The title of this section is a little bit redundant as it leaves the impression that you might run across some Chimeran Friendlies. You aren't going to, unless you count Sgt. Hale and the extent of his infection is questionable, at best. The descriptions of each Chimeran given below are taken from the in-game documents menu, with comments thrown in here and there by me. My additional comments will be italicized to differentiate them from the statements drawn from the game.
Hybrid-
Hybrids are the foot soldiers of the Chimeran army. They are a savage enemy, but also keen and tenacious. Hybrids quickly learn the methods of their adversaries. They already display expertise in British Army tactics. Beyond their adaptive nature, the most obvious attribute of the Hybrids is their sheer numbers. Hybrids have overwhelmed humans on every battlefield since the Chimeran invasion first reached Britain.
This is the thorn in your side from the first 10 seconds of the game right on through to the ending credits. You'll become conditioned to look for those lights on the cooling units on their backs everywhere you go. As with all Chimeran creatures, they're butt-ugly.
Crawler-
Crawlers are small beetle-like creatures used to spread the Chimeran infection. Though capable of limited flight, they are most often delivered by Spire missiles. Upon finding victims, Crawlers penetrate their bodies, usually through the mouth and nose. They inject the Chimeran virus and quickly expire. The infected host falls into a coma as the virus begins the inexorable conversion of the host into a Chimeran creature.
You will never face this creature outside of a cut scene . . .but they do make for some cool cut scenes.
Leaper-
Crawlers which fail to infect a host will eventually evolve into Leapers. They first seek out sustenance, such as human or animal corpses. Once they have gorged themselves, they develop a protective pupae, a Leaper Pod. They spawn from their pods upon maturation. The voratious young Leapers attack opponents with teeth and claws. They should be dealt with at range whenever possible. Easily handled individually, Leapers are lethal in large numbers.
The part about "dealing with them at range whenever possible" makes me laugh because I can't think of a single enemy I prefer to deal with up close. The description also fails to mention that an oncoming Leaper ambush is prefixed by ear piercing screams that will not fail to make your skin crawl.
Menial-
Unlike other Chimera intended for combat, the Menial strain is bred to be a tool for basic labor. Menials will generally ignore other Chimera as they mindlessly handle their duties. Seldom encountered in combat, they are unarmed and appear sluggish and non-aggressive. However, like all Chimera, Menials are unpredictable. They should be considered dangerous, especially when cornered.
With the possible exception that these guys can be sneaky as hell, they will quickly become a joke for you. Walking around like an old man looking for his walker, you'll most often see them coming a mile away. If by some chance, one manages to get a hold of you, try to shake him off quickly while trying not to laugh at his crazed face shaking in front of you.
Cocoon-
Once delivered to conversion centers, Chimera infection victims are enveloped in cocoons. Within each cocoon, a human body is broken down and recombined into a strain of Chimera. It is theorized that multiple human bodies are required for the larger strains. External measures must be taken to keep the cocoons from overheating. This outside intervention suggests the conversion process is not being performed in ideal circumstances. It is unknown if there is a more natural way for the Chimera to reproduce.
Another "non-enemy", the cocoon is encountered throughout the game as nothing more than an aesthetic prop.
Carrier-
Carriers collect infected humans from the battlefield after a Crawler attack. They ferry their catch to the nearest conversion center. As those infected bodies are also the Carrier's food source, not all of them survive to be converted. Early in the Chimeran invasion of Britain, Carriers formed caravans hundreds of miles long. It is unknown if the Carriers have found a new role now that fewer victims are available for conversion.
Once again, this is a non-combatant that provides a lovely addition to the British horizon.
Howler-
Howlers are a large quadruped strain of Chimera. Their rudimentary vocalizations are believed to provide the beasts with some level of communication. Their calls can be heard for miles and have a chilling effect on those familiar with the source. Howlers have a leathery hide that shrugs off most light-arms fire. Combat shotguns at close range have proven highly effective.
The most bad-ass dog you'll ever see, make sure you have the Rossmore shotgun loaded when you know this guy is coming. A couple of double shots from the Rossmore will have him belly up in no time.
Steelhead-
Clever, calculating, and extremely powerful, Steelheads are a superior variant of the Hybrid strain. Their heavy armor is usually seen at the forefront of battle as they lead Hybrids and Hardfangs into combat. They willingly endure any punishment to advance the Chimeran invasion. Steelheads wield the Auger rifle, a weapon which tunnels through walls, making their relentless attacks virtually unstoppable.
You'll learn to hate these in a hurry. Having that Auger that shoots through any cover you can manage to find makes them a real headache, especially when you encounter more than 1. Fortunately for you, right after your first meeting with them, you will get an Auger as well.
Titan-
The Titan strain represents the limit of Chimeran evolution of the human form. They are massively strong and wield weapons more commonly found on vehicles, such as Stalker heavy siege pods. Titans aren't known to wear any form of body armor. Their calloused hides are sufficiently thick to protect them in the fiercest firefights. While they have no known weaknesses, attacks to their head are believed most effective.
Attacks to the head, my butt! Good luck with that! Stick a Bullseye tag on the "Abominable Snowman" and lay into him with a couple clips of ammo. He'll overheat and "melt" after about 150 Bullseye rounds. Keep moving and don't play with that cannon he's carrying.
Slipskull-
Slipskulls are cunning opportunists who prefer to take pot-shots and make blind-siding attacks rather than face their opponents. With their speed and stealth they excel as scouts and ambushers. the discovery of a Slipskull requires immediate engagement to prevent them from summoning Chimeran reinforcements. Explosives are the recommended response. Hybrid Bullseye rifles and the Slipskull's own Reaper carbines are also suitable.
Explosives are a joke. If you can manage to hit one of these spastic little freaks with a grenade, you've got my respect. The only thing you've got going for you with Slipskulls is that they have a predictable pattern as they bounce around the walls, so you can pick a spot that one of them keeps jumping to and just wait with the Bullseye homed in to that spot. When the Slipskull returns to that spot, nail him with a tag and blast away.
Leaper Pod-
Leapers are spawned from membranous sacs known as Leaper Pods. It is believed these pods are deposited by other Chimeran strains, possibly Widowmakers. Spawning is triggered by local vibrations. The pods function as living mines. Caution should be observed in Chimeran-held territory as the early detection of Leaper Pods has the potential to save lives. Explosives such as grenades and rockets can destroy the pods before they release the Leapers within.
What they don't mention here is that these pods tend to appear in clusters. While each pod only contains 3 or 4 leapers, a cluster can be anywhere from 3 pods to a tunnel with 20 or more pods. The Sapper is a fun weapon to use to help get these out of the way. Lay down a trap on the ground between you and the pods and then trigger their release. Watch them run at you and blast themselves on the way.
Gray Jack-
Gray Jacks are decrepit Hybrids which have nearly outgrown their bodies. As they approach death, their cooling units are over-taxed and their rampant metabolism steadily cooks them from the inside-out. The resulting necrosis gives Gray Jacks an odor of decaying flesh. Though unarmed and seemingly frail, the long reach of their wicked claws can be deadly. The wounds they cause are very difficult to clean and often fatal.
The PS3, while being one powerful game console, never once allowed me to smell a Gray Jack. These gangly creatures go down fairly easy with light weapons fire, but as the long reach of their arms is deadly, the long reach of their legs gets them from one place to another in a blink of an eye. Their danger lies even more so in their ground speed.
Hardfang-
Hardfangs are similar to Hybrids, but tougher and crueler. Their conversion process has been skewed to heighten their aggressiveness and eliminate all self-preservation instinct. They rush deep into the fray to use the Arc Charger weapon where it can strike the most targets. Royal Marine Commandos often use a designated marksman to dispatch Hardfangs before they can get close enough to be a threat.
This guy never shows up alone, but he most certainly takes precedence when deciding who to eliminate first. That Arc Charger can leave a pretty impressive mark on you.
Roller-
Rollers are adult Leapers which have developed a faster, trundling locomotion. As they near the end of their life-cycle, internal decomposition results in venting of a corrosive spray. Rollers use this as an opening attack, blinding their prey before closing in to strike with claws and teeth. When attacking in swarms, Rollers have been known to wipe out sizable troop deployments in a matter of seconds.
Just like Leapers, only faster and cuter.
Widowmaker-
The appearance of a Widowmaker on the battlefield requires immediate engagement by all soldiers. Widowmakers attack with their barbed fore-talons or by spewing explosive globules. In addition to causing tremendous casualties, Widowmakers have a rallying effect on other Chimeran strains. They have been known to irreversibly turn the tide of battle. Attacks with high-explosives or vehicle-mounted weapons should focus on the creature's face or body.
Funny, because her face and body are pretty much a single entity. She's a tough one, so the bigger the gun, the better.
Advanced Hybrid-
Advanced Hybrids are the fanatical defenders of the Chimeran Towers. Every aspect of their physiology had been tuned to grant them extreme levels of performance. They must be outfitted with specialized cooling units to ensure their core body temperature doesn't climb uncontrollably during the heat of combat. Incredibly tough, Advanced Hybrids are capable of tearing apart any intruders they encounter.
These are pretty much just Hybrids with a thicker skin, bigger attitude and a better gun. The part that makes them Advanced is that they had a better Grade Point Average than regular Hybrids.
Angel-
Angels have only recently been confirmed. They are believed to be the most advanced Chimeran strain currently operating in Britain. Angels are usually found near Chimeran strongholds, though there have been some battlefield sightings. Initial observations indicate Angels exert a command influence over other Chimeran strains. The extent of this connection is unclear. As leadership units, Angels don't directly participate in combat. The extent of their offensive capabilities is not known.
I don't know what they were smoking when they decided to tell us that Angels don't directly participate in combat. These big mommas toss out stuff that erupt into a green gas that you don't want to be standing in. It takes some mighty big guns to bring them down |
