TANKBOX
TANKBOX is a top-down perspective arcade shooter with a simple concept. The player controls a tank with the objective of defeating all other opposing tanks in each level. There are several different types of enemy tanks and a handful of obstacles to encounter. The player must avoid being shot by an enemy tank, as well as watch out for bullets that bounce off of walls - including their own. Playing co-op with a friend doubles the trouble of friendly fire. The game is straightforward, which is not in itself a bad thing. Unfortunately, TANKBOX falls short in several areas.
In spite of all the obstacles and enemy variations, TANKBOX quickly becomes repetitive. There is not quite enough change between levels for them to feel unique, which is made worse by the sluggish movement of the player tank. The opponents also seem to fall flat, with none of them seeming like much of a threat at all. The biggest concern for the player is their own ricocheting bullets rather than their enemies. Boss tanks, or even quicker movement speed, could really go a long way to increasing the challenge and making the player strive harder to succeed.
Quite possibly the worst offender of tedium in the game is its single, looping music track. The first time you hear it, it seems almost fitting, if not a bit childish. However, the high-pitch melody soon begins to grate on one’s nerves level after level. There have been many games that subsist on their minimal or even non-existent soundtrack, but it is the ever present jarring quality of TANKBOX’s lone melody that really makes it hard to look past.
Playing through the game with a friend at least breaks up the monotony some, however, in our experience there was no indication that co-op progress is ever saved. Each time we opened the game, we were back at level one with no option to load a previous run. Because singleplayer progress saves, it is unclear whether this is intentional or a bug that has yet to be ironed out.
While these caveats can put a damper on the action, it is plain to see that TANKBOX was lovingly crafted. The main menu and overall design are innovative, charming, and - for the most part - visually appealing (the brown background of the “tank box” could be enhanced to change things up a bit), which shows a wealth of potential. Unfortunately, in its current state we cannot recommend TANKBOX, especially at its steep price point. However, there is still promise for this game. A bit of polish and some extra work could really make this game shine.
