The Jolly Gamesman and His Many Toys
Vector Tanks EXTREME! for the iPhone & iPod Touch
Taking heavy inspiration from the 1980s arcade game Battlezone, BlipTime Studio’s Vector Tanks EXTREME! brings the retro 3D battlefield into the palm of your hands.
Your goal is to survive as long as possible in the wireframe battlefield, as wave after wave of drones, tanks and helicopters shoot it out for virtual dominance.
The controls can take a few rounds to get the hang of. On the left and right of the screen are two green squares for your thumbs. Sliding both thumbs forward or back will drive your tank forward and back. Sliding just one thumb forward or back will cause your tank to turn left or right, while still moving in a forwards or backwards motion. To fire your weapon, simply tap the middle of the screen while a target is in sight.
Each time you spawn from a death or are just starting a round, you will only be equipped with a basic one shot canon. As you destroy a few tanks, your arsenal will upgrade to more powerful weapons such as a rail gun, heat seeking missiles or even a nuke. Although the game is presented in a visual style harkening back to the infant years of 3D, the sound and small visual cues really immerse you into this title.
On the provided mini-map, you can see and dodge incoming enemy fire, weave in and out of land-based obstacles, and watch as your screen reacts to the aftershock of exploding enemies all around you. Anyone in love with the art style of Geometry Wars Retro Evolved will feel at home with this title.
While Vector Tanks may not have a story to follow along with, it doesn’t mean you are in the battlefield alone. Players should recognize the raspy quips of Jon St. John, a.k.a Duke Nukem, as the wise-cracking side kick.
The only thing lacking from this game is any multi-players support. Rumor on the street says that an up-coming point release will add co-op multiplayer, which will be a fantastic addition to an already amazing game.
A round of Vector Tanks lasts only a few minutes at most, but it does a great job of easing you in without being overwhelmingly difficult. At first, I was only lasting a minute or less per life, but as I got a handle on the controls and the mapping system, I can now get a good solid five minute game in. For the last week, Vector Tanks has held a coveted spot on the first page of my iPhone, and it doesn’t look like it will be moving any time soon.
~The Fine Print~
$1.99
