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Tanx is 15 years old
Tanx (also known as Amiga Tanx) is a simple but very interesting game. It was made in August 1991, and I'm writing this review in August 2006, so I have to congratulate this game's 15 years anniversary this month!
How to play
Tanx is a small 2-player duel game. You and your friend control a military tank each and the goal is to destroy your friend's tank before he destroys yours. You two use each others turn to adjust and aim for the tank. The game ends when one of the tanks has been destroyed, and the player who controls the tank who stands left wins. One of the tanks begins west and the other begins east. Between the tanks are mountains and objects which you must shoot over. Wind can also hinder and/or help you to hit the tank on the other side. I will now explain all the variations which you can select each time a level is randomly created:
Look at this screenshot as you are reading below
Player Names
In the upper left corner of the screenshot you can see it says "P 1" and "P 2". If you click (with your LEMMINGS hand) on the red "player 1" button and the green "player 2" button you can change the intials names for you and your friend.
Wind
You can select to have no wind at all, light wind, medium wind, strong wind, or randomized wind. If you shoot high up in the sky, the strong wind will push the bullet in the direction it blows, (either west or east) how far it blows depends on the strength of the wind. Just be careful if the wind is strong towards your direction, the bullet could fly back and hit your own tank!
Landscape
"Foot Hills" are not as high as mountains (more like "flat grounds") and make it much easier to hit the tank. "Mountains" are very high and you have to aim very high to shoot over them, so if you aren't so experienced with the game yet, choose "Foot Hills" and try out "Mountains" later. "Random" varies the landscapes after each round.
Objects
If you pick "Targets", some targets will be set out in the fields between you and your enemy. If you hit it, you will get a free shot! Don't focus too much on them though, it's more important to destroy your enemy.
"Fans" can be both helpful and bothering. If a fan blows in your direction it will slow down your bullet speed and maybe even make the bullet turn around.
"Pullers" make the bullets fly down towards the ground while "Pushers" make the bullets fly up towards the sky.
Direction
You can pick either "Random" or "Same" direction of the wind for each turn of the game.
Gravity
With this you can select the gravity to be light, medium, strong or random.
And finally... the "Play!" button on the upper right corner of the screenshot starts the game.
Look at this one too as you are reading below
When you start the game, a screenshot like this one will show up. It is player 1's turn first (player 2 begins first the next round). When it is player 1's turn, player 2 can't move at all, he/she will have to wait for his/her turn.
The yellow arrows allow you to steer your tank a tiny bit forward or backward. You can only drive on the flat part you start on though.
The green arrows will allow you to look at the landscape, giving you the view to think about your shot and to see where your enemy is.
The blue arrows will adjust your tank's aim: Selecting how high or forward you want your aim to be.
The red arrows adjust how powerful and far your blow will shot. If you have strong wind against you, more power is recommended.
If you press the "rocket" button your tank will fire.
The "white flag" will end the game.
Very simple isn't it? It's extremely easy to get started with!
Conclusion
Tanx is hours upon hours with fun, fun and only more fun! To be such a small and simple game it is really quite amazing. Too bad they don't make games like this anymore.
Gary Roberts is the man behind this fancy game. I have no idea how much work he did on this one, but anyway, we who love this game are forever grateful - thank you Gary! This game has been loved and played by countless Amiga fans for one and a half decade! Let's hope that is only the beginning for Tanx...
NOTE: Also check out my review on Croak! (another small coverdisk masterpiece) if you enjoyed reading this one.
LONG LIVE THE AMIGA!
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Quite amazing. The 3D of the tank is of a quality you wouldn't expect to see on the Amiga back then.
The background is a beautiful and the animation when the tank is destroyed is extremely fun!
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No music.
Only the necessary sounds and a few funny extras including a VERY funny sound of a military soldier screaming at the beginning of the round.
Why such a high rating though? The sounds are great, important, funny and not annoying at all, enjoyable is the correct word.
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The same landscape never appears twice. This gives the game eternal replay and variety value.
You and your friend will become addicted, that's for sure. Perhaps you'll even go for the "first to 1000 victories"! NO KIDDING!
You will never get tired of this game and to tell the truth, I can't think of ONE single disadvantage with this game...
OK one: no 1 player-mode, but no big deal, the game is still flawless. Playability at it's best.
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| The best 2-player duel game EVER! |
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Get Amiga Forever with pre-installed Workbench, games, applications, and much more.
It also contains the original Amiga ROM-files, 100% legally!
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