Chromehounds

 Xbox 360
  • Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Jul 11, 2006
User Score
6.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 75 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 75
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 75
  3. Negative: 17 out of 75
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  1. Andyman
    Jul 21, 2006
    5
    I will be a happy man the day From Software starts making their mech games as fun to play as they are to look at. Where is the head's-up target acquisition system? Where are the elaborate next-gen explosions? Where is the intuitive mech design and customization interface? Simply put, WHERE IS THE FUN? You'd think that From Software would have this genre completely mastered by I will be a happy man the day From Software starts making their mech games as fun to play as they are to look at. Where is the head's-up target acquisition system? Where are the elaborate next-gen explosions? Where is the intuitive mech design and customization interface? Simply put, WHERE IS THE FUN? You'd think that From Software would have this genre completely mastered by now. After all, they've been making mech games for over a decade now. Chromehounds is a heavy-mech-sized disappointment.… Expand
  2. AnthonyW.
    Aug 14, 2006
    6
    I am a sucker for mech games; however there are other things to consider. Obviously there are a few flaws to look at. First off the non-Live game play (training mode) is both frustrating and boring. The story can be easily passed by with out a look back. Some of the missions would make you believe that your mech has some sort of speed associated with it when it comes to having you move to I am a sucker for mech games; however there are other things to consider. Obviously there are a few flaws to look at. First off the non-Live game play (training mode) is both frustrating and boring. The story can be easily passed by with out a look back. Some of the missions would make you believe that your mech has some sort of speed associated with it when it comes to having you move to different places on the map. There where several missions that would advise you to move to a location to defend it or for the best firing positions but by the time you made it to the location you fail the mission. I understand this is Mech chess and not Armored Core reaction based Gundam Wing fighting, so I don… Expand
  3. ChrisJenkins
    Jul 28, 2006
    10
    I just love the ADD idiots here. Do us all a favor and go continue to jizz-off to your Halo 2 Collector's Edifiton. Just because a game doesn't fit your style of gameplay, say ADD-bearable, doesn't mean it's a bad game. And having a completely one-sided view is also a great indication of your retardness. Please, get laid people.
  4. teacherman
    Aug 15, 2006
    9
    Incredible Mech solo game. Lots of fun with challenges for all levels. Getting S on each level unlocks additional parts you will need when you go online. Online is like an entire new game. If you like Mechs (Hounds) but this game!
  5. DrewM.
    Jul 15, 2006
    10
    The game is an absolute must-have for the Xbox 360. It will, without a doubt, consume your soul. Buy it. Play it. Love it.
  6. FPSMaster
    Jul 20, 2006
    4
    Definately below average. I have never been so bored with a game and so frustrated with the clunky controls to the point of not even finishing more than one set of missions. The controls are sluggish and clunky, the mechs look good but the environs look like a high res PS2 game with constant pop-up and the missions are frustrating and leave you in the dark on what to do. It takes forever Definately below average. I have never been so bored with a game and so frustrated with the clunky controls to the point of not even finishing more than one set of missions. The controls are sluggish and clunky, the mechs look good but the environs look like a high res PS2 game with constant pop-up and the missions are frustrating and leave you in the dark on what to do. It takes forever to get into an online match and when you do, it usually disconnects and you start over 10 times before finally getting into a match.....and once you do, it is boring and takes an hour to walk 3 miles yet your mech is supposedly walking at over 100 miles per hour. Biggest POS ever, and saying a lot considering the 360 is full of nothing but garbage so far.… Expand
  7. SamuelH.
    Aug 10, 2006
    2
    Good graphics and fun to play like some would say but, How the heck do you play co-op on it?
  8. JaceN.
    Aug 28, 2006
    4
    This game feels like a hastily produced movie of the week they had to shoot in a dirty, drab former soviet republic to cut costs! The idiotic japanese obsession with gamers doing and redoing a level a billion times desperately trying to attain the elusive S rank comes right out of the drab 32-bit gaming days of 1996 and with the dded insult of "you dont get no parts till you get at least This game feels like a hastily produced movie of the week they had to shoot in a dirty, drab former soviet republic to cut costs! The idiotic japanese obsession with gamers doing and redoing a level a billion times desperately trying to attain the elusive S rank comes right out of the drab 32-bit gaming days of 1996 and with the dded insult of "you dont get no parts till you get at least an A" makes me want to scribble out the "build your own hound" claim on the back of the box. Single player is once again in a new "Next Gen" title...infuriatingly an afterthought to the online neronimus war that was clearly the focus of the title. If youre a japanese gaming god with your silly blue hair and oval sunglasses...you would probably have not even botherd with this trash that I was about to errantly associate you with!… Expand
  9. BrettS.
    Jul 20, 2006
    0
    This game was horriable, slow moving mechs to action, can't tell friendlies for baddies, and a slow rate of fire, not one mech had a fast firing gun. Not even worth renting. Online was okay, but plagued with the same slow moving action.
  10. saber
    Jul 24, 2006
    3
    3 points are enough to tell for 'some' graphics you may find in the game if you've got excess of money to buy such an abyssmal title and didn't knew how to spend it otherwise.
  11. DanielR.
    Sep 13, 2006
    2
    I found Chromehounds a huge disappointment. The graphics were terrible and the gameplay wasn't much better. The Dreamcast could have done it!
  12. RickyC.
    Apr 22, 2007
    10
    Story mode pretty freakin good, mutiplayer is awesome, may be better than armored core... no, DEFIANTLY better.
  13. gamingisgreat
    Nov 16, 2016
    0
    no single player gameplay.......automatic fail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  14. MasterTank3825
    Dec 5, 2015
    0
    My local GameStop threw away my friends copy of Chromehounds that he'd left there accidentally and he didn't even care. All you need to know about this game... trust me
  15. LTstab
    Apr 5, 2022
    0
    One of the greatest multiplayer games that was 10 years ahead of it's time. A huge global map with factions fighting over territory control, providing new mech parts based on what countries territories your faction captures. No microtransactions, no girding EXP or levels to gain equipment. Win games, capture territories and be rewarded with technology exclusive to the faction of theOne of the greatest multiplayer games that was 10 years ahead of it's time. A huge global map with factions fighting over territory control, providing new mech parts based on what countries territories your faction captures. No microtransactions, no girding EXP or levels to gain equipment. Win games, capture territories and be rewarded with technology exclusive to the faction of the territory controlled.
    Multiplayer forced extreme co-operation and coordination between different mech classes fighting over some of the largest maps we still have yet to see today.    … Expand
  16. JamesA.
    Nov 7, 2006
    9
    This game is better than Halo2. The reviewers were looking for the nest Mech Warrior. This games is more like the Ghost Recon of giant robots. If giants robots were real, this is what they would be. This game has no lasers, sheild generator or flame throwers. But those don't exist now (except the flame thrower) or will be in the near future. This game is all modern-day weapon ramped This game is better than Halo2. The reviewers were looking for the nest Mech Warrior. This games is more like the Ghost Recon of giant robots. If giants robots were real, this is what they would be. This game has no lasers, sheild generator or flame throwers. But those don't exist now (except the flame thrower) or will be in the near future. This game is all modern-day weapon ramped up into a giant-robot-usuable form. Online in this game is a blast if you can find a squad (the Chromehounds version of Halo 2 clans) which is easy if you have any friends. I have to say the single player is not the greatest but you can get a better gamerscore; who can complain. The achievments probably look the coolest out of any 360 game right now; they are medals that you would see on a military person. This game is a must have for Live sence you can have 6 vs. 6. The online can fail if you have too many people or somebody is talking while the game goes into the next load screen. THIS GAME IS NOT MECHWARRIOR it is Ghost Recon and team work is necessary.… Expand
  17. P.A.
    Jul 10, 2006
    10
    Great game, once the the servers and fixed the online mode will be perfect!
  18. Lucas_in_Denver
    Jul 14, 2006
    8
    This is one of the most methodical games on the 360. Clearly not designed for the Halo-lovin' "Timmies" of the world. BTW, it is nice to play a game on Live without shrieking screaming kids. That said, Chromehounds is a great game for anyone who loves mech games!
  19. Poorboi
    Aug 5, 2006
    9
    This game provides great fun for people who enjoy playing with slow moving behemoths that are mechs. From being able to customize and accomodate a specific class, the variety of weapons, chassis, and extras can be a whole game into oneself. Of course single play is only a warm up to online play, but it also helps you decide on a class for the war online. Pretty much in no other game are This game provides great fun for people who enjoy playing with slow moving behemoths that are mechs. From being able to customize and accomodate a specific class, the variety of weapons, chassis, and extras can be a whole game into oneself. Of course single play is only a warm up to online play, but it also helps you decide on a class for the war online. Pretty much in no other game are Classes so well defined and the strategy is highly dependant on what is on the battlefield. Gaging on previous reviews, it looks like only mere minutes were played, or just a quick observation from the terrible demo. Need not apply if you're looking for a run n gun game, or do not play well with others. Also a very close likeness to an actual MMO, do missions for money, and play PvP to win territory.… Expand
  20. RedXIII
    Sep 1, 2006
    8
    The one player game is severely lacking in depth and gameplay, but the online is where it makes up for it. The one player is only meant for unlocking weapons to play online, at least that is what I gather from it. The online is amazing many different game play modes and lots of tactics/squad play. Buy if you have xbox live, if not then you will be wasting your money.
  21. LawlP.
    Sep 6, 2006
    9
    Greatest game since Half-life 2. Although.. its not THAT good.. Most of all, the ability of being able to customize dragged me to get it. Graphics are awesome, especially in gun-cam, it almost look like your actually in it looking through the scope! With thermal vision, the worst sandstorm can be seen through. With night vision, the darkest night can be bright. Its awesome. Only thing Greatest game since Half-life 2. Although.. its not THAT good.. Most of all, the ability of being able to customize dragged me to get it. Graphics are awesome, especially in gun-cam, it almost look like your actually in it looking through the scope! With thermal vision, the worst sandstorm can be seen through. With night vision, the darkest night can be bright. Its awesome. Only thing lacking.. is single player.. customized single player battles where you could customize what mechs you want in your squad for computers, and randomized enemies, would be great. not just campaign. Its a whole new twist on MechAssault.… Expand
  22. CoffinSandman
    Oct 9, 2007
    8
    I agree that the single player isn't that great, but it still manages to be reasonably fun. Sure it gets kind of boring, but it focuses on realistic missions from a military perspective, which make things pretty interesting. I haven't tried the multiplayer yet, but I can imagine that it'll make this game completely worth it. ( I'll admit, I only bought this game I agree that the single player isn't that great, but it still manages to be reasonably fun. Sure it gets kind of boring, but it focuses on realistic missions from a military perspective, which make things pretty interesting. I haven't tried the multiplayer yet, but I can imagine that it'll make this game completely worth it. ( I'll admit, I only bought this game because I found a new copy for only $20.) Other than that, this is pretty much the best mech game I've ever played. The graphix are some of the best I've seen on 360. The gameplay and controls are great and the customization system is awsome. Apart from the single player, Chromehounds is everything MechAssault should have been.… Expand
  23. Mike
    Oct 17, 2006
    9
    Great game if you have patience and your good at making friends online.
  24. JacobV.
    Oct 27, 2006
    7
    Doesn't seem like a "pick up and play" game. I rented this and didn't have the patience. It takes forever to get anywhere. I think my problem was that I wanted to build my own mech, but I couldn't get my hands on enough parts. I'll stick to the fast paced MechAssault games.
  25. Knives101Steinhauser
    Oct 5, 2006
    9
    I've managed to log over 100 hours into Chromehounds. I believe that there's a certain breaking point for all games. To reach this breaking point you must play said game for X amount of hours. When you reach this point, you KNOW exactly how good the game is. Until then it's all speculation. So here's a review of Chromehounds from someone that's seen all it has to I've managed to log over 100 hours into Chromehounds. I believe that there's a certain breaking point for all games. To reach this breaking point you must play said game for X amount of hours. When you reach this point, you KNOW exactly how good the game is. Until then it's all speculation. So here's a review of Chromehounds from someone that's seen all it has to offer, good and bad. First off, I'd like to point out that I'm completely disregarding the single player missions. They were obviously tacked onto a game that was originally meant solely for Xbox live play. Chromehounds is a game where you build your own robotic war machine from scratch, and then battle with it on Xbox live. Every hound part has a plethora of stats, including health, energy usage, and weight. Legs play a role in determining how fast you go, and how heavy your hound can be. Faster leg models can't carry many parts, and are easily destroyed. Slower leg models carry more parts, and can take a beating. The generator determines how much of a power supply you have. Each part in the game requires a set amount of energy to run it. If your generator cannot supply enough power to your hound (or if it is destroyed in battle), then the overall performance of your hound will go down. Your cockpit determines how tough your hound is, and how many advanced computer chips you can add to your hound. Each part of a hound can be destroyed, but the hound will continue to operate until the cockpit is destroyed. Computer chips modify things such as speed, stability, and aiming. Lighter cockpits are easily destroyed, but can hold lots of computer chips. Heavier cockpits take a beating, but allow fewer computer modifications. Weapons range from Sniper Cannons to Anti-Hound Piles. Sniper weapons have a long range of attack, but reload slowly with low damage output. Anti-Hound Piles are extremely close range melee weapons that deal enormous damage. Shotguns, Rifles, Missiles, HEAT Rockets, and Cannons are mid-range weapons with fast reload times. Rocket pods fire off a cluster of rockets. They can be used to bombard a wide area, or to pummel an opponent up close. Artillery shells travel slowly in an arc towards their target. A direct hit with these weapons is devastating, and just being in the vicinity of a blast will damage your hound. Chromehounds has a wide variety of maps. Just about any environment on earth can be found in chromehounds. There's deserts, cities, arctic tundra, mountains, valleys etc. To communicate in chromehounds you have a set radio area. Wonder outside of this area, and you can no longer communicate with your squad-mates. There are radio towers located all over each map. You can expand your radio area by capturing these towers. Only one team can be in control of a certain radio tower at a time. Capturing enemy radio towers can shut down your opponent's communications, and expand your own radio area. If you want you can attach a radio tower onto your hound. It creates it's own radio area, and acts as a radar. You can see enemy, and friendly units within the range of your radio area, and the radio area of any radio towers that you control. Radio towers are extremely heavy though, and require a lot of power to run. Hounds equipped with a radio tower are essentially handicapped due to the sap in resources. There are three ways to win a game in Chromehounds. They are: Destroy all enemy hounds. Discover and destroy the enemy base. Be in control of the most radio towers when time runs out. Before you can destroy the enemy base you must find it. There are five potential enemy bases on most maps. Only one of them is the real deal. The rest are decoys. Once you have found an enemy base there are three ways to blow it up. The first and least effective way is to have your hounds fire upon it until it is destroyed. The second way is to direct artillery fire at it. Once artillery starts hitting the base it goes down rather quickly. The trick is to have the skill required to properly aim the artillery shells (more into that later). The third and most effective way is to run up to it with a speedy mech, and use close range melee weapons to bash it to pieces. This is known as Pile rushing, and generally destroys a base in about thirty seconds. The actual game states that there are six role-types in chromehounds. But in reality players will invent hound to their liking. Here is a quick sampling of some the hounds you will encounter online. The info gatherer: In chromehounds firepower is what matters the most. A team with too many support roles will often lose a match, due to the other team simply strong-arming them. Because of this many players choose to combine the Radar Mech, and the Scout mech into one. A scout's job is to attack the base, and capture radio towers. A Radar Mech's job is to monitor the enemy. A speedy scout mech with an extremely small radar dish can easily perform both jobs. The radio area starts out tiny, but grows bigger as more radio towers are taken by the speedy mech. You can use the radar dish to know where enemies are located, go around them, and pound the base into rubble. The close range combat mech: This type of mech is all about getting in your face, and blowing the crap out of you. It just needs to get close enough to hit you. These mechs range from speedy and weak, to slow and tough. These are the most common mechs in the game, and are the easiest to use. The long range fighter: This type of mech uses either Sniper Weapons, or Artillery fire (or both!) to attack the enemy from a distance. Artillery fire travels slowly, but can be devastating. Sniper fire travels fast but does mediocre damage. This type of mech can be highly effective on it's own, but it really shines when it teams up with a close range combat mech. The close range combat mech distracts, and stalls the enemy while the long range mech pummels it from afar. This form of teamwork makes hitting enemies much easier for the long range fighter, and gives the close range combat mech fire support. When you first go online with the game you will be prompted to join a squad. Until you do so you will not be able to participate in the Nerioumous War. The N. War is a war between three enemy nations. Each nation has it's own set of parts. It is recommended to visit all three nations to get every part in the game. Every nation has a number of players that are fighting for that nation. The nations fight for territory within the world. Each map is a different territory. Each win gives your country a set amount of capture points on that particular map. Enough capture points and you take a territory. Once you take a territory, you move onto the next territory until you reach the enemy Capitol. Once you take the enemy capital, all that nation's territory goes to your nation. The goal of the game is to be the last country standing, and conquer the world. A squad is a clan, or group of people that you play with. You can not be part of more than one squad at a time. Think of your squad as your basketball team. You go into every match with them, and must learn to work together in order to win. Every team-member has only one life. Once you're dead, you're dead for the rest of the match. So teamwork, and being careful is essential. Luckily it takes a good number of shots to bring a hound down. Think of it like destroying a vehicle in Halo 2. Some weapons get the job done in three shots, and some take a seemingly endless volley. It just depends on the weapon, and the toughness of the enemy hound. Ok so now that we know what the game is about I'll go into some of the positives, and negatives of the game. The positives: The game offers almost endless customization, with a mostly balanced system. The controls are easy to use. Playing against the computer in co-op mode is extremely fun. New parts are released every few weeks. The squad system ensures that you always team up with people that you are familiar with. No more random pickup games between strangers. Adding a speed modification chip solves the slow movement problem that most reviewers hate. The negatives: PvP matches of ten or more players will almost never connect. Humans will often employ a number of cheap tactics that defeats the game's promotion of teamwork. For example artillery shells can be attached to a fast moving chassis with devastating results. (Artillery shells should really only be usable by heavy slow AT-AT like mechs IMO.) When shooting an opponent with long range weapons the game lag can cause you to miss a lot (this only happens in PvP matches). The same nation seems to win almost every war. Sometimes you will be forced to pay money for some of the new parts. You cannot play online with friends that you brought over to your house. Unless you have multiple 360's at home and the right Internet setup, it's a single player game. The firing interface with artillery weapons is lacking a good rang-finding scope. As a result only the best players can use artillery from halfway across the map with any effect. Overall Chromehounds is a wonderfully deep, and addictive game, with a few minor setbacks. If the servers were to get fixed, and artillery shells nerfed the game would be an absolute must have. If you're a fan of mech games, or complexity you'll love Chromehounds. Update: The patch has made getting into human matches much easier. The game still lags with 6v6 people hardly get dropped. Score= 9.3… Expand
  26. JamesK.
    Jul 12, 2006
    10
    I guess this is not a game for everyone. This is a thinking mans game, where class and setup for each engagement matters.
  27. JohnM.
    Jul 10, 2006
    10
    Crazy customization and excellent graphics make the game.
  28. BruinFan
    Jul 13, 2006
    9
    Dont believe the negative hype. This game is for real. A must own for Xbox Live subscribers. Finally something fresh and fun online. One of the most innovative online experiences. The true meaning of Xbox Lives phrase "Jump In"!
  29. romstar
    Jul 13, 2006
    9
    This is an awesome game for fans of Armored Core. The depth in which the mechs can be designed/ assembled is comparable to that of the latest Armored Core. It is not a game for all. It is, in my opinion, closer to that of a simulator and so requires strategy and patience. Best experiences are with large team or large deathmatch games.
  30. PatJ.
    Jul 14, 2006
    9
    Superb multi-player. Mech customization is unbelievable and life-sucking. This game is a must-have.
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Awards & Rankings

51
#51 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2006
15
#15 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2006
56
#56 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2006

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 60 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 60
  2. Mixed: 31 out of 60
  3. Negative: 2 out of 60
  1. GameBrink
    56
    Overall the gameplay is pretty forgettable and is only saved by the interesting ideas presented online. [JPN Import]
    Read full review
  2. Eurogamer
    40
    Chromehounds is really, really, really boring to play...Not one that I can imagine Xbox 360 players sticking with for more than a handful of hours tops, no matter how starved they are for new releases at the moment.
    Read full review
  3. GamePro
    60
    Unfortunately, with such drab presentation and predictable gameplay, there isn't enough to sustain interest for long.
    Read full review
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