The world is a beautiful place, full of many different types of games. Some are deep, cerebral affairs that will test your brainpower to its limits. Some hold thoughtful narratives that ruminate on the nature of life and love. And then there's Tank Travel, courtesy Andrey Chaporov and pals, an action shooter about the joys of roaming the land in a giant tank, blowing up everything in your path. Ahh, bliss. As the title suggests, your tank must travel from the beginning of each stage to the illuminated exit. Pilot your hulking death-machine with the [WASD] keys, using your mouse to aim and fire your turret at whatever you want to... "go away." And be sure to really pile on the wanton destruction! Everything you blow up, from crates to chains to evil enemy robots, nets you tasty points you can use to upgrade your tank's speed and power.
There's a surprising amount going on here, as the crunchy action shell hides a creamy physics puzzle center. You won't just use your gun to break open boxes and defeat enemies, you also need it to activate switches, push around powerups, and manipulate your environment so you can make your way to the goal. The physics themselves are fairly strong, though they do feel a little loose around elevators. Of course, they contribute to the action as well, as your bullets are affected by gravity. You'll need to take the arc of your shots into consideration when you fire. While this does add a strategic element to things, it can be frustrating when you can't find the right angle to shoot from while staying concealed, or when your opponents' hit box seems to be just out of range of your gun. Finally, like many other games, Tank Travel hides stars in its levels. They're not just there to test your skills, though; collecting enough of them unlocks extra challenges. Coupled with the ability to upgrade your tank with your points, it offers some nice incentive to go for high scores and rankings as opposed to just trying to beat your personal best. And of course, there's that gleeful feeling you get as you crush wooden boxes and steel barrels beneath your treads. Who could really ask for more?
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