War of the Human Tanks: Alter

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 53 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
War of the Human Tanks: Alter Game Cover
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In "War of the Human Tanks: Alter," players command a group of anthropomorphic tanks in a turn-based strategy game. The story follows a newly appointed commander in a war between two factions, as they fight to gain control of new territories. Players must utilize strategic planning, resource management, and the unique abilities of their tanks to achieve victory. This game is a spin-off of the original "War of the Human Tanks" and features new characters and storylines.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 53 reviews
story11 positive mentions
graphics3 negative mentions
  • The game has successfully brought players closer together, providing a fun way for families to bond over gameplay.
  • ALTeR expands on the original with new tank types and a lengthy Great Cavern campaign, adding depth and strategy to the gameplay.
  • The combination of visual novel storytelling and strategic gameplay is engaging, with a good soundtrack and humorous moments throughout.
  • The main campaign is shorter and less branching than the first game, which may disappoint fans of the original's story structure.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, like control tanks disabling modules, can lead to frustrating difficulty spikes, especially in the Great Cavern.
  • The game may feel repetitive at times, particularly during the grinding required to progress through the cavern levels.
  • story75 mentions

    The story in "War of the Human Tanks: Alter" is a continuation of the first game, featuring a more linear narrative with a single definitive path, contrasting with the branching paths of its predecessor. While the main campaign is shorter and less complex, the game compensates with the extensive "Great Cavern" side story, which offers a wealth of missions and character development, making it a significant part of the overall experience. Despite some critiques regarding the main story's depth and antagonist development, the humor and engaging character interactions maintain a captivating narrative throughout.

    • “The story has many tests on it: humor, sadness, drama, etc. It'll show how each character feels about the war and how to deal with it.”
    • “It's clever that Fruitbat decided to incorporate the main storyline as the 'side' story in the form of the long Great Cavern campaign, because it allows the first game's story to connect more smoothly to this one.”
    • “While the main story isn't as long and multi-pathed as the first one, this is made up by the addition of the Great Caverns, a 'side' story, which is actually about 7-8 times as long as the main one, going up (or rather, down) to floor 101.”
    • “While the first game had a very robust story mode with branching paths, Alter instead contains a number of more linear story modes.”
    • “The main story may look a lot smaller, but that's because it's simply a teaser for the real meat of the game: the cavern.”
    • “There are two side notes that should also be understood: first, the branching story/multiple endings that the first game had is gone; the story is now one definitive story.”
  • gameplay27 mentions

    The gameplay in this sequel retains the core mechanics of its predecessor while introducing new tank types and strategic elements that enhance depth and challenge. Players appreciate the engaging story and the addition of command tanks, which alter combat dynamics, though some express a desire for quality-of-life improvements. Overall, the gameplay is described as straightforward yet tense, with a mix of familiar and fresh mechanics that keep it interesting.

    • “Alter expands the basic gameplay by adding a large variety of new tank types that both expand the player's capabilities as well as add extra challenge (the enemy gets to use them too after all!).”
    • “These simple additions add a lot more depth and strategy to the general gameplay, which you didn't realize the first game needed until you play Alter.”
    • “Overall though, the game is great, the story is just as strange yet captivating as the first game and the new gameplay elements give you more tanks and mechanics to play with.”
    • “Gameplay, UI, and general visuals are identical to the first, and I mean identical. It would've been nice to get some quality of life changes like easier tank placement or having attacks with a high target area not take a full minute to execute, but those are all just minor complaints.”
    • “While Alter improves on a lot of things from the first game, the core gameplay is absolutely identical.”
    • “The most major changes to the gameplay are easily the command tanks (which disable modules), meaning you can't be utterly invincible with ridiculous modules all the time as in the first game, and mid-battle saves being disabled for most stages (presumably due to how easy it was to savescum in the original).”
  • music12 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its eclectic and innovative electronic-based soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. While most tracks are enjoyable and memorable, a few odd or less favorable pieces have been noted. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, making it a worthwhile addition for fans of the genre.

    • “The soundtrack is as eclectic as ever.”
    • “The characters were funny, the story was actually quite interesting, the music was surprisingly good, and the game was fun.”
    • “The soundtrack for the game is surprisingly good; I wouldn't put it on the level of my favorite game soundtrack (Timesplitters 2), but the sound cues here are quite catchy, and I think they'll stick with me for a good while.”
    • “Music is more of the same - generally very good, a few absolutely odd tracks here and there, one or two that are headache-inducing (including one of the ops, unfortunately).”
  • humor5 mentions

    The game features a blend of humor and emotional depth, with witty characters and an engaging story that balances comedic moments with serious themes related to war. Players appreciate the humor interspersed throughout the narrative, making for an entertaining experience. Overall, the humor is noted as a strong aspect, contributing to the game's fun and interesting nature.

    • “The wit, humor, and touching moments are also inalter.”
    • “The characters were funny, the story was actually quite interesting, the music was surprisingly good, and the game was fun.”
    • “In this game, there are more tankfus models and the story is very funny as well.”
  • graphics4 mentions

    The graphics are largely unchanged from the previous installment, featuring simple artwork that some may find cheap, yet they still deliver impressive and unsettling visuals throughout the game. While there are minor complaints regarding quality-of-life improvements, the overall aesthetic contributes to the game's charm.

    • “You can find some pretty impressive, and unnerving, visuals as you go along.”
    • “Gameplay, UI, and general visuals are identical to the first, and I mean identical. It would have been nice to get some quality of life changes like easier tank placement or having attacks with a high target area not take a full minute to execute, but those are all just minor complaints.”
    • “The artwork is still cheap, but that's okay.”
    • “An awesome little gem of a game, don't let the simple graphics fool you.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players express frustration with the grinding mechanics, noting that excessive grinding can lead to a significantly tougher final boss, rendering hard-earned equipment less effective. While the system aims to prevent players from easily bypassing challenges, it often feels punishing and undermines the value of the grinding effort.

    • “So yes, it's a way to keep you from grinding and then hitting the 'easy button' like in the last game, but it's sort of a slap in the face to know that all that equipment you worked so hard to earn is now about as useful as a screen door on a submarine.”
    • “The problem is grinding, in the end.”
    • “At first it seems like a meaningless battle to make grinding more tolerable, but is actually much more.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "War of the Human Tanks - Alter" is highlighted by its blend of wit, humor, and poignant moments that provoke both strategic and emotional reflection. While the story can sometimes feel disheartening, it maintains engagement through its character connections and impactful narrative. Overall, players experience a mix of laughter and deeper emotional resonance throughout the game.

    • “The wit, humor, and touching moments are also in alter.”
    • “And the story really faltered and made me feel as if everything I achieved beforehand meant nothing.”
    • “War of the Human Tanks - alter has managed to make me laugh, think (strategically and emotionally, if that makes any sense), and never felt boring.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization allows for variations in gameplay based on player performance, particularly in the final level, though the ending remains consistent regardless of the chosen level.

  • character development1 mentions

    The game features two distinct campaigns, with the "great cavern of fuji" offering a more in-depth and serious exploration of character development compared to the main campaign, enhancing both tactical complexity and narrative depth.

    • “The game features two campaigns: the main campaign and the Great Cavern of Fuji. The latter is longer, more serious, and offers much more depth in both tactics and character development.”
    • “Character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to see their characters grow and evolve throughout the story.”
    • “The depth of character arcs in the game is impressive, making each character's journey feel meaningful and engaging.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression throughout the game.”
    • “I was disappointed by how one-dimensional the characters are; they don't evolve or change in any significant way.”
    • “The lack of depth in character arcs makes it hard to connect with the story or care about the outcomes.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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