#18: Chromehounds

Meet Chromehounds.  It contains my favorite multiplayer in a game... ever.  The single player was crud, that's why it's down so far on the list.  But the multiplayer component to the game is absolutely unique and fantastic.


Let's talk about the gameplay first.  You pilot around a mech (a giant freaking robot) that deals massive damage to anything that's not other mechs.  The offline play is average at best.  The storyline is terrible and the game's mission's are poorly paced and balanced.  It teaches you how to play the game's multiplayer, but that's the only purpose to having the campaign.

Then you go online.

Perfection.

Chromehounds is the most team-centric game I've ever played.  Bar-none.  There's no possible way that an uncoordinated team can beat a group with a plan of attack.  It's wonderful.

The radar system to the game is second to none.  There are radar dishes placed around the map and each one has a limited range.  Your team is tasked with capturing the dishes to increase your radar range.  If you're within your teams radar coverage, then you can hear what they're saying.  The second you leave the range, silence.  There's nothing quite like hearing a teammate start to tell you where an enemy's coming from and then leaving radar range without hearing the end of it.  It makes you realize how crucial communication is since there's so many inopportune times when you'll be without it.

Your mech can be customized from scratch with every piece being your own.  Want a speedy scout with 4 gatling guns?  Make it.  Want a heavy gunner with long-range cannons and no mobility?  Make it.  Want a commander with a large satellite dish towering above it?  Well have fun, cause commanders are where the game takes off.

Commanders are the only mech that can see enemies on the radar (if they're in radar range).  They can pinpoint where these enemies are to teammates (if they're in radar range).  It makes communication extremely important which is something that a lot of games seem to miss out on these days.

Unfortunately, it's no longer available to be played online.  Sega took it offline.  I hate Sega.