World of Tanks

Load, Aim and Fire!

Developer: Wargaming.net
Engine: Bigworld
Platform: Windows
Release Date: 12 April 2011
Version: 0.6.5
System Requirements: Operating system: Windows XP/Vista/7
Processor (CPU): 2.2 GHz, Memory(RAM): 1.5 GB for Windows XP, 2 GB for Windows Vista / 7
Videocard: GeForce 6800GT with 256 MB of RAM / ATI X800 with 256 MB RAM, DirectX 9.0c
Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c compatible, Free hard disk space: 3.5 GB, Internet connection speed: 128 Kbps

WW2, whether we like it or not, is a trend for video games. The hardest and most violent battle took place then and they are the most modern on which we actually have plenty public information about (still many things are hidden but anyways). Here we are now taking up the seat of a tank’s commander and gunner, shooting and blasting our way through the enemy tanks. This is a free online game, which however has some items available only via a premium account or by buying gold coins in order to acquire them. Such items can really make your life easy if you have them, or make your life “miserable” if you face someone who has them.

Gameplay

In WoT you take the role of a tank crew. All you got to do is, as simple as it may sound, blow up all enemy tanks or capture their base. There isn’t much thinking to be had there.

There are 5 tank types which can be used:

Light tanks: Fast, small and agile those tanks can cross maps within a few seconds, run through enemy lines and blow up their cover and kill the artilleries. Other than that light tanks are useless. They don’t really puck a punch in any other tank rather than other light tanks and artilleries. Their armor too won’t allow you to take more than a few hits.

Medium tanks: Going up the scale means less speed but more damage and armor. Mediums on their own don’t do any serious damage to enemy heavy tanks, but a group of them can take down 1 or 2. Mediums are to provide some additional fire to enemies, either for providing cover to the light tanks or to assist taking enemies down. Speed, armor and damage are kept to an average.

Heavy tanks: If you see a heavy while being in a medium or light tank pointing at you, well, don’t expect to stay alive for much longer. Heavy tanks means: "ok I can’t move fast but I feel nothing and my punch will simply enough blow you up!"

Tank destroyers: Such tanks can take down a heavy tank much more efficiently than other heavies. Small in size, and quite fast their cannons offer the proper penetration to crack a heavy’s armor. Their main disadvantage is that those tanks don’t have a rotating cannon, living you exposed to enemies attacking from flanks or rear.

Artillery (SPG) : Not much to say here, artilleries can blow up heavies as if they are light tanks. They fire from extreme range and with decent aiming they can take out even opponents who are yet not spotted.  Their disadvantage is that they don’t turn fast enough to face any enemy in close range from flanks or rear. Also, targeting fast tanks in distance requires some skill since bomb shells take some time to land.

After choosing your tank type all you got to do is enter a battle. In the battle you can either play in a Third person shooter (viewing your tank from the outside) or in a FPS like mode (sniper mode) in which you see through the “eyes” of the gunner, extremely effective for long range targeting. There is nearly no difference in this game from any other FPS or 3-rd person shooter; WASD keys maneuver your tank, with the mouse you do the rest. Simple as that!

When buying a new tank you are automatically supplied with the necessary equipment. After gaining experience from battles you will be able to research new modules to mount them on your tank, making it more effective in battle.

Such modules are

Engine: It affects the maximum speed

Suspension: It affects the maneuverability of your tank, and the max equipment that can be mounted

Turret: It unlocks better cannons, affects view range and how fast the cannon can turn

 

Cannon: Damage, damage and eeer, oh yes, damage (bear in mind that different cannons have different reload times and targeting times)

The cannon takes up to 3 different shell types. A standard shell with average damage and   penetration, a premium shell with High penetration   (oh yes…this ammo totally rocks) and another shell will low penetration but high explosion damage output)

Radio: extremely useful for artillery, allows communication with allied tanks providing information on the enemy positions

Having the appropriate equipment doesn’t mean that you are ready to rock; you also need experienced crew!

Gunner, Loader, Commander, Radioman and Driver (you don’t need any degree in science to realize what they do). Each crew begins with 50% experience. There are no levels, but getting them to 100% is a tough task, especially when not premium. After getting a new tank you can use the previous tank crew on it, but they will not work effectively. They require retraining, which means some experience loss. When in 100% your crew will be able to receive some bonus skills: firefighting, camouflage and repairing. Useful nonetheless.

Furthermore there are items that will help you thrive in battles. There are consumables that increase the overall tank and crew abilities. They may be extremely expensive thus they should be used more often in Clan battles.

The most exciting part of the game is clan battles. Clans fight for provinces, which provide with gold those clans, gold useful for buying some premium items. The provinces are the Global map, making the game look a little bit more realistic!! Who wouldn’t like to conquer his own country!

 One thing you will like is that the game automatically stores all your statistics! You will find this quite nice since you will see how well you have been doing through your “tank commanding career”. Sometimes useful for entering a clan, which asks for some “serious” gamers…yes pretty annoying.

Graphics

Not much to say here, except from the fact that they are pretty awesome for a FREE MMO! Sometimes your shells will destroy houses, not in a fancy Battlefield 3 way, but still pretty cool manner. Sometimes the enemy will try to blow up your cover and take you down! Bear in mind where you hide! The tanks move realistically, crashing on trees and other stuff will result to the crumbling of trees ect. However there are nearly not any good water effect, but there are good water reflections. The maps are also beautifully made, providing some tactical advantages for both teams, if properly exploited, taking us to the “real” frontlines of that time.

Oh crap...

 Sound

There is no such thing as a soundtrack, but the general sounds are quite impressive! When shooting an enemy and hitting them you will hear some messages like: Penetration, depending of course on the hit you inflicted on them.

Artillery gameplay

Summarizing there are some stuff you will get you angry, premium accounts have the upper hand, let’s face it, they pay for the game. They will see you and you will not in some occasions, making angry since you can’t see where the shells come from! Apart from that, the game is co-operative mostly. You can’t hope to take them all down by yourself. Some players just don’t seem to play cooperatively, really frustrating. And, as always there are cheaters. Some players use cheats making your life miserable, like shooting you from a hell of a distance while running at full speed, not once, but twice and more! Finally, whether you like it or not you can’t play with your friends. You can only play with 2 of them only after you and they pay for a premium account (this is the first time someone gets to see it).

Prons: Free, nice graphics, something new, global map for clan battles

Cons: Premiums are stronger, can’t play with friends, lack of cooperative gameplay (some players are just so noobs)

Gameplay          8

Graphics            7

Sound                 6

Constitution      6

General              7

Well yes play it, but consider buying a premium account as a quite expensive transaction.