Total Tank Simulator is an indie title by developers Noobz From Poland published by 505 Games. It is a video game that combines fps dynamics with a battle simulator with a strictly historical setting. This means that not only will it be possible to strategically place troops, but also to take the field in the battle itself.
We had the opportunity to preview the title and, below, you can read all our impressions. Once you have started the game via Steam, you access the menu where we are given the opportunity to try two modes: Sandbox and Campaign.
Sandbox mode
In this mode it is given to the player the ability to customize the game in many respects: the faction to fight for, how long the match must last (in minutes), the map to play on and the maximum budget to buy units. They immediately catch the eye the numerous maps among which you can choose from beaches to woods, ending with snowy and mountain environments. The colors and graphics are accurate and pleasing to the eye.
Once the game starts, there is the moment of distribution of the units on the map chosen: you have a budget with which you can buy different units such as tanks, artillery, missile launchers, protection bunkers. There is also a type of unit nicknamed '' neutral '', that is, elements that come into possession of the army that first reaches it. When the distribution is finished, the battle begins.
You can simply observe the unfolding of events, hence the two armies colliding, or personally get into the action by taking command of a unit. Here the peculiarity of the title comes into play, because from a strategic one you pass to a real fps: having taken the command, for example, of a simple soldier, it is possible to shoot at enemies, heal yourself, lose life points and use strategic points to hide. You can also take command of tanks and planes - whose physics and dynamics are well respected - previously placed on the map.
The soldier's view isn't confusing - aiming is simple, life points are well balanced, and the experience feels realistic. All buildings on the map are accessible and can be used to hide or to get a better view by climbing to the roof of the houses. Every element (even decorative) of the map is not indestructible, but thanks to bombs, shots and tanks, anything can be razed to the ground. When the game is over, a screen shows the winner and a summary of what just happened.
Campaign mode
Total Tank Simulator doesn't just stop at customizable matches, but it also allows you to follow a real campaign that traces the events of the Second World War. In the preview, we were only able to experience the campaign of Germany and the Soviet Union. In particular, we started with the latter.
The campaign starts with a twist of history: General Zhukov talks to his troops about the surprise German invasion; excellent animation and even the dubbing in Russian is very realistic and welcome. The campaign is divided into acts, in turn divided into three types of missions: wave (where you have to survive three waves of enemies), deathmatch and protect vip.
As for the distribution of the units, there is always the limit of being able to insert them while remaining within a certain budget, just like in the sandbox mode. The two game modes differ only in the presence of a story and the maps already chosen: the rest is very similar. If you win, you win money and research points, which are used to improve your units. If you lose, the funds used are not returned to the player.
In this preview of Total Tank Simulator we were able to taste a unique game of its kind, precisely because it contains more than one. There is not only the fun strategic part of deploying troops, but it is also possible to become the protagonists of the battle itself. It has some flaws, such as the inability to give orders (if not in person) to all the troops during the battle and the absence of a battlelog that allows you to see the progress of the battle even from a distance, but otherwise Total Tank Simulator has all the potential to be a great title.
