Howler

Howler
Distinctions	Body resembles to a canine.
Primary Attack	Claws, bite.
Games featured	Resistance: Fall of Man

Howlers are a strain of large quadrupedal Chimera that exclusively appears in Resistance: Fall of Man.

Description

Howlers are large quadrupeds, and are presumed to have been created from ordinary animals that had been infected by the Chimeran virus or had been purposefully bred like the Widowmaker. Howlers make rudimentary vocalizations to communicate in which their howls can be heard for miles and have a chilling effect on people. They have a hard leathery hide which can shrug off light-arm weapons. As a result, the British Army issued combat shotguns to deal with Howlers.

The Howler's eyes are noticeably different from that of ordinary strains of the Chimeran virus. Their eyes are orange or red in color, rather than the bright yellow found in other strains. Also, the pupils are horizontal and figure-eight shaped, instead of the vertical slits present in Hybrids and other common strains.

Resistance: Fall of Man

First encountered in Manchester, the first Howler is seen guarding the entrance to the Cathedral, attacking Nathan Hale and the remaining British troops. The Howler is eventually eliminated as the squad enters the Cathedral. Shortly after an ambush by hoards of Leapers and Steelheads that kills off the British troops, another Howler attempts to ambush Hale before being quickly eliminated.

Howlers further sporadically appeared in Bristol and Somerset, where they are seen attacking Northern Command and Southern Command.

Resistance: The Gathering Storm

In The Gathering Storm Howlers appears in the Chimeran invasion of America in late 1951, serving as scouting units much like regular military dogs. Also, the book introduces a Howler named "Ralf" which had somehow broken free from the Chimeran hive mind and was tamed by a woman named Spook.

Strategies

• The Howler isn't particularly fast, but they usually charge straight for the player. The Howler's thick leathery hide allows it to survive light-arms fire. However, weapons such as the Rossmore 236 are known to be very effective in killing these creatures. On lower difficulties and if the player has the ammunition to spare, any weapon will do against the Howler, at a distance.
• On normal difficulty, killing a Howler requires about 40 rounds of Bullseye fire, or roughly an entire 50 round magazine of M5A2 Folsom Carbine fire.
• The Bullseye's secondary fire is very useful against Howlers; after tagging them with a target dart, you can circle strafe around them while firing at them without worrying about aiming precisely at them. However, since they mindlessly charge at their victims, it is also a workable strategy to simply spray and pray with this weapon.
• If the player kills a Howler using a grenade, they will be rewarded with the "Fetch" skill point.
• On a higher difficulty the player may have some trouble trying to take down a Howler using the Rossmore 236. Try using a combination of the Rossmore 236 and the Bullseye's secondary fire, while running about firing. If the beast gets to close, whip out the Rossmore and shoot at its head. Using the M5A2 Carbine's grenade launcher is also more effective against the Howler.
• Grenades can help to soften up these beasts before using guns on higher difficulties.

Intel

“	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.	”

Gallery

Howler Intel.

Howler concept art.

Skinned Howler render.

A player looking at a dead Howler.