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ATPM 9.05
May 2003

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Review: Pocket Tanks 1.00b

by Dan Boland, dboland@atpm.com

verynice

Developer: Cornerstone TSP Games

Price: $15.99

Requirements: Mac OS 8.6 or Mac OS X 10.1, 800x600 resolution

Recommended: 233 MHz G3

Trial: Feature-limited (no Deluxe version features)

Whether or not you remember the classic game of warfare called Scorched Earth, you can now enjoy it on your Mac in the form of Pocket Tanks by Cornerstone TSP Games.

While the premise—two tanks shooting at each other—remains the same, there are plenty of options to keep even seasoned veterans interested. The variables you can change include wind, terrain, and explosion size. Although none of these options are revolutionary, Scorched Earth would not be the same without them and Pocket Tanks delivers the goods.

Now for the most important part: the weapons. The freeware version of this game comes supplied with thirty weapons, the vast majority of which are offensive. Each player has ten weapons to choose from out of a randomly selected twenty; the final ten can also optionally be randomly selected. The purpose of the game is to outscore your opponent using the weapons you’ve chosen.

pt-weapons-selection-screen

Weapons Selection Screen

As expected, scoring is based on a combination of the vicinity of the explosion and the power of the weapon. Some weapons are more useful than others, but of the thirty included in the freeware version, only Tracer could be considered completely useless.

pt-beware-the-pineapple

Beware the Pineapple!

Pocket Tanks is fun. It is easier to waste away an hour or two with this game than one might think. The graphics and music are solid and appeal to the eye and ear. Strategy buffs will enjoy the closer matches, and explosion fanatics will revel in destroying their buddy’s tank.

pt-atpm-wins-again

ATPM Wins Again!

I do however have a few gripes about this game. Even with ten levels of difficulty, I find myself winning at the hardest level nine out of ten times, whether I choose the weapons myself or let the game do it for me. A four-player mode would be nice as well, although I might just be being picky. But if anything, I must stress this: not everyone will like this game. Regardless of its features, some people (my fiancée included) will think this game is boring and stupid.

All the Deluxe version offers is thirty extra weapons and the promise of future weapons expansion packs. There are no additional options or harder difficulties. If you think it is worth the money, then by all means, update to the Deluxe version; I, on the other hand, have plenty of fun playing the free version.

For those who love Scorched Earth, Pocket Tanks is a version worthy of your time. Although I don’t think the Deluxe version is worth the money, the freeware version makes a terrific download.

Reader Comments (84)

Patrick Burke · May 19, 2003 - 12:24 EST #1
This game kicks butt. I have the new version. I just had to say that Pocket Tanks Deluxe is one of the coolest games that I've played. Thanks, Dan, for making this game.
anonymous · June 12, 2003 - 18:49 EST #2
This game is so cool! I play it all the time when I get the chance. It's the best game, ever!
anonymous · September 14, 2003 - 13:50 EST #3
It needs to have online multiplayer capability. That would really be great.
Jonny Napolitano · October 20, 2003 - 12:47 EST #4
I think that every download should be free--definitely Pocket Tanks Deluxe.
Fahed El-Rayes · October 22, 2003 - 04:32 EST #5
Hi my name is Abul-feef. I love pocket tanks so much, it's become such a big part of my leisure time. A bunch of friends and i love to play it "winner stays on", the only thing is i'm basically never on :)
Dan · October 31, 2003 - 12:12 EST #6
I like Pocket Tanks. It's a really cool game. Do you know any cheats?
Kelley Cotton · November 1, 2003 - 23:05 EST #7
I played this game at school and it is so much fun!!
Braken · November 13, 2003 - 09:44 EST #8
The game with all the weapon packs (120 weapons) is now a feature in our office. To spice up the competition and have a mega-game, play in practice mode with 2 players.

1) First to 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, or 10,000 points.

2) Use each weapon once only, in order or not.
Jesse Johnson · November 25, 2003 - 18:35 EST #9
I think Pocket Tanks is a very awesome game.
Adam B · December 10, 2003 - 15:53 EST #10
I have searched all my life for the "perfect game" and I think I've found it. It could be alot better, as Dan Boland said it could be a little more challenging on level 10, but that can be fixed, I'm sure. I also have to say that Tracer is not totally useless, it can be used to see the accuracy of your shot without wasting any real fire power. But overall Pocket Tanks is a genius game and I thank the makers.
anonymous · December 11, 2003 - 19:48 EST #11
This game is so awesome! I have 85 weapons and it is so much fun!
anonymous · December 17, 2003 - 12:28 EST #12
This game should be free. It is cool, but for 15 weapons to download, it costs a bunch!
Camalus · December 19, 2003 - 18:57 EST #13
Bravo to the maker of this addicting game....Bravo!
To everyone that said the Deluxe should be free...grow up. It was nice enough to find that the first version was free...especially with it being such a great game.
To the maker: Want to make some real bucks? Make it an online multiplayer....it will sell like hotcakes and I'll be the first to buy it. Please email me if this is in the works...thanx. Oh, and don't listen to these fools....don't make cheats. Again...Bravo!
Deejay · January 11, 2004 - 19:48 EST #14
I have 115 weapons. Even in target practice mode I never get bored! I fill up the level, blow it up, then do it again! This game rocks!
Dan Richards · February 3, 2004 - 17:35 EST #15
Hi. I love the Pocket Tanks game. It's the best game ever and I want to buy the new version of Pocket Tanks Deluxe, but I don't know if it's safe to give my credit card number online. Is it?

Thanks.
Lee Bennett (ATPM Staff) · February 4, 2004 - 00:36 EST #16
Dan - as long as you use some common sense, yes, it's safe. Only fill out credit card info on sites that display a security statement and ones that show you the locked/secure icon (in Safari, it's a padlock in the title bar) when you're on the info page.
anonymous · February 11, 2004 - 20:28 EST #17
I think this game should be free because it's rubbish to charge $15.99 just for another 30 weapons. It's only a game.
ATPM Staff · February 22, 2004 - 16:42 EST #18
All right readers, we don't need any more comments that the game should be free. You're not adding any new information and there's nothing you or ATPM can do about it. If the developer wants to charge for more weapons, he's gonna charge for more weapons. If you don't like it, don't buy it!
anonymous · February 23, 2004 - 16:33 EST #19
I think the game is a lot of fun, but I see someone who said they had 115 weapons. How?
anonymous · March 3, 2004 - 14:07 EST #20
This game is awesome, although I need to know where to get all the extra weapons.
Lee Bennett (ATPM Staff) · March 9, 2004 - 00:43 EST #21
The extra weapons come with purchasing the deluxe version of the game. A link is at the top of this review.
Alex · March 10, 2004 - 20:42 EST #22
The Game pocket tanks is one of the best games that i have ever played. Keep up the great work on new games!
Karim Mathews · March 17, 2004 - 13:46 EST #23
wow!never seen something this good...i thank the game producers for such an awesome and exciting game....this proves that u dont need blood and gore to enjoy a game.....make more weapons and put us in suspense
chasta c. cola · March 22, 2004 - 13:45 EST #24
pocket tanks is awesome. i love the way it looks and the way it plays. Thanx Danny-Boy
derek mac · April 5, 2004 - 11:27 EST #25
i don't like the game
Jack Dark · April 12, 2004 - 14:33 EST #26
Back in the day, Scorched Earth made a lot of my High School computer classes go by a lot faster, so of course I'm a sucker for Pocket Tanks. I think it's fantastic and worth every penny the maker wishes to charge. If there is every a third incarnation of this series, I'd like to see more realistic graphics (not 3-D however), say on par with the tank and weapon graphics of say the Metal Slug series? Plus a much larger scrolling playfield, with a camera that zooms in on the current tank in action, and then chases it's artillery shots. Last but not least, the ability to design your own levels (with special tiles and such), and your own weapons (hybrid creation!), would be the icing on an incredibly sweet cake. That'd be fantastic, methinks.
Robert Denny · May 3, 2004 - 01:45 EST #27
I agree with the guys talking about scorched earth...I used to love that game, and play it all the time. Now, I am addicted to Pocket Tanks. I purchased the Deluxe version, and I LOVE IT! I will be honest, I searched for cheats, and can not find any. Thats ok, I WILL pay the $7.99 for the extra weapons. My wife gets mad at me, because when we are about to go somewhere or do something, I keep saying, "ok baby, one more game, and I will stop!" Never happens, 6 or 10 games later, I might shut it down. A special thanks to the creators of this totally bad a.. game...woohoo! Gotta go play.
Pocket tank luva · May 3, 2004 - 16:57 EST #28
Wow pockets tanks when desribed as two tanks blowing up eacother sounds pretty stupid but its so awesome and even just as simple as it sounds it so cool! SUPER!
nick · May 4, 2004 - 01:00 EST #29
This is a great game but i remember playing a game simmilar to this about 8 years ago, but the only diff was that you started out with basic weapons and whoever won got money to buy cooler more powerful weapons not that was a fun game, hrmm to bad you couldnt make somehthing like that
the one · May 19, 2004 - 07:59 EST #30
There is one cheat that i know of if u guys want to know. The cheat lets you use one weapon multiple times by sacrificing other weapons. Here's how it goes.

1. First you must start a 1 or 2 player game. Then pick your weapons or just click random, whichever you prefer.

2. After you choose an angle and fix your power, while your in the weapon box (so you can see al your weapons) pick one u want to fire, but dont click the fire button you must push the space bar while your weapon is highlighted then while your weapon is in the air scroll to a different weapon that you want to lose.

3. This cheat works (if you can understand it) this way you can keep using chaos grenade or pineapple over and over while your opponent has a tracer.
sam · June 4, 2004 - 10:07 EST #31
this game is so awsome baby! Yeah!
vikingman · June 10, 2004 - 20:55 EST #32
i havent played this game but i payed the game it was based on scorched earth and it was the mother of all games
Sam · June 22, 2004 - 21:42 EST #33
Make this game online please, and have tournaments
Gregg · July 28, 2004 - 12:06 EST #34
I too would love to be able to play against multi online players and have the option to move the tank (unlimited). It is truly a great game!
ian Duncan · August 12, 2004 - 16:40 EST #35
How can I enter/view my high score in Pocket tanks?

tks
Lee Bennett (ATPM Staff) · August 13, 2004 - 00:40 EST #36
Ian - I can't speak about the paid version, but I don't see that there is a high score screen in Pocket Tanks.
cool guy · September 16, 2004 - 19:53 EST #37
"the one", you are so cool!i tried that cheat and it really works.thanks.i also looked up cheats on the internet and basically just found tips.thank you so much now i can smoke the computer on lvl 10 like its nothing!g2g play!bye!
Leo Maneke · October 22, 2004 - 10:09 EST #38
Pocket tanks Deluxe is one of the coolest games I ever played, especially with all of the expansion packs that I have on it. Its awesome
Fred Saure · November 25, 2004 - 14:08 EST #39
I don't think it's worth the money for Pocket Tanks DX. However, the expansion packs are probably worth it...
lauralee richey · December 3, 2004 - 13:22 EST #40
I love this game it is my favorite game. This is what I always play.
anonymous · December 12, 2004 - 18:41 EST #41
Man im so mad that my mom wont let me buy deluxe but even still the regular is sweet!
Hand Hanzo · December 13, 2004 - 06:49 EST #42
I play Pocket Tanks every day during my 3rd period class. I have the deluxe version with 3 expansion packs, and it is teh r0x0rs. If I come to school with an energy drink on me, watch out. I slam a BooKoo, put my favorite song on the headphones, load up the game and wipe out all my friends and enemies with MASSIVE energy.
Gowhar Fazili · December 23, 2004 - 01:00 EST #43
Its a great game Pocket Tanks... i enjoy it with a small kid and sometimes he figures out how to beat me! Feel disappointed with the cheat of repeating the same weapon and i guess i should not use it on a kid!
Eric · December 23, 2004 - 14:38 EST #44
Pocket tanks is a great game
tumppu · January 8, 2005 - 13:29 EST #45
It is a SUPER game, but you should make a multiplayer to play it in internet
josh · January 16, 2005 - 04:22 EST #46
i like the game and to answer nick. the game that he is thinking of is scorched earth. in that game you can do everything that pocket tanks has to offer and more. i like having to earn the weapons you use. not just luck of the draw selection. i think that an improvement on this game would be to get more of the features from scorch and put them on pocket tanks.
Victor Jericho · February 1, 2005 - 22:49 EST #47
I grew up with the guy who ported pocket tanks to MAC. I know him pretty well - he is an awesome guy and so is the creator of the original pocket tanks. I would very much recommend pocket tanks for PC and MAC and don't worry about your credit card info or ordering from their websites. Like I said - they are both good honest guys. They have worked very hard to perfect pocket tanks and have done a good job at it so go buy a copy and get all the weapons packs - the more support they get the more chances they will have to make more expansion packs and maybe even an online version. Keep up the good work Cornerstone and Blitwise! You guys rock!
Josh Waldon · February 10, 2005 - 19:19 EST #48
Pocket Tanks Deluxe Is Awsome! I Have 80 Weapons Total, And I'm Saving Up To Buy The Meteor Pack. Thanks For Making Such A Cool Game That I Can Afford!

Josh Waldon MI
cool game · February 26, 2005 - 00:24 EST #49
pocket tanks is one of the best games i ever played.
i play this game on school, but i havent findit on the internet.
if someone knows a web to play on please put it on the comments...thanks
james jefferson · March 17, 2005 - 10:55 EST #50
If you really need tips to beat level ten then you suck. Level 10 isn't even the hardest.
pepe raphael · March 19, 2005 - 13:53 EST #51
The way to see high scores in PT is to let the start-up screen idle for a few seconds upon booting the game - don't touch a thing - it will display most recent high scores...

Q. to everyone: What's you favorite weapon? I personally dig Fireball.
Rich Ligo · March 30, 2005 - 10:14 EST #52
Pocket tanks is beastly! I love to think up new weapons... My favorite weapon has got to be late bloomer. I sometimes play two-player against my self for practice.
matt guio · April 8, 2005 - 19:49 EST #53
I love pocket tanks I always play it when i get the chance to play I can beat almost any body I play
anonymous · April 11, 2005 - 14:33 EST #54
A free alternative for Mac OS X: Scorched 3D

It also works with FreeBSD, Solaris, LINUX and Windoze.
cody bowers · April 15, 2005 - 16:16 EST #55
good job
manish bilung · May 9, 2005 - 04:05 EST #56
brilliant game ,best than others
Jamie Mason · May 14, 2005 - 11:16 EST #57
This game is the bomdiggety
anonymous · May 17, 2005 - 17:25 EST #58
There should be online to this brilliant game
somebody · June 3, 2005 - 22:31 EST #59
This game is really fun.Level 10 is to easy though. I beat it every time by at least 100 pts. I have only lost three times and they were the first time i played the game. This is a really cool game. Thanx to the creator.
monkeyboy · June 30, 2005 - 12:02 EST #60
Great game! My wife and I sit down for an hour or so every other night and have a blast.

We've had the deluxe version and the free expansion packs(80/weapons) for a couple of years.

BUT....last night we broke down and bought the rest...125/weapons total!!

To improve it;
1. make the levels harder
2. make more expansion packs
Dewd · July 3, 2005 - 18:32 EST #61
Heres another cheat that lets you move forever. click right on the movement button then while your moving scroll down with a scrollwheel on a mouse. you will keep moving right as you scroll down. to go left, scroll up during movement.
Dewd · July 6, 2005 - 00:12 EST #62
Oh,yeah. when your scrolling you have to keep mouse over the move button. that's important.
Pocket master · July 6, 2005 - 04:33 EST #63
How to install expansion pack for pocket tanks
OnPoInT · July 11, 2005 - 15:27 EST #64
this game rocks
we have best of 7 at work all the time
you need more packs dude $$$i'll pay the money$$$
Lavesh Rawat · July 12, 2005 - 11:11 EST #65
Friends
This is one of the coolest game but i want to know how to install additional packs here.
I also recomend pockets tank makers to launch its new version where we have to clear mission and then move to next.
Some Guy ;-) · July 14, 2005 - 20:18 EST #66
I know how to get 600+ points in one shot!! When your opponent uses Shelter, use Sprinkler. If you get it through the oppening then it will bounce around inside and continue to give of the "sprinkles". Eventually it will bounce out and explode, but you should have enough points by then.
Matt · August 5, 2005 - 10:32 EST #67
This is a great game! Ask for deluxe for birthday or christmas thats what I did!
anonymous · August 21, 2005 - 09:15 EST #68
By scrolling on the move panel durring your computers turn, you can move them unlimited. Also, if you make all of the land under your opponent's tank dissapear,then use fire in the hole, you can get 200+ points instead of 60.
matt vdl · August 27, 2005 - 17:22 EST #69
i would get the deluxe version but i live in NEW ZEALAND so i hav to pay 4x as much to get it $45!!!!! thats not fair.
matt vdl · August 27, 2005 - 17:25 EST #70
wait no i dont i hav to pay $60 for 30 weapons. the company needs more options pay wise ($NZ)
Amjad Ali · September 5, 2005 - 02:57 EST #71
its a very nice game, good time paas and a very addictive game which makes the player stick to monitor. specially the calculations for power before firing.
ashley contreras · September 12, 2005 - 10:02 EST #72
i love gthis game
Jessica L. · September 14, 2005 - 18:45 EST #73
Pocket Tanks is soooooooooo fun It is REALLY easy to beat level 10 because I play it ALL the time because it's so fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
vikram [loves pocket tanks] · September 22, 2005 - 20:43 EST #74
this is the perfect game for every one if you dont like it you have been born with a brain flu.
amber · September 29, 2005 - 17:54 EST #75
i love this so much i would play it every day!!!!
James · September 30, 2005 - 08:44 EST #76
Hey, ya i used to play this game all the time and i really enjoyed it
Nick Calcagno · October 4, 2005 - 15:38 EST #77
This is the best game ive ever played. I have all the weapon packs and the full version This game rocks!
santhosh · October 13, 2005 - 07:18 EST #78
how can i make expansion packs or create new weapons
Wikka Wikka · October 21, 2005 - 03:22 EST #79
yo this rocks our crib play the puter everday after a hard days work out on da town pimpin yo yo PEACE OUT
anonymous · October 27, 2005 - 22:41 EST #80
best game i played in the world
bendoda · November 2, 2005 - 10:06 EST #81
the graphic sucks!! gunbound always be the best!!
Nemanja Blazic · November 2, 2005 - 16:34 EST #82
It is so cool game it makes you to play all day
anonymous · November 4, 2005 - 23:26 EST #83
This game is awesome! i have 125 weapons
Jeni · November 6, 2005 - 09:59 EST #84
In Pre-Calc/Trig class, all we do is play Pocket Tanks tournaments!!! This game is rad; thanks for making it!