	Isao Saito Hisao Yamada
Composer(s)	Kota Hoshino
Platform(s)	Xbox 360
Release date(s)	JP June 29, 2006 PAL July 7, 2006 NA July 11, 2006 AUS July 18, 2006
Genre(s)	Mech simulator
Mode(s)	Single-player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	CERO: B (ages 12 and up) ESRB: T (Teen) OFLC: PG PEGI: 12+ PEGI (FI): 11+ USK: 12+
Media/distribution	DVD

Chromehounds (クロムハウンズ, Kuromuhaunzu^?) is a video game for the Xbox 360. The game is set in an alternate universe where mechanised HOUNDs (a kind of mech) battle for control of Neroimus, a fictional region somewhere near Black Sea (according to the Japanese website). The game features a system for personalized customization of the player's mech and an online campaign mode where players wage war in a persistent world over Xbox Live. However, the online servers were shut down by Sega on January 6, 2010, completely disabling any possible online play.

Plot

The single player story starts before the Neroimus war. The player is an unnamed mercenary from Rafzekael. He goes through all six missions. The secret mission explained with the constant skirmishes SalKar feels threatened claiming its very borders are at stake and wants to build a base in the Tajin region, where all the nations meet. Morskoj and Tarakia refuse and SalKar builds it anyway but is attacked by the Cerberus squad.

Nations

The world is divided into three fictional nations that make up the Neroimus region that the game takes place in. They are the Democratic Republic of Tarakia, the Republic of Morskoj, and the Kingdom of Sal Kar.

Patches

In early February 2007, From Software released a patch for the game in an attempt to correct game imbalances.

In early April another patch was released which returned the "splash damage" effect of howitzers and double cannons. This patch also lowered the speed at which wheeled mechs operated, curbed the effectiveness of shotguns at destroying bases and lowered their overall utility by adding recoil which stops wheeled mechs in their tracks.

Gameplay

It offers opportunities for strategic thinking, as there are sometime multiple objectives for each mission. Both the single player and online game modes occupy a specific point in the game's timeline: the Single Player "Offline" story mode chronicles events just prior to the outbreak of the Neroimus War, while the Xbox Live "Online" mode takes place during the actual war.

There are six different mech classes known Role Types (RT for short) to choose from in Chromehounds. Each class of mech has seven different missions in the single-player campaign mode.

Garage mode

Chromehounds features a garage mode where the player can customize HOUNDS. While the garages in each mode are functionally identical, HOUNDS constructed in single player are limited to the parts won in single player missions.

New parts for HOUNDs can be unlocked by completing single-player missions, purchased in in-game shops and some parts are available for free/pay download on Xbox Live Marketplace. Special parts can also be bid on in the Lottery. These include experimental parts developed by the player's own country, but have been discontinued by all three nations, and captured parts won in battle. Every day winners are chosen randomly and the bidding begins again. The selection of captured parts changes every day, and occasionally old experimental parts are moved to the normal shop and new ones are placed in the lottery to replace them. Bids are limited on a squad basis and higher ranked squads are allowed to place more bids (all experimental parts are now able to be purchased in the in-game shops, in their respective countries).

Neroimus War

The Neroimus War was an online campaign mode which involves the three countries fighting for the continent of Neroimus. Players can join or make a squad, the equivalent of a clan or guild in other online games, to participate. The map of Neroimus is divided into several areas connected by paths. Each area is divided into several maps. Players may launch a mission within any enemy area adjacent to a friendly area, or in any friendly area which is under attack. Victory yields merit points, which raise your rank, captured parts for the lottery, and capture points. When a country has gained a certain amount capture points on a map, 25,000 to 32,000 for normal battlegrounds and 50,000 for capital cities, that map is turned over to the country. An area belongs to the country which has the most capture points in its maps. When a capital city falls, all areas under that country become part of the conquering country, and players may only fight to reclaim their capital, or seek asylum in another country. The War ends when one country controls the entire map or after two months have passed. After a war ends, squads may choose to change alliance to a different country, and then the next War begins. It should be noted that all of the experimental parts have become available, now only captured parts are available.

Reception

Critical response to Chromehounds has been varied. Most gaming critics have complimented the game's online play and customization options, but have criticized it for having a poor story, average graphics, and slow-paced gameplay.

• Famitsu rated the game 33/40
• 1UP.com rated the game B+^[1]
• Eurogamer: 4 out of 10^[2]
• Gamebrink rated the game 56/100^[3]
• Game Informer: rated the game 7/10
• Gamepro rated the game 3.00/5.00^[4]
• GameSpot.com rated the game 7.9/10^[5]
• Team Xbox rated the game 8.7 out of 10^[6]
• Gametrailers.com rated the game 7.4 out of 10^[7]
• IGN rated the game 6.9 out of 10^[8]
• Official Xbox Magazine rated the game 6.5 out of 10^[9]
• X-Play rated the game 3 out of 5

Server Closure

On August 7, 2009, Sega announced that the online servers would be shut down as of January 6, 2010. From that point on, players were only able to access the offline mode.^[10]

References

1. ^ Chromehounds Review for 360, Game from 1UP.com
2. ^ Chromehounds Xbox 360 Review - Page 1 | Eurogamer.net
3. ^ "Chrmehounds Review". Archived from the original on December 9, 2008. http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20081209085946/http://www.gamebrink.com/xbox-360/17859-chromehounds-review-1. 
4. ^ Chromehounds Review from GamePro
5. ^ Chromehounds Review for Xbox 360 - GameSpot
6. ^ Chromehounds Review (Xbox 360)
7. ^ Chromehounds Video Game | Reviews, Trailers & Interviews | GameTrailers.com
8. ^ Chromehounds Review - Xbox 360 Review at IGN
9. ^ Game Reviews, Game Scores - Official Xbox 360 Magazine
10. ^ Chromehounds Online Service Closure - January 6, 2010

Further reading

• Sewart, Greg (August 2006). "Chromehounds". Newtype USA 5 (8). ISSN 1541-4817. Archived from the original on November 24, 2006. http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20061124041933/http://www.newtype-usa.com/reviews/index.php?itemid=283. 

External links

• Official website (English)
• Official website (Japanese)