This 3D tank game by Atari was a huge smash when it was originally released in the arcades, and since then it has been converted and adapted to many systems since then. The game also inspired a couple of sequels, in which the graphics and game play was dramatically improved upon.
Despite its seemingly simple graphics, which is comprised strictly of wire frame models, the game proved to be one of the best and most famous games of all time. The story of the game, in which aliens have invaded Earth, is a common theme among many games, but none came close to the uniqueness of Battle zone.
This 3D tank game by Atari was a huge smash when it was originally released in the arcades, and since then it has been converted and adapted to many systems since then. The game also inspired a couple of sequels, in which the graphics and game play was dramatically improved upon.
Despite its seemingly simple graphics, which is comprised strictly of wire frame models, the game proved to be one of the best and most famous games of all time. The story of the game, in which aliens have invaded Earth, is a common theme among many games, but none came close to the uniqueness of Battle zone. You, a tank pilot for the military, are in charge of leading the defence against these invaders. Throughout the game, the tank
operator will drive around battlefields from the view of inside the tank, constantly engaging enemies in tank-to-tank combat. Other enemies also take the forms of enemy planes, and the alien invader’s UFOs. The scenery is rather simple, in the sense that they too are wire frame models, but the environments feature an erupting volcano, various buildings (in the forms of geometric cubes) and pyramids. These buildings are indestructible, and provide valuable barriers against enemy tanks. The game features an overhead radar view to better locate the slow moving tanks, or the rarer, faster moving “Super Tanks”.
The alien UFO’s do not appear on your radar, nor do they fire upon your tank, but they are worth more points to increase your total score. Scoring points is a simple concept, where a regular enemy tank is worth 1,000 points; a super tank is worth 3,000, UFO’s worth 5,000. Guided missiles will also occasionally appear which are worth 2,000 points. Bonus lives are awarded at 15,000 points, another at 100,000 points, and yet another for every 100,000 points reached after that. Many myths surround this game, such as the idea that one could drive into the erupting volcano to find an enemy castle, or into the mountains to find the factory that was pumping out the enemy tanks. These were proved false, but the ideas were kept around to be used in future sequels to the game. On a side note, the game designer was approached to create a version of the game for the U.S. Army, and initially refused.
The fact that the game warranted a request from the U.S. Army to create a similar game to train it’s tank operators only adds to the existing proof that this is one of the greatest games of all time. Compared to today’s standards, the graphics are from the stone age, but it’s fun, fast and exciting game play more than makes up for the geometric green and red lines that make up the objects in the game. If you do pick this one up, don’t expect to put it down for an hour or two, because it’s one of the most addicting games in the history of video games.
The game is a true classic, and deserves to be played well into the next couple of decades. Enjoy.
