Battle Tanks is the type of game that is going to get overlooked by almost everyone out there in this crowded retail release schedule and, for the most part, rightly so. The game doesn't do enough to make you put down your newly purchased AAA titles.
Once you boot up Battle Tanks, the first play mode, entitled "Battle", allows you to play on any one of the 50 levels from the campaign mode. Some of these stages are extremely short so it is nowhere near the same amount of content you get in the 50 levels of 'Splosion Man, for example. It is refreshing to see that everything is unlocked from the start, but you will probably be overwhelmed with the amount of levels to choose from.
That's why your best bet is to start playing the campaign, which can be played with up to two players. Going through the same levels as battle mode, with absolutely no narrative, you control a tank from an overhead perspective. Your objective is simple: kill the enemy tanks as quickly as possible.
Battle Tanks' control system works well after you get the hang of it but is not intuitive from the start. You move with the left stick and shoot with the right but controlling your shot it is not easy and movement feels sluggish. Even though tanks are not generally known for their speed, developer Gameloft could have sped up movement just a bit to make it easier to get out of the way from bullets flying at you from every angle.
A lot of this game evolves dodging enemy attacks. Get hit once and you're dead. This difficult life system will have you starting over more times than you would wish.
Gameplay changes up slightly with a few different weapons and powerups (like speed boost) but nothing that truly makes a difference.
The tanks are customizable, but you can only choose from premade options. There are four models of World War II tanks to pick from, with seven camouflage skin options for each.
Online play, like with so many downloadable games, is pretty much only playable if you have friends who own this game. That's because finding a random PSN match will take a very long time. If you do find a game, your options are standard: Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag.
Battle Tanks' presentation is one of the game's strong suits. The stylized cartoony graphics work well and the menus have an overall sense of polish to them.
Battle Tanks provides a competent downloadable gaming experience. However, with a lack of depth and not enough modes, playing Battle Tanks often becomes tediuous rather than fun.
Pros: Graphics and presentation shine, nothing inherently wrong with the game
Cons: Controls aren't great, could use a few more modes, gameplay isn't much fun
GamePro Score: 3.5
The Info – Developer/Publisher: Gameloft, ESRB: E10+, Players: 1-4, Price: $9.99
