I accidentally deleted my review from earlier this morning. I was going to edit it, but deleted it accidentally (the delete button is next to the edit button), anyway, here's an edited version with loads of alternative tank games to download for free:
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Tanks at the Gates:
Today’s game is an updated version of Enemy at the Gates a basic ‘no frills’ tank game that was given away over a year ago in May 08. On opening the game the same flag effect is present, but it has been changed to a displaced pattern effect as used in army combat jackets, plus the name has been changed from Enemy at the Gates to Tank at the Gates.
Click HERE to check out the comments from the previous giveaway
Comparing the two games along side each other apart from some skinning differences, the games appear to be exactly the same so I’m going to re post my original review of the game. The Enemy at the gates that we were given previously was version 1.51, today’s game is version 1.80. The developer has said the following changes have been implemented:
Attention! "Tank At The Gates!" is a new improvemed version of June22-EATG game.
- The graphics is improved
- Various special effects are added
- More realistic physics
- New models of tanks
- Possibility to choose for what country to battle (the USSR, the USA and Great Britain)
- Set of other improvements and innovations
And here’s what they have to say about the game:
Throngs of enemy armour are spreading in your sector while your single tank is everything that stands between the enemy armada and your HQ...
This game is a real gift for all the old-school fans of Battlecity and its clones, as it incorporates all the features of the the original title, adding some new and really good ones. First at all, the game is rendered in a full 3D with a possibility to tilt your camera to get a better viewpoint. Note that your tank turns smoothly, so the various ambush tactics can be implemented.
All the original levels of the Battlecity are present in the game, plus alot of new ones are added. The terrain itself is colored in several different landscapes and is visually variable. Moreover, the terrain type influence the game process: both your and enemy tanks move slower in the desert, and while on the snow you may experience difficulties controlling your tank.
But, despite the number of improvements, the essence of the game remained the same - be quick, sharp and decisive while destroying your enemies. Use the number of upgrades like additional armor and improved gun, or powerful battlefield features like freezing off your enemies or raising concrete wall around your HQ. Finally, if you feel the game is too hard for yourself, you may invite your friend and play the game together on the same screen.
There are various bonuses during the game that could help you.
Enemy tanks are differing from each other and could be of several kinds.Features:
- 3D-rendered battlefield with adjustable camera position
- Smooth targeting adds new flavor to the old game
- 4 enemy tank types
- 6 possible upgrades
- 4 terrain types
- Several different landscape styles (barren lands, snowfields and urban ruins) that alter tanks' characteristics
- Play the game in the cooperative mode along with your friend on the same computer
- 35 classical levels from original game could be revisited
- 50 absolutely levels designed especially for June 22-EatG
Reference: http://www.june22-game.com/ accessed 21st Aug 09
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The Game:
June 22nd: Enemy at the gates looks remarkably like battle rush that was given away just over two year ago, though I couldn’t swear to it now as I deleted the game due to having Tanks Evolution that was also given away last year, which (IMO) is a much better version of this game. If you’re interested, check out the link to Tank Commander below; it’s one of those games from Gametop.com. If you don’t already know, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that it is the very same game as Tanks Evolution.
Today’s game has very basic graphics, and the controls are still clunky and the levels have very little variation in them apart from the color of the blocks. The one redeeming factor with this game is that you get a levels editor so you are able to create as many extra levels as you wish. You get 30 classic levels and 50 new missions plus as many new level’s as you care to make. These can be accessed from the games start menu. There is a separate shortcut for the map editor.
From the options menu you can select your screen resolution from several choices ranging from 720×576x16 to 1680×1050x32. There’s a toggle to set the game in windowed mode plus an additional mode called scaled that enables you to set the windowed mode to a size similar to a flash game, ie very small. There are three view modes from 2D to two 3D views as well as a gamma correction slider and music and sound controls.
Once you’ve selected new game from the main menu you can select either a one or two player game, where you play in coop mode. That is, you both fight off the enemy tanks, cooperating with each other. Accidentally shooting your buddy has no effect
There are four types of tank to destroy each one worth a different amount of points. These are: Light Tank (100 points), Tank Destroyer (200 points), Heavy Tank (300 points) and Assault Tank (500 points) The higher the point value, the harder it is to destroy the tank. In game there is little to distinguish between the tanks apart from their difference in size though checking the help file . As you progress through the levels you are awarded promotions, the first promotion is at the end of level one and isn’t actually dependent upon you score. The next rank is master sergeant; which appears to be score dependent as I held this rank for two levels?
There are in game bonuses that are gained by destroying commander tanks that appear slightly darker than the usual enemy tank. These bonuses the following:
Bonuses.
• "Commander" tanks can appear during the game, darker than usual ones. It is suggested to destroy them as soon as possible. When such tank is hit, a bonus appears somewhere on the map. Pick it up! This will help you in the game.
Bonuses can be of 6 different types:
• "Wrench". When picked up, this gives you 1 extra life
• "Bomb". Destroys all enemy tanks on the map (note: your score remains unchanged!)
• "Red Star". When picking the first Star, your gun is upgraded to more powerful 85mm model with higher muzzle velocity.
Picking the second star allows you to fire enchanced AP (armor-piercing) projectiles with increased penetration. Be careful, as these projectiles are also capable to destroy concrete walls!
• "Beton".- (concrete blocks) Grants concrete protection to your HQ for 30 seconds.
• "Shield". An additional armor is installed on your tank, making you invulnerable to enemy fire for 30 seconds .
• "Clock". Enemy tanks are immobilized for 30 seconds.
The concrete blocks (betons), shield and clock are time limited and lasts for 30 seconds whereas the weapons upgrades last for as long as your tank survives or until your base is destroyed. It only takes one hit from an enemy tank to destroy you unless you’ve got the invulnerability shield active. Once your three lives are used up that’s the end of the game.
The editor is very easy to work with having only 12 types of block to work with that mainly includes brick and concrete style blocks with what are supposed to emulate trees and which you can hide under as well as barbed wire fencing. The concrete blocks are indestructible. All custom made levels are accessible from the new games menu. There doesn’t appear to be a save game option, but the review was based upon a demo of the game. I wasn’t able to access any of the new levels or test and save custom made levels.
The game is keyboard controlled. It says on the website that the game can also be controlled by a game pad or a joystick
The aim of the game is to survive each level, protect your home base from being destroyed by the enemy and destroy a specific number of tanks which is indicated next to the number of lives you have left, which starts at three. At the end of each level you are presented with the end of level statistics which include the numbers of each tank you’ve destroyed, the points for each tank, the score for the level and the cumulative score for the game.
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Images:
I may add some comparison images later today, though the changes are only cosmetic. I'd intended to do it earlier, but deleting my review has cost me a couple of extra hours having to rewrite the changes I'd made to the original review.
System Requirements:
Minimum:
• English version of Microsoft Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista
• Intel Pentium II 300MHz or AMD K6-2 450MHz processor
• 64MB RAM (128MB for Windows 2000/XP
• 4x Speed CD/DVD-ROM drive
• 20MB of uncompressed free hard disk space
• 100% DirectX 7.0 compatible 16-bit sound card and latest drivers
• 100% Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP,2003,Vista compatible mouse, keyboard and latest drivers
• DirectX 7.0
• 8MB 3D hardware accelerator card required – 100% DirectX 7.0 compatible and the latest drivers.*
Recommended:
• English version of Microsoft Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista
• Intel Pentium III 500MHz or AMD K7 Athlon 500MHz processor
• 128MB RAM (256MB for Windows 2000/XP)
• 4x Speed CD/DVD-ROM drive
• 50MB of uncompressed free hard disk space
• 100% DirectX 7.0 compatible 16-bit sound card and latest drivers
• 100% Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista compatible mouse, keyboard and latest drivers
• DirectX 9.0c
• 32MB 3D hardware accelerator card required – 100% DirectX 7.0 compatible and the latest drivers.*
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Conclusion:
Initially I wasn’t impressed with this game, but that was because of the very basic looking graphics. The actual game play is quite reasonable apart from the controls. I found those to be very clunky and lost loads of tanks due to the inability to turn away from incoming fire, though if you’re lucky enough you can destroy incoming shells from other tanks. Once you’ve got used to the controls though you can have a decent enough game. The variety of power ups is okay. If you wish you can change the music which can be found inside the music folder within the main games folder; though you’ll have to convert the music to the ogg format first (there's several audio converters available in the giveaway freeware library, then rename the music you want to place in game to the files you are replacing. There are four files that you can add.
Although the game looks like it's from the 8 bit age it's still got some decent game play. I'm sure graphic whores who pay hundreds of $'s for their graphics cards (like me, lol) will hate this game, but because it does play okay I’d give this game 6 out of 10.
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Alternative Games:
Off the top of my head I know that there are two games that Gametop have at least two freeware tank games called Tank Commander (11Mb) and Tank Assault. The former was given away last year but was called Tanks Evolution. Gametop games are full version commercial games, but because of licencing they usually have their names changed.
Caution:
Both games are from Gametop so you need to be aware that when closing the game down your browser is opened to Gametops home page; however, this is not a browser hijack. Once the page has been closed that’s it. Some Gametop games also have tick boxes to uncheck otherwise you may find that your browser has been hijacked, (with your consent as you didn’t uncheck the box, so technically it’s not a hijack, lol), or a toolbar may have been installed - rule of thumb – just make sure you check each step of the installation process and uncheck any tick boxes that ask you for permission to install toolbars etc. :lol:
There’s also quite a few decent tank based games to be found in the games synopsis over in the Giveawayoftheday forums. There’s a 3D game called Battle Tanks 2, Gabaaba an unusual tank and helicopter game, S.U.A.V.E another 3D tank shooter, plus three stationary tank games called Scorched Earth, Scorched 3D and another one called Singed Earth; there’s a tank strategy game called Steel Panthers World at War, and Strife a futuristic tank dueling game and finally another tank strategy game called Tank Wars. If you’ve not seen the Free Games Synopsis, is easy to use; click on the letter at the top of the page that corresponds to the game you’re looking for and it will take you to all the games beginning with that letter. The list is alphabetical, so all the games I’ve mentioned above should be easy to find. The name of the game is linked to a thread somewhere in the games discussion forums that will give you details of the game and a download link.
Go to the Free Games Synopsis HERE
Finally here’s few more tank games, all abandonware or freeware called Abrams Battle Tank; which you can download HERE, and another one called Sherman M4 HERE, and Cannon Fodder 2 HERE
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There was also a review done by Lockett last year. You can see this Lockett’s review of Enemy at the Gates