Tank Troopers (2017)

Tank Troopers may present a rather interesting concept but it's impossible to avoid the feeling that the game was rushed. Its inconvenient and strictly offline multiplayer doesn't make the experience more enjoyable and the lack of a minimally compelling plot only adds to the impression that Tank Troopers should have spent more time in the drawing board before being released, regardless of the current status of the 3DS.

Tank Troopers is exactly what you would expect from a game about tanks. Adding to this is the fact the title manages to adhere to Nintendo's family-friendly criteria while at the same time filling the void when it comes to the lack of shooters across the company's current generation of hardware. The problem is, despite solid foundations, the title falls short simply because it does not offer online functionality. It's this one glaring problem that lets Tank Troopers down. Beyond technical limitations, it is hard to guess why this would be left out of a game that is dominantly focused on player connectivity. Unless you have a close group of 3DS companions you can play with locally on a regular basis, Tank Troopers is hard to recommend solely for the single player mode.

Despite an array of tank customization and playable characters, 'Tank Troopers' is more work than play. The controls are irritating, the weapons are less than favorable, and unless you talk your friends into buying it, the multiplayer is unusable.

Tank Troopers is neither a great game, nor a horrible game. It's a niche game aimed at a wide audience, and has its upswings and downturns. Mission dynamics are diverse, with enemies both larger and smaller than you, or faster and slower. Weather plays a role, and your tank troopers are a pretty interesting bunch. The game is frustrating at times, and greatly rewarding at others. My tip: have patience with it.

There is a very specific person I would recommend play Tank Troopers. If you have a 3DS, and you have five friends nearby who also have a 3DS, and you’re all interested in playing Tank Troopers, go ahead and buy it because you are the only type of gamer who will get the maximum enjoyment out it. For everyone else, it’s an easy pass.