World of Tanks
Overview -
'World of Tanks' is developed by the Belarusian-owned and Cyprus-based company Wargaming. Wargaming has an interesting history - they are one of the largest Cypriot companies despite being relatively young, they have purchased a significant share of a prominent Cypriot bank, and they assist with military history and charity efforts worldwide, especially the restoration of antique tanks. 'World of Tanks' is their flagship product. First released in 2010 to the Russian market on PC, it has grown by leaps and bounds and eventually surpassed the MMO juggernaut 'World of Warcraft' in microtransaction revenue. The game was in beta for some time on the One before its recent full release, and was preceded by a version on the 360.
Video Review
Visual quality in 'World of Tanks' is middling to modestly above average. While a great deal of time has been spent on the tank figures, the environmental textures and effects are less impressive. I saw very few visual artifacts or other technical problems.
Audio Review
As befitting a game heavily based on World War era tanks, the soundtrack has lots of nationalist, epic-sounding tracks evocative of anthems and military cadence. Sound effects are equally suitable - the endless cycling of the tank treads can be heard underneath everything, and loud booms punctuate each cannon blast.
Final Thoughts
'World of Tanks' is not the typical PvP game, and I can understand why that may turn off some gamers. It’s slower and requires some dedication to learning about tank operation to be enjoyed properly. However, for those interested in more strategic shooting, it is a great experience. The Xbox One version has fermented well.
