The persistent mode is an entirely different story mode, with only the toughest story mode veterans consistently playing. It is essentially the entire single player campaign, but with real people. You are able to choose from one of the three superpowers and lead them to total domination and conquest. When you have aligned yourself with a side, you can start to build a small squad or ‘platoon,’ if you will. These consist of up to twenty mechs all with different attributes and contrasting styles, six of which can be deployed into a battle against rival superpowers at a time. You can create your own emblem, color scheme, and even a separate weapons set if you wish.
Neroimus battles are very intriguing, and are a very intuitive way to play. Essentially, six combatants from two sides go head to head on different points of the map in order to capture that specific point, and claim superiority across the land. However, more in depth strategies can be used, allowing for the persistent world war to be ended by doing different things. Wiping out the entire enemy army collectively, for instance, can make your superpower the winner at the end of one year (two months of real time.) By wiping out the armies of the other superpowers, your nation will win by default, so it’s always good to try and destroy as much as possible.
Just look at that explosion....
Another great part about the online war which also makes it, in a sense, very realistic is that all this damage just doesn’t disappear. You will have to shell out money for necessary repairs following a battle, as well as new parts to the framework of your mech. It also depends on how well all the other gamers in your particular nation are doing. If they are doing well, you will receive extra money and resources. Bad results, however, and it is all up to you to fund any possible enhancements you require.
Graphically, Chromehounds is next-gen, but just doesn’t deliver that look that so many other 360 titles have. The HOUND models are second to none. Never before has the look of these gigantic beats been captured in such detail. Every last texture on the weapons is astounding, and these HOUNDS are nothing short of awe-inspiring. This also follows over with how they animate. Every bit of the mech moves like it should, and rotates seamlessly. It is a joy to watch in motion, and nothing apart from that does it justice. Particle effects on weaponry as well as explosions are outstanding, and are certainly among some of the best I have seen in any next-gen title. Seeing an enemy combust into a whole cluster of smoke, fire and debris is an amazing site. The same goes for buildings. They collapse very realistically, and bellow smoke and dust as they take their journey towards the ground. One other thing to be noted is that the game travels at a steady 60 frames per second, giving a nice slick presentation throughout.
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the environments. Now, don’t get me wrong; they aren’t ugly by any stretch of the imagination, but they are bland. Very bland. Now given, this is a battle-torn land, but nothing sticks out as being very polished. Textures on the ground are flat, and buildings don’t have any sparkle or specific crisp texture to them. Likewise, comparing foliage to a game such as Oblivion really puts a downer on the game.
The audio in the game is very, very good. Nothing beats the sound of a rocket shooting from the barrel of its launcher, and then making a crunching one-of-a-kind impact on an enemy. Your HOUNDS sound realistic, too. Chromehounds doesn’t over-do the sound of them moving, nor does it make it so you can’t hear them. FROM has made sure that everything comes together and gives you that extra realism.
Overall, Chromehounds is a good, solid mech title. Its story mode is interesting, and lends a helping hand to the gamer if they want to take the fight online. Playing the game on your own is fun, but transferring the experience onto Xbox Live is quite brilliant. Leading the war effort with real people is an experience that every Xbox Live gamer should taste, as it really proves its merit when compared to story mode. Visually, Chromehounds isn’t great, but it does its best to provide a good mix of expansive environments and next-gen quality visuals.
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| The Core Score |
Overall
7 |
| Fun |
|
7 |
| Gameplay |
|
8 |
| Graphics |
|
7 |
| Audio |
|
7 |
| Replay |
|
8 |
|
| Kid Safe Score |
| 5 Questionable |
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| |
Explosions, but no real gore or obscene violence. Safe for most people. |
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