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| Home | Features | DMA® Info | About | Vol 28 Issue 5 October 2003 |
Game Review ‑ Pocket Tanks Deluxeby Dan Woodward, Regular Columnist Every computer system has probably had some form of artillery game, from the Atari all the way up to the PowerPC. I remember playing something called 'Scorched Earth' back in 1990 on my DOS 386 machine. Players usually take on the role of a tank and take turns lobbing various types of ordinance back and forth. Whoever does the most points of damage wins the game. Today, one of the best examples of this 'blast from the past' is Pocket Tanks Deluxe from Blitwise Software. The game's interface is so intuitive that no manual is needed. When loading the game, players first choose from I player, 2 player or Target Practice. Next, they choose the color of their tank, and the 'intelligence' of the computer opponent (if playing I player), which ranges from I to 10. The weapon shop then displays, allowing players to select their weapons of choice. Since there are 10 different rounds in each game, each player can select 10 weapons total, from the 20 that are displayed. To keep any one player from having an obvious advantage, each takes a turn selecting their favorite weapons so no one really gets an advantage there. A 'random' button exists for those who essentially want to skip the weapon selection process, and just get to the action. Once these selections have been made, the actual game begins.
This game has a lot going for it. The system requirements are low, so it can be installed and played on just about any computer system that was manufactured in the past 5 years. It also has excellent replay value (which is very important when the typical game lasts less than 5 minutes). Often when I thought I would play only one game, I found myself saying "just one more..." over and over, until I had played 10 games or more. This is the type of game that is excellent when you just have a few minutes over lunch break, or can also do a fine job of filling in for half an hour. The variety of weapons is really what makes this a fun game, and also has a hint of strategy. Yes, there is a bit more involved than just blasting your opponent in Pocket Tanks Deluxe. Combinations can be found in some of the weapons that are offered. Take the dirtball and the worm, for instance. The dirtball lobs an exploding ball of dirt that covers your opponent. Once you have done this, most of your opponent's weapons will explode and cause him damage when he tries to shoot you during his next turn. If he doesn't succeed in blowing away the entire covering, you can follow up with a worm ‑ a ground‑penetrating missile. Another combo would be napalm and pile driver. Napalm unleashes a torrent of flame, while pile driver blasts a vertical section of ground out from underneath the detonation. Normally, napalm gives an intermediate amount of damage, but if the fire is focused into a small area, it can be devastating. Pile driver can allow a player to 'trap' an enemy tank where it can't move, then deliver a focused flame attack. Since there are 120 weapons in the registered version, you can imagine how many different combinations there are. Summary: For $16, Pocket Tanks Deluxe is one of the best shareware values that I've encountered in some time. With almost endless replayability and an excellent weapon variety, it is likely to be one of the rare software titles users revisit for years. Rating: 8.5 out of 10 Requirements: 150 MHz CPU, 32 MB RAM, Windows 95+ Reviewed: P4 1.4GHz, 128 MB RAM, 32 MB Video, 40x CD, Win ME, DirectX 8 Best Price: download shareware version or register for $16 at www.blitwise.com Demo: www.blitwise.com/ptanks.html |
As
mentioned earlier, Pocket Tanks Deluxe is turn‑based, not real‑time.
As such, you have plenty of time to look at the angles and distances
involved. Tanks can also move horizontally up to 4 times per game. The
simplicity involved is refreshing after trying some games that make
game players spend about as much time looking through the manual as
they get to spend playing the game. A typical game lasts about 3 to
5 minutes. Dan
Woodard: At the tender age of 9, Dan got his start enjoying computer games
on his TI-99/4a home computer, and he's been at it ever since. He graduated
in 1996 with a B.S. in Environmental Studies. Dan has been a DMAŽ member
for about 9 years now, and enjoys playing Othello, other strategy and role
playing games, backpacking, fishing and gardening. He also dabbles in computer
repair and upgrades, & is currently studying for his Network+ certification..
Dan is a regular software reviewer in The DataBus. - dgw (at) dmapub.dma.org |
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