The Game:
June 22nd: Enemy at the gates looks remarkably like battle rush that was given away just over a 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 a few months ago, 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, the controls are 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 720x576x16 to 1680x1050x32. 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 include extra life (spanner/wrench), time stands still (clock), destroy all enemy tanks (bomb), a protect the base bonus(concrete block) and an invulnerability bonus(Shield). As well as a tank upgrade (red star that initially upgrades your weapon to a more powerful 85mm cannon that does more damage. A second upgrade will enable you to fire amour piercing rounds that are even more powerful. These are also capable of destroying the concrete barriers. 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 gamepad 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.
Images:
All on one page:
http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/Whiterabbit_01/gaotd/22%20June%20Enemy%20at%20the%20gates/
As a Slideshow:
Googled:
http://search.msn.co.uk/images/results.aspx?q=June+22%2C+Enemy+at+the+gates&go=&form=QBIX
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.*
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, then rename the pieces you want to place in game. There are four files that you can add. I’d give this game 6 out of 10.
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Suggestions:
Tank Commander (11Mb) This was actually given away a coup[le of months ago but was called Tanks Evolution.
http://www.gametop.com/download-free-games/tank-commander-download/
Tank Assault:
http://www.gametop.com/download-free-games/tank-assault-download/
