Pocket Tanks Deluxe

Some games are so iconic that even though we can't name the developer, or even the platforms it was available on, we all have played them. Many of these games are simple but with really solid gameplay, and the one we're talking about today is one of those games. Originally released only for Windows and macOS X, and later released on several other platforms, Pocket Tanks Deluxe is a game that even if you don't remember it, chances are you've played it. Also, even though nowadays it is available as shareware, it was first developed by Michael P. Welch from Blitwise Productions. But what is this game all about? Is it any good? Well, let's talk about it!

About the game

The game's object is to attack and destroy another player's tank, using over 320 different weapons. Depending on the proximity and the weapon used, a certain number of points is awarded. At the end of 10 downloads, the player with the highest score wins.

The game features a fully destructible environment, allowing the player to place himself on pedestals, tunnels, or bunkers. This gives Pocket Tanks the status of a strategic game. The different levels are procedurally generated. Hence, mountains, valleys, and canyons are created on the fly. No two games are alike.

Pocket Tanks Deluxe also includes several extra weapon packs that give the player an expanded arsenal. Like the vast majority of the weapons available in the game, virtually none of these new weapons are based on real tank weaponry.

It features a shooting practice mode, which aims to learn all the weapons and the best tactics to win. It also has a Weapon Shop, very useful before starting the battle. Some weapons have more strength than others, while some are more suitable for stealth or other battle strategies. Pocket Tanks allows you to play against the computer in ten levels of difficulty; against another person; via hot-seat or on a local area network.

A bit too similar?

This is a pretty simple yet fun gaming experience, but it might just be incredibly similar to a game that grew much bigger and more popular. We're talking about the Worms franchise, these games have pretty much the same core gameplay, but as it expanded the visuals improved a lot, and added the possibilities for more players to join a single match and even custom maps. Overall it feels like a much more developed version of the same core mechanics, but we love them both the way they are.

Pros:

• Simple yet addictive gameplay
• Lots of weapons
• Decent graphics

Cons:

• No more than two-player multiplayer
• Could be too similar to Worms