Tank Universal
- August 20, 2008
- Dialogue Design
Get on Steam"Tank Universal" is a first-person perspective tank battle game set in a large virtual world, featuring 20 intense levels and the ability to upgrade weapons and tank equipment. Some missions require exploration on foot, and players can fight alongside allies against intelligent enemies with spectacular visuals and particle effects. Wide-open levels allow for varied strategies in battles involving numerous units.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game captures the nostalgic Tron aesthetic and offers fun tank combat mechanics.
- Despite its age, the gameplay remains engaging and provides a unique experience reminiscent of classic arcade games.
- Many players appreciate the indie charm and the effort of a single developer, finding it a hidden gem worth exploring.
- The pacing is often slow, with long travel times and drawn-out cutscenes that can detract from the overall experience.
- Graphics and audio quality are dated, leading to a less immersive experience compared to modern games.
- The story is considered weak and generic, with poorly written dialogue and a lack of depth in character development.
- story87 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story of the game is described as a mix of intriguing and confusing elements, often drawing comparisons to the aesthetic and themes of "Tron." While some players appreciate its ambition and unique mission design, many criticize it for being slow-paced, predictable, and lacking depth, with a plot that feels tacked on and characters that fail to engage. Overall, the narrative offers moments of interest but is marred by jarring tone shifts and a lack of coherence, leaving players divided on its effectiveness.
“The story in this first version takes itself less seriously as well, yet it has some moments of impact or interest.”
“And the story is rather slow at first because the game breaks down its story into sections where you're not told the entire story until you progress through the game, which very much reminds me of how some novels work out; if anything, the story plays out as a first-person perspective novel.”
“While the intro is a bit slow, this game actually has a surprisingly good plot and atmosphere.”
“The story is stilted and in the way; the graphics are bad even by Tron standards, and the music got on my nerves in a hurry.”
“There are only a few characters defined with names, such as the commander of the resistance whose orders you will follow, but there is nothing that will make you attached to his story or the cause you're fighting for, making the entire story feel pointless and boring nonetheless as you will spend most of your time moving from point A to point B without any given purpose.”
“Even though the premise is kind of weird and intriguing in its own way, this first chapter of who knows how many falls short from a story perspective, as we've seen numerous dictators vs resistance stories before, and this one has nothing new to offer.”
- graphics58 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated but possess a unique charm, heavily inspired by the aesthetic of the Tron franchise. While some players appreciate the retro, simplistic design and its nostalgic appeal, others criticize the visuals for being sloppy and lacking detail, with a low frame rate that detracts from the experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as a mixed bag, appealing to fans of 80s sci-fi aesthetics while falling short of modern standards.
“The graphics are still pretty good even for this game's old age.”
“Awesome art style and very tron-esque.”
“The artwork and level design is just fantastic.”
“The graphics are really sloppy and full of obvious errors.”
“The story is very bad, the graphics sucked for me and the action was boring (except when you have the key and the music comes on).”
“Game sucks and even at .50 cents still sucks.. slow moving graphics mess it up... could have done a better job myself on the game.. seriously.. typical polygon graphics.”
- gameplay34 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mix of retro-style tank combat with upgrade mechanics, offering a complex and engaging experience for fans of the genre, though some find it slow-paced and repetitive. While controls are easy to learn and the graphics are appealing, opinions vary widely; some players enjoy the nostalgic Tron-inspired elements, while others criticize the gameplay as dull and uninspired. Overall, the game seems to cater primarily to tank game enthusiasts, with mixed reviews on its execution and depth.
“The overall gameplay is complex and fun, and the world is very interesting in design.”
“It may not be the most graphically advanced game, but the gameplay is fantastic.”
“The gameplay is awesome, the graphics and sound are classic and can never get old and the story is intriguing and makes you want to keep on fighting and help the rebels win the war.”
“Tron-like, I played the first 15 minutes without any gameplay whatsoever.”
“Unfortunately, the gameplay is very underwhelming, and you would get a better kick out of a game like World of Tanks instead, and that game is free, mind you.”
“The gameplay itself is even dull, as you have to wait a damn eon-and-a-half to fire your weapons.”
- music11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives high praise for its energetic and thematic composition, enhancing the overall experience and fitting well with the game's atmosphere. While some players found the music repetitive or annoying, many appreciated its quality and how it elevates gameplay, particularly during action sequences. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing positively to the game's appeal.
“The sounds/music are very very close to Tron, and the visuals are 100% spot-on (they even replicate the irregular 'flashing' of the poor rotoscoping in the movie by pulsing the brightness... so ingenious).”
“Great game, awesome gameplay, graphics, and music.”
“The music is great and kicks in a beat when the action revs up...”
“The story is stilted and in the way, the graphics are bad even by Tron standards, and the music got on my nerves in a hurry.”
“The story is very bad, the graphics sucked for me and the action was boring (except when you have the key and the music comes on).”
“The primitive yet somehow futuristic style of computer-generated music.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players note that the game's replayability is quite limited, primarily due to the lack of tank selection and the absence of multiplayer options. While the game is enjoyable and recommended, these factors hinder the overall challenge and variety in replaying missions.
“I really wish you could choose what tank you drive in this, because then there would not only be more replay value, but more of a challenge for some missions.”
“Overall, I really like this game and definitely recommend it, but know that replayability is extremely limited and there is no multiplayer.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely perceived as lacking, with many players finding it unfunny and the cut scenes overly lengthy. However, there are moments that some describe as "almost funny," suggesting a potential for humor that doesn't fully materialize.
“Aside from that, though... it's almost funny.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is characterized as janky and buggy, leading to an awkward experience; however, players still find enjoyment despite these issues.
“It is janky, somewhat awkward, and buggy, but I have had genuine fun!”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its surprising depth and engaging plot, despite a slow start in the introduction.
“While the intro is a bit slow, this game actually has a surprisingly good plot and atmosphere.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with grinding due to tedious and unnecessary travel sequences through static environments, which often lack interaction and can feel monotonous.
“Do my eyes roll back into my head during tedious, unnecessary travel sequences through static environments with no interaction?”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I find myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which really drains the fun out of the experience.”
