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Kaos On The Homefront

E3 impressions of THQ's big, cinematic shooter set on occupied American soil.

This aggression will not stand.
This aggression will not stand.
THQ-owned developer Kaos Studios has left behind the big multiplayer battlefields of its last game, Frontlines, to explore cinematic single-player action in its new shooter, Homefront. The game takes place 20 years from now in a time when North Korea has successfully invaded the United States--and you, of course, will play a part in the resistance against the occupation. THQ seems to be pushing the American setting as a major marketing point, which I'm guessing will push nationalistic buttons for a good number of players.

At any rate, the game is looking quite good, as these sorts of explosive action-movie shooters go. The demo consisted of some freedom fighters walking around a base camp somewhere in Colorado, talking about their plans before having to fight off a sudden attack by the Korean military. There were several moments of massive level destruction--parts of buildings getting blown apart and such--but Kaos reps were candid about the fact that these are scripted into the levels in specific places, not the result of a generalized destructible geometry system.

Homefront does have one interesting piece of tech that ought to be transparent to the average player, if it does its job correctly. Kaos calls it a "drama engine," and it's a system designed to keep the big set-piece action moments in the player's face at all times. The example they pointed out during the demo consisted of firing a rocket launcher at an incoming jeep, launching it into the air and making it skid by just feet from the player. The reps on hand commented that the drama engine would make sure things like that skidding jeep always missed the player by a narrow margin, to keep the tension high and the action exciting.

Actually, Homefront has one more claim to fame: it's story is being handled by John Milius, the guy who wrote and directed the Cold War-era homeland-invasion classic Red Dawn. That's surely a feather in Homefront's cap; if Milius can't pull off a good story about America being invaded by foreign powers, I doubt anyone can.
ponyslayeron June 6, 2009 at 12:16 a.m.
Wolverines!
Morden2261on June 6, 2009 at 1:38 a.m.
Avenge me, boys!  AVENNNNNNNNGE MEEEEEEEE!!!
Venatioon June 6, 2009 at 3:13 a.m.
Looks like it could be a cool game
Droppon June 6, 2009 at 5:22 a.m.
I really liked Frontlines: FOW. So i'm excited to see more of this game.
chickendoughnuton June 6, 2009 at 5:56 a.m.
I think the scenario of this game is completely shitaculous. It's so stupid it seems like fun
Meatsimon June 6, 2009 at 7:05 a.m.
Russia or China ok, but North Korea taking us over? come on.
KaosMitchon June 6, 2009 at 8:09 a.m.
Actually the game has multiplayer as well. We'll be releasing more information in the coming weeks/months.
Colonel_Furyon June 6, 2009 at 8:23 a.m.
If Charlie Sheen ends up doing voice work for this game, I'm calling shenanigans.
Weltalon June 6, 2009 at 8:24 a.m.
@ponyslayer said:
" Wolverines! "

jakob187on June 6, 2009 at 8:32 a.m.
The last time I played a game involving the occupation of America, it was Freedom Fighters, and that game was FUCKING AWESOME!

I can only imagine that this will be the same.  I really hope that they have some kind of multiplayer component to this.  Maps set in America would be fucking awesome!!!
ahoodedfigureon June 6, 2009 at 8:36 a.m.
@Meatsim: I had the same reaction on the first article for this.  Said they'd have trouble invading a salad bowl.

I'm just waiting for the game to have a part in the beginning where the NRA gets banned, which actually allows Korea the loophole to invade.  Oh!  We are so foolish!

He did the original Conan the Barbarian, though, so I can't bring myself to hate the guy.
killdaveon June 6, 2009 at 8:53 a.m.
Fallout prequel, awesome :p
Death_Unicornon June 6, 2009 at 9:16 a.m.
Interested.
Mrnitropbon June 6, 2009 at 9:51 a.m.
Brad said:
it's story is being handled by John Milius, the guy who wrote and directed the Cold War-era homeland-invasion classic Red Dawn.
Fucking sold.
TwoOneFiveon June 6, 2009 at 12:30 p.m.
he also wrote apocalypse now. that guy is a great writer. 
erik_wolffon June 6, 2009 at 12:43 p.m.
Now this is the way to remake/update a classic movie. 
HatKingon June 6, 2009 at 1:25 p.m.
@jakob187:
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who remembers the glory of Freedom Fighters.  I really hope this is as good...but I don't think it could be.
imayellowfellowon June 6, 2009 at 1:59 p.m.
why/how would we get invaded by north korea....
senraton June 6, 2009 at 3:26 p.m.
North Korea could never ever successfully invade the united states no matter when or where or how it happens. The story is going to be about as realistic as pink unicorns invading earth.
Kazonaon June 6, 2009 at 5:02 p.m.
Ok that last part about such a famed writer doing the story for this game totally sold me. 

Dig Deeper into Homefront

By the year 2027, the North Koreans have managed to unify Korea, annex Japan, and also invade the western half of the United States. As an American rebel fighter, it is your duty to help push the NPA out of the United States and end your people's suffering.

US Release Date: March 15, 2011

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