WWII Tank Commander – PC – Review

WWII Tank
Commander is one of the easiest games to figure out. Though it is simple as
all get out, there is something to be said for a game that has virtually no
learning curve. Just pop it in and start blowing the Germans back to oblivion.

You command a
Sherman tank in General Patton’s Fourth Armored division. You follow the
campaigns of “Patton’s Best” destroying enemy armor and infantry, escort
allied convoys, rescue hostages and help free Europe from Nazi rule. Your
weapons are a Sherman tank armored with one tank gun able to heave mortars
great distances, and one machine gun with infinite ammo.

I was
disappointed that the game lacked any realism and was just too easy to play. I
liked the simplicity of the game play but it lacked basic tank physics that
you would expect from such a title. For example I’m in a tank right? Why
should a wooden crate or a wooden fence block my path? Why do my lead units
take the full frontal assault and seem invincible while I can sit back and
pick off tank after tank. So getting frustrated that they always lead the way,
I try and move out and front. So I try and edge my way out around a corner and
end up getting pushed out into the fray by my own buddies. C’mon guys. My last
gripe is the enemy just sits there and waits for the attack and never chases
or hunts you down. You can just keep hiding behind the fog of war, move up and
shoot and back off. That is not very realistic in my book. Though the game
does try and offer some different tasks and scenarios, it is still just blow
away every tank and infantry that stands in your way to get the job done.

Visually the
game looks Ok but it lacks real depth from most of today’s titles. I
personally expect to be able to reduce houses to a pile of rubble while
commanding a tank and that just doesn’t happen here. Heck, I should at least
be able to blow a piece of a building or a fence apart yet my shells just had
no effect. The special effects, or lack thereof, were weak but still the game
is entertaining despite its mediocre sound track and sound effects.

Though the
game is simple and fun to play, it does lack the realistic qualities that most
gamers come to expect. Depending on a gamer’s particular need; this is either
a great game to get some aggression out with, or it is a game that is just too
plain to really have any shelf life. The fact that there is no multiplayer at
all will for sure detour many gamers from purchasing this title.

Gameplay:
7.5
There is
almost no learning curve. Any casual gamer will be up in playing in seconds.
There is no tutorial or practice level but it really is not needed. Levels are
only saved upon a successful completion so you will not be able to save
mid-game. Besides its shortcomings there is a variety of playing fields spread
over about ten levels, and the action is pretty much non-stop. This title will
most likely appeal to casual and younger players.

Graphics:
6.5
Though it
looks a bit dated, it will play on most systems. I would have liked to have
seen some better special effects for added realism, like better damage
modeling, destroyable buildings, and enemy units that actually pursue you.

Sound: 6.0
Nothing real
exciting here.  

Difficulty:
Easy
Though the
game is easy to play, getting through the multiple challenges can be quite
difficult. There is no option to select the difficulty or multiplayer
capability so once you finish the game it will most likely end up on a shelf.

Concept:
6.5
Yet another
WWII type game. I did like the simplicity but I was stunned that there was no
multiplayer, difficulty toggles, or a mid-game save option.

Overall:
6.5
For 20 bucks
or so it’s not too terrible for the money. This will most likely appeal to
younger players or those who want to jump in and play without spending time
thumbing through an extensive manual. Though the game does promote violence on
a war-type level, the game is not very graphic at all.