Chrome SpecForce

The first person shooter Chrome SpecForce from the Polish developer Techland (" Chrome ", " Call of Juarez ") was published in 2004 by the German publisher Koch Media . The game is based on the predecessor Chrome, but is not a successor, but tells a story about the hero Bolt Logan. SpecForce was originally planned as an add-on , but was then released as a standalone game. Chrome SpecForce has similar characteristics to Chrome. In terms of graphics, there are hardly any innovations compared to the predecessor. SpecForce uses StarForce and a CD key as copy protection .

technology

Engine and AI

The game uses the game engine of the first part, which still shows large areas without reloading. Chrome SpecForce is set on a single planet that consists almost entirely of forests. Therefore, the colors green and brown predominate here. Desert landscapes like in the previous one no longer exist. Unlike in the first part, the character can fall from cliffs and enter water, but cannot swim. The physics engine, for example, depicts killed opponents falling from a cliff. In the American version, corpses move under fire and blood is shown. In the game there is only one cutscene told in the engine.

The game often uses scripts to show the actions of computer opponents.

Sounds and music

The music comes from Pawel Blaszczak . Thorsten Münchow ("Chrome", " Gorky Zero ") synchronized the hero's voice.

Gameplay

action

SpecForce's action takes place a few years before Chrome. It does not represent Bolt Logan's life's work played in Chrome , but an adventure from his time as a SpecForce agent. As this he is chosen by Colonel Northwood to be a member of a secret special task force. The task of the command is to investigate a base of the large corporation LoreGen, in which allegedly synthetic stimulant drugs are produced. After a brief refresher course at headquarters, Logan, his friend Robert “Pointer” Herz , Northwood and several other SpecForce members set off for the planet Estrella. There Pointer and Logan go to the planet to destroy the drug production facility. The two conquer an outpost, Logan enters the factory, places the explosives and the two disappear again. That's the plan and everything works out fine - except for the disappearance. On the way back to the DropShip, they learn that Colonel Northwood is being attacked by LoreGen space fighters. The mother ship is destroyed and the two agents want to flee quickly with their shuttle, but that is blown up shortly before departure and the two are now stuck on the planet without any connection to the outside world.

In order to get to a spaceship again, they go to one of LoreGen's outposts, on the roof of which there is one. After they have penetrated, they contacted a member of a rebel organization and flees with the two agents on a floating motorcycle to a small rebel post in the forest. They can use support and take the soldiers with them to their camp. There they learn that there is someone in the region with absolute power, General Stanton. He is only subordinate to the LoreGen leadership and he is entitled to all means to achieve his goals. He has to be stopped and then disappear from the planet. In the middle of the conversation, they are attacked by a large number of rebels, who are however repulsed. They are sent to a communications facility not far from their position to destroy data stored there before they can fall into the hands of the enemy. After laying the explosives, they drive to a whiz waiting and are flown to the next mission.

Difficulty levels and missions

There are three different levels of difficulty in the game.

Missions in SpecForce no longer require as high a level of tactical skill as in Chrome. They are much more linear now, although the levels are still just as huge as in the previous one. But most of the time there is only one path the player can take, or someone is leading him and must not stray too far from the squad. The player no longer has to stalk and silently kill himself, as there are hardly any observation towers and no more sneaking missions. Nor do you have to choose the right equipment for the right mission at the beginning. You are given it now or you have to continue using the one from the last episode. In SpecForce, the story is only told in short text briefings, cut scenes are almost completely missing. In SpecForce there is again the mini-game "Hacking", comparable to Memory. Once again, the player has vehicles available that have also been more closely integrated into the game. You have to flee on speeders in order to detach a spaceship and you must not lose sight of your friends who are also fleeing; or you have to take two runners - supported by numerous foot soldiers - a heavily guarded area. There is only one boss opponent in SpecForce, the fight of which takes two episodes. The game consists of eleven missions.

Power suit

Since the implants were an important part of Chrome, a similar system was built into SpecForce. The power suit replaces the implants and has four functions. The suit enables camouflage, for example, and is powered by a rechargeable battery.

ChromEd

The ChromEd map editor is supplied in SpecForce without a tutorial. The tutorial is only included with Chrome (332 pages).

Web links and sources

Chrome SpecForce official website

Official website of the composer of the soundtrack