advertisement

IS CHROME GOING TO be the next FPS of choice? It just may well be (before Half Life 2 arrives on the scene anyway). We preview what looks to be a stunning 3D shooter being developed out of Poland and soon to arrive in New Zealand.

In Chrome you play as a Mercenary turned Bounty Hunter named Logan. Despite being very good at what you do, an ugly incident in your past means you have been relegated to ply your trade at the edge of known space in the Valkyria Galaxy.

Using a system of implants, the player is able to manipulate Logan's personality and abilities in order to accomplish all of the 14 enormous and varied missions. During the course of the missions, Logan takes part in breathtaking chases using six futuristic vehicles, becomes a silent assassin to strike at unwitting enemies, or grabs his heavy plasma gun and implants enhanced muscles to storm through enemy lines.

The game environments in Chrome look superb with some great weather effects and varied terrain to battle over. And with all the different vehicles and weapons to master the gameplay side of things looks like it is going to be crash hot. Check out these key features:

• An unusual and dramatic story takes place among the huge and wild terrains of the five planets.

• Fight within residential complexes of the first settlers, deep within mines rich with precious minerals and inside the headquarters of the powerful corporations fighting among themselves over the unique riches of Valkyria.

• A system of implants that allows the player to manipulate the character's personality and abilities.

• Player can create breathtaking chases using futuristic vehicles.

• Realistic body and injury system as well as detailed picturesque landscapes and much, much more.

• Each player has at his disposal a large arsenal, equipment and implants which allow him to choose specialized styles and tactics to complete each mission including silent weapons, a camouflage suit and special features to sharpen physical reflexes and improve sensory abilities

• The player can turn into silent assassin and strike his enemies unnoticed. With a heavy plasma gun, a dermo-shield and transplanted muscles the player can also be transformed into a human tank allowing him to storm past enemy lines.

• There are 14 enormous difficult and varied missions. Tropical forests, rocky deserts, canyons, craters, snowy glaciers, lakes and mountains all contribute to the game's unique atmosphere.

• Multiplayer including all the features of single player mode, with up to 32 players. Huge arsenal of armor, implants, wide range of vehicles, broad and varied terrains. Chrome multiplayer is a classical, dynamic set of games like Death Match, as well as more complicated, based on objectives, team fights.

The developers also promise that Chrome will feature some of the best enemy AI yet seen in a FPS. Even though we've heard this all before, from what we have heard from beta testers, the dev team aren't lying. The bad guys will take cover, call for back-up when they are in trouble and use team tactics to stop you from achieving your goal. They also won't stop coming at you until you deal with them all.

Check out these screenshots of Chrome, which at this stage will be released in New Zealand later this month. Check back then for our full review!

Show me the screenshots!