Chrome (PC, M15)

Reviewed by PETER ELEY


Herald rating: * * * *

It started with Wolfenstein 3D, progressed through Doom, Quake, Unreal to Counter-Strike and Halo.

All mega-hits and all first-person shoot-'em-ups. Such games have had bad press, but that doesn't seem to have dimmed their appeal. Just check out the sales figures for Halo.

That game is probably just about the best in the genre, and was recently released for the PC after making its debut on the Xbox.

And Chrome is much in the same mould. It features a macho main character, a mercenary called Logan, as opposed to Halo's Master Chief, and both have had some cyber-tweaks to enhance their destructive capacities.

The outdoor settings, too, are reminiscent of Halo, which is praise indeed given that title's spectacular settings, although Chrome's indoor environments are a tad samey, again much like Halo.

Chrome has some nice points of difference, which make it worth buying in a crowded market. The graphics are great, which of course means a modern system with lots of grunt, it has a nice mix of action and tactical play, is good value and has an outstanding multiplayer mode.

While Logan has access to the usual run of weaponry and powerups, he is also able to use implants, such as armour-like skin, zoom eyes, and electronically enhanced reflexes.

While they give Logan an edge, they also drain his power supply quickly, which means they need to be used in specific situations rather than as a shock-and-awe tactic designed to cower your opponents.

The single-player game has 14 long missions, some of which revolve around vehicles — again, a feature found in Halo.

Chrome's one flaw is that the enemy artificial intelligence isn't too bright, which is an area where Halo scores more highly.

Label: Take2 Interactive


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