| Home : November 28 2012 Computer News : Review: World of Tanks has good graphics, just enough physics |
|
Review: World of Tanks has good graphics, just enough physics |
November 28, 2012
World of Tanks is quite a bit more "tanks" than "world," which I mean as criticism of the marketing, not the gameplay. It is a "lobby" game, where you queue for battles, and are dumped into a random map alongside random players to blow each other up. Battles are short (generally 5-10 minutes), visually appealing, and require a mix of tactics, situational awareness, player skill, reflexes, and teamwork.
Each player controls a tank, hence the name, and there are a lot of tanks: 10 tiers, several nationalities, and multiple size categories (light, medium, heavy, and so on). You begin, of course, with very weak "Tier 1" tanks, and as you gain experience and money, you upgrade to progressively higher tiers. You can own multiple tanks, but you pilot only one at a time in battle.
World of Tanks bills itself as an MMORPG, but it really isn't, and if you want "EVE Online, but you're a tank instead of a spaceship," that's not what this is. Some elements may seem familiar: You gain experience with lower-tier tanks, which you then spend to upgrade your tank with better weapons and gear, and also to unlock the next highest tier. The crew of your tank has a set of skills which can improve over time. You can equip consumable gear to repair damage or restore an injured crewmember to health.
This peaceful city street will soon be filled with burning wreckage in World of Tanks.
Quibbles over categories aside, is it fun? Yes. It's very easy to get into and start playing; the game design places playability and balance over strict historical accuracy. There's a simple WASD control scheme for moving, with the turret aimed via mouse motion, and a few number-key commands to swap ammunition types or use a repair kit. World of Tanks does not ignore basic physics or tank performance limitations; the physics engine does an excellent job of conveying a real sense of bulk and mass. In a reversal of a common trope in other games, small ground elements (fences, trees, parked cars) are trivially run over and crushed, while even relatively slight inclines can stymie your vehicle, forcing you to take an alternate route.
To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Link: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2017208/review-world-of-tanks-has-good-graphics-just-enough-physics.html
|
|
|
|
|
