From Software still needs to learn from Armored Core

Gameplay: 6
Graphics: 6
Sound: 4
Controls: 7
Longevity: 4

Overall: 54% (1 star/Abysmal)

From Software has been at the forefront of mechanized games on the consoles since the release of the Armored Core series on the Playstation. The main problem with the series has been the stagnation of innovation and the cheap A.I. (or lack of an A.I.), which has turned off some from the series in general. Now, with the offshoot of Chromehounds onto the XBox 360, From Software now has a chance to demonstrate it's first foray into next generation gaming. As another mechanized game, it is hoped that there are improvements and innovations that really makes this game worth a $60 purchase.

There are a series of missions within Chromehounds, each being beneficial in developing the ability of players to play certain roles. These roles include sniper, soldier, defender, scout, heavy gunner, and commander. The story behind these roles is really lackluster and not as engaging as I would have liked, and the explanations of each role is minimal at best. This may quickly discourage those who have never played a mechanized game right away, as having to judge distance without explanation is going to be a pain (esp. since there are many clans and competitive players online who are out to kill you). To be plain, these missions are minimal, frustrating to a beginner and will not help you learn the ropes unless you have already played Armored Core on the Playstation before, which is a damn shame.

The graphics in Chromehounds is average at best. The water does not blend very well with a road surface, or a dirt surface, despite what seems to have been the best intentions of the graphic's designers. The buildings really look like cardboard cutouts, though they can be destroyed and some go up in a semi-spectular display of explosions. Thankfully, there is very little graphical tearing or slowdown that has been persistent in other XBox 360 games. From Software really dropped the ball on being able to demonstrate their abilities to improve graphical design given the powerful hardware they are using.

The sound is an utter disappointment. With a subwoofer and a 7.1 surround sound system on full blast, the explosions and the movement of these hulking mechs really have no "omph" or powerful presence behind them. The lack of differences with noises really makes those that you do hear get old really fast, and it makes you want to reach for the mute button real quick. The music is no better, as the selection screen has two songs at most, and in mission songs are really lacking behind them as well. I have found myself using personal soundtracks all the time when playing this game to keep myself in the mood and engaged in combat, which is what this game should already do on it's own. I am saddened to see that From Software really did not try here, because sounds is an integral experience for many players, especially in a mechanized war game.

Controls, when compared to the Playstation 2 setup of Armored Core 3, has not changed. It is essentially a copy and paste mock-up, which is O.K. and nice for those who are quite used to mechanized games already. For newcomers, this setup will be quick to get used to, and will help you get engaged in combat situations that sometimes can get quite intense. The shoulder buttons are used to turn the screen to look at angles for your mech as it is walking. This is a better approach than the stagnated lack of innovation with the Armored Core series, which allows me to give this game a decent rating on controls. If From Software had been innovative with controls, I would have been more inclined to give a higher rating. An idea would have been to help players judge distance better, especially for those who have to use long range weapons. It is frustrating to find that my weapons accidentally hit those on my side, when I have nothing to work with that tells me where or if my weapons are going to hit a designated spot.

Longevity really falls down onto whether you are an online player or an offline player. If you are an offline player, then this score is too high and really should be lower. The single player missions can be completed in about 10 hours, and you are done. This is amazing, given that Armored Core 3 had a lot longer replay (and it was SINGLE player!). The true longevity lies in the online mode. You have the ability to choose the country for which you fight for and engage in a prolonged war for dominance with players around the world. I found this to be a fun and engaging experience. There are 3 countries you can choose from, and if your clan (and country) wins, you are rewarded both with money and parts to help improve your mechs. You can also donate money to the cause of your country to help the less fortunate players on your side purchase improvements to their mechs, thus resulting in more victories on your side. An improvement could have been added, whereby an even numbered of players could be on each country's side. What is witnessed right now is that a winning nation will have a lopsided number of players, resulting in even more attempts at victory, versus those with less players who simply cannot keep up.

All in all, this is an attempt by From Software that fell flat on it's face. Despite the innovative online war, there are flaws in the single player and control mechanism that really weigh down on this game. Some items that worked well for Armored Core 3 is here, such as the shear amount of items that you can use to upgrade your mechs. However, everything else was for naught.

My recommendation for buyers is to wait for the price to come down before buying this game. If you are a hardcore mechanized player, and you really want one for the XBox 360, this is the only choice for you right now. If not, I would dissuade you and turn you away to play a more engaging game that is more worth the $60 that you are about ready to spend.