Title of article: Chrome VS Halo - clash of the season!
Game Name: Chrome / Halo: Combat Evolved
Platform: PC / PC, Xbox
Genre: Action / Action
Developer: Techland / Gearbox Software
Publisher: 1C / Microsoft
Release Date: September 2003 / September 2003
Minimum system requirements:
Pentium III 800 MHz, 256 MB RAM, 3D-graphics card with 32 MB RAM, 1.7 GB HDD, DirectX 8.1
Pentium III 933 MHz, 128 MB RAM, 3D-graphics card with 32 MB RAM, 1.2 GB HDD, DirectX 9b
Official site:
http://www.chromethegame.com/ / http://www.microsoft.com/games/halo/default.asp
Rain, covered with fallen leaf yards, chilly wind - calendar Fall is in full swing. But the season of high-profile fall releases is nearing its logical conclusion, at least in the genre of action. Judge for yourself: Half-Life 2 successfully postponed, Tron 2.0 is no less successful was released, followed by Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior. Well, of course, took the successful debut of two highly anticipated action-hits - Chrome (perfectly adapted to our market by 1C) and the PC-version of Halo: Combat Evolved. Certainly, each of these projects are original and completely original. Nevertheless, the concept of the game, based on a combination of large open spaces indoors and use of alternative vehicles, is the same for both games. Consequently, Chrome, and Halo: Combat Evolved can be considered as competitors and safely compare. So, the battle has begun!
Round 1 - Graphics
It is no secret that Halo: Combat Evolved was used by Microsoft as a «launch title» for the Xbox. Accordingly, the game was supposed to involve, first of all, the graphics side. Xbox-version, it really was possible, but there was a pad on the PC. Whether the requirements of us, computer geeks, too high, or when porting games Gearbox has managed somewhere to lose a solid chunk of appeal, but Halo: Combat Evolved for PC, alas, nothing amazing. Moreover, the character models for today's standards seem to be very mediocre, but if we consider exorbitant system requirements, or even ugly. Spectacular reflections on glasses, helmets and interesting designs of combat suits compensate for the lack of polygons is weak. Toy could recoup the expense of truly spectacular scenery with a beautiful sky and lovely trees, though ... her opponent was not Chrome. A breathtakingly beautiful and realistic wood, coupled with detailed down to the zippers on their clothes the characters sends graphics Halo: Combat Evolved in a state close to hopeless knockout.Save nomad with the Xbox only great dynamic lighting and spectacular animation.
Round 2 - Design
Picturesque open spaces of both games, pleasing to the eye lakes (with realistic pixel-shader water, mind you), breathtaking scenery, gorgeous skies and sunshine, are impressive. However, the combination of space and open areas in Halo in terms of design looks way better. Living outside world gives way to fun and original interiors of different rooms, there is little similar to each other. In Chrome the same interiors - one of the most obvious and brutal blunders. The interior of an ordinary warehouse, high tech communications center and dangling in space station stuff is made of the same elements, and therefore differ only in the location of the corridors. Everywhere we find the same elevators (to honor the founders, is there some of their species), the same doors that look like as two peas placer barrels, bottles, cans, completely identical high-voltage wires. Diversity is not to sleep ...
But the Halo design brings people and opponents - the console has its past. The human characters are all as one characterized by short, stocky, and generally once a lab. Aliens in the same - another story altogether. One gets the impression that these "villains" have gone from the pages of Disney comics. Painted bright colors tasteless bastards emit strange sounds rather appropriate anywhere in the world of Mario Brothers, not harsh, ostensibly sci-fi game. Chrome is perfect in this respect - the hard high-tech style shows through in everything.
Rivals diverge on the corners, and not beating each other.
Round 3 - Transportation
"Size matters" - this premise is equally promote both projects. True, open spaces and Chrome Halo: Combat Evolved have one fundamental difference. Chrome long and carefully load level, then to give us enjoy a brisk walk on a giant (more than one square kilometer) area. Halo also offering more extensive space, divides them into fast (less than a second) loadable segments. However, the gameplay it has little: play and interesting in that, and in another case.
And interestingly largely due to a variety of vehicles. In their face Chrome gets a clean left hook and barely stay on his feet! If you remember, at the stage of development of the creators of both games is actively promoted realistic model of the technology, and Techland also adds to this eloquent ode rag doll physics. Technology in Halo really no competition, especially attended most of screenshots and in most commercials Jeep Warthog. A car enters and throws up on the potholes in full compliance with its mass, which we have previously seen only in the Racing game, and even then not all. Chrome also in terms of transport has not offered anything new. Moreover, to manage forests in a speeder and buggy is extremely inconvenient, since both the unit manage to cling to trees and bushes by some invisible parts. A walking robot is generally appear spectacular, but ineffective - it is clumsy, like a drunken hippo.Finally, the presence of Halo possible flight on player controlled apparatus finally decides to round in favor of the project Microsoft.
Round 4 - Artificial Intelligence
A series of powerful and well-aimed blow sends Chrome knocked out immediately after the bell. Despite all the assurances of developers, AI it was zauryaden to spasms in the liver. Enemies are able to shoot straight, crouch, walk slowly sideways, to run fast in a straight, occasionally throwing a grenade. Everything! Halo is welcome at us, above all, savvy colleagues. Soldiers actively hide behind furnishings, rolling from side to side (just like Scargill of Unreal II: The Awakening), throw each other meaningful phrases and move in the manner of these commandos. Invaluable assistance is provided by the guys using transport: no extra reminders, they sit at a machine gun jeep (if it does not make a player), jump on the armor of the tank, etc. The aliens are paying the same coin, actively and competently strafe retreating under the cover of firing.
Chrome, how are you? Oklemaeshsya?
Round 5 - Gameplay
It is clear that "interesting" gameplay in these games depends largely on the intelligence of the AI and the quality of implementation vehicles. Accordingly, Chrome should certainly lose. Nevertheless, he stands firmly on its feet. The game focuses not on the unrestrained drive, and thoughtful attention to the passage. The presence of stealth-operation, role-playing elements in a limited volume of inventory and "puzzling" aspects related to break into computer systems, is proof of that.
Halo with his platformers of the past, crowds of intelligent (but foolishly painted) and more enemies than active movement of the transport looks much more dynamic. Stealth'a and puzzles in it unlike the smaller and the rampant shooting at anything that moves - more. Although the number of portable weapons in Halo is also very limited. To award the palm to this criteria is difficult, because the ratio to the gameplay depends on personal preferences of each. I think I will take advantage of the privilege of the author, and give them victory Halo. I personally constant action and chaos of battle bring more pleasure than discreet dashes from tree to tree in the forest Chrome (although they are carried away).
The award ceremony
Everyone knows that the most interesting battles take place between equal forces on rivals. We witnessed just such a fight. Both games will certainly deserve the title of a hit and are outstanding representatives of their genre. But the abstract "friendship" wins only in the children's cartoons of the Soviet period. Barely stay on his feet, subject to personal preferences, the player Halo: Combat Evolved still pulled out a victory! If time is short and the desire to relax the maximum of two competitors is strongly recommend it. However, as far as possible pass both games. Believe me, they are worth.
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