The thin, well-worn plot (cheated mercenary takes on space-corporation missions and meets/defeats his former buddies-turned-bad etc) is related in a slightly wooden-spaghetti-western style by way of in-game video sequences. These appear to be game-engine generated, again with commendable graphics etc. Chrome also actually lets you get into and use some of the well-detailed transport (but only when and where the story lets you - sheeesh!) I couldn't wait to zoom off in a 2-seater RMG Conquistador, a hot 4WD off-roader with a turret machine-gun you can easily operate while you drive. Little did I suspect that I'd fail the mission and have to restart from my last saved game for driving off too far from where the game wants you to go. This is somewhat constraining for me, as I like to sod about checking out the obscure areas and theoretically inaccessible bits of the game no-one else bothers to look at, like can I get behind buildings, hedges, mountains, cliffs; can I jump into the water here, can I destroy various items of scenery etc…etc…? - Just to see if the programmers have done the job well. Well, in Chrome, you don't get too much chance to find out because the edge of the play area has an invisible boundary, right across that road you thought you might explore. Sure, you can see for miles beyond but you can't get there. Cliffs, mountains, rivers and sea all have invisible force-field-like barriers, often where you really don't expect them. The stage for your adventures is mainly planetside island areas, but also within building complexes and aboard a space station. Having whinged about the boundaries, the mission areas are a good size anyway, and you'll be glad of the RMG off-roader (thanks Tamiya), the Speeder (thanks Star Wars) and even the Walker (thanks again, Star Wars) to get you across what seems like miles of terrain. All these vehicles are fun to operate (3rd person view only) and even the unarmed speeder is great for running down your enemies, however, collision detection is a bit too severe.

Oh, yes, I s'pose I'd better mention the weapons. A knife you'll never use (if you value your life), an automatic pistol (I prefer the silenced option), a range of serious automatic machine-guns ranging in power, a fan-bl**dy-tastic sniper rifle (with a strange radio-interference type glitch in the telescopic sight), rocket launchers and electra energy-bolt gun. Grenades are plentiful - you top up your ammo by searching your victim's bodies and can help yourself to their weapon if you like. Chrome's inventory interface is a bit of a finicky one and resembles a shopping trolley. You have to arrange it quite carefully to maximize your kit, and are restricted to carrying only one major weapon and a sidearm (thanks Halo). Although this seemed laborious and unnecessarily time-consuming at first, it does get quicker and easier to use and works quite well. Helpfully, one inventory item is always selected for immediate use (medipak is a good choice).

   

Some areas have to be accessed by "hacking" at computer terminals, that involves a familiar match-the-weird symbols sub-game. Take too many goes and your stress level cuts you out so you have to start again. You accumulate some bionic implants (thanks, Deus Ex), which in use also cause your stress to rise until you get a breakdown. This happens rather too easily, I think, as I found I hardly ever bothered to activate my Muscle Improver, Reflex Booster, Dermal Armour, Adrenaline Processor, Targeting Assistance, Eye Scope or HMN Vision (image through walls), because they seem to cut out just when you need them most!

Chrome's gameplay style is that on normal difficulty, you can't just kick-ass through any situation, you have to, err, actually think! In fact, some levels are numbingly stealth-orientated, involving sneaking about and the judicious use of a cloaking device. I carefully saved one to ensure my safe exit, only to find that once my cover was blown, it simply didn't work, i.e., the game was not programmed to tell the bad guys they couldn't see me! Well, finally, the bottom line is I am enjoying the game, enough to try and finish it before Halo (my next job) overwhelms me.

Patch address:- http://www.gamershell.com/download_3452.shtml.