Metal Wolf Chaos

Metal Wolf Chaos

Japanese Xbox cover art
Developer(s) From Software
Publisher(s) Microsoft
Composer(s) Kota Hoshino
Platform(s) Xbox
Release date(s)
  • JP December 22, 2004
Genre(s) Third-person shooter
Mode(s) Single player

Metal Wolf Chaos (メタルウルフカオス Metaruurufukaosu) is a third-person shooter video game for the Microsoft Xbox that was released only in Japan. It was developed by From Software, who are responsible for Chromehounds and the Armored Core series of mecha games.

The game revolves around a fictitious President of the United States named Michael Wilson. Using a suit of powered armor named Metal Wolf, he battles forces who have taken over his country in a coup d'état, including his nemesis, Vice President Richard Hawk.

Although released exclusively in Japan, Metal Wolf Chaos has full English voice acting.

Plot

In the year 20XX, America has plunged into a state of civil and economic unrest, and several states attempt to secede from America to protect their own interests as a result, leading to a conflict known as the Arizona Insurrection. During that time, Richard Hawk and Michael Wilson fight and crush the Insurrection, paving the way for development of powerful military weapons.

Michael Wilson, a relative of Woodrow Wilson, soon becomes the President of the United States, drawing parallels to the real life presidency of George W. Bush at the time of the game's release.[1] Vice President Richard Hawk decides to usurp Wilson's presidency, shifting the armed forces' loyalty to him and attacking Wilson with their support. Hawk begins a reign of terror and makes numerous detrimental actions as president, from re-instituting slavery to committing outright atrocities.

However, Wilson escapes from the White House in his powered armor, and after reaching Air Force One, flies to the west coast of the United States. He then begins to take America back by liberating cities and outposts, traveling from west to east across the country and facing many of his former comrades from the Insurrection, all of whom have defected to Hawk's side. The conflict comes to a head when Hawk threatens collective punishment on everyone in the United States still sympathetic to Wilson's cause, including Wilson's aide Jodie. However, Wilson refuses to let another trusted comrade of his die, and saves her before returning to the Capitol.

When Wilson returns to the White House, Hawk is not there. Wilson discovers that he is in Las Vegas and goes there to fight his usurper, but Hawk escapes in a rocket and goes to a space station. Wilson and Hawk battle in space, with Wilson ultimately defeating Hawk and saving the United States of America from nuclear destruction.

Demo

The Official Xbox Magazine's Holiday 2004 issue's game disc (issue #39) has a hidden demo of the game. Weapons in the game demo include a cluster missile launcher, a dumb-fire rocket launcher, an M134, a SPAS-12 shotgun (double-size), and an M79 grenade launcher (also double-size). The powered armour that the President uses contains all of these weapons in shoulder pods.

Reception

Despite not receiving a Western release, Metal Wolf Chaos gained cult status after a series of YouTube videos depicting the game's voice acting and plot were released. The game was one of the fastest to gain collecting value — in 2012 (only 8 years after release) its average value on Ebay ranged from $150 to $170.[2]

1UP.com named it one of the "most insanely patriotic video games ever",[3] and thought that the premise was "perfect for a mech game and dinnertime conversation".[1] Michael Wilson is ranked first in Electronic Gaming Monthly’s list of the top ten video game politicians.[4]

In Japan, "Used Games" magazine (now defunct) wrote a rave review about the game's over the top plot and depictions, giving it the title of "Natural Born Dumb Game".

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ryan Payton (2005-01-19). "Metal Wolf Chaos Review from 1UP.com". Retrieved 2010-02-15.
  2. ↑ Static link (26 Jun 2012 23:02 ).
  3. ↑ Sharkey, Scott. "Top 5 Insanely Patriotic Videogames". 1up.
  4. ↑ Scott Sharkey, “EGM’s Top Ten Videogame Politicians: Election time puts us in a voting mood,” Electronic Gaming Monthly 234 (November 2008): 97.

External links