Tanks vs Aliens Review

Developer: Red Prawn Games
Price: FREE
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Device Reviewed On: iPad Air

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If there is anything to learn from Alien vs. Predator it’s that when two destructive forces fight it out, no matter who wins we lose. And judging by the collateral damage it depicts, the same holds true for Tanks vs Aliens. However, when it comes to its retro shooter delights, we all win.

When aliens invade the planet for reasons too flimsy to mention, it’s up to one tank to blast them back into space where they belong. But despite its ostensibly earthbound environments, Tanks vs Aliens is essentially a Xevious-style vertical shoot’em up. Players can move in all directions, but maybe not quite as nimbly as they’d expect. After all, tank treads aren’t rocket thrusters. But besides that, the game features classic tropes of the genre like screens full of foes, huge bosses, and loads of attack patterns to memorize.

Along the way players will collect the usual power-ups like stronger guns, shields, and support tanks that flank the main tank while unleashing their own arsenal. Players can also upgrade their tank and purchase new ones with coins earned in-game. Completing the throwback package is the retro art style. The beefy sprites and pixelated explosions look slightly better than 16-bit. It’s almost like Metal Slug running on its original arcade hardware, or at least a Neo Geo.

One neat, more modern quirk is how Tanks vs Aliens handles health. As players take damage they won’t see a life bar deplete. Rather, it will look as if the screen of their device itself is cracking. It’s like how in most modern shooters the player’s vision becomes increasingly bloody as they get injured. And just like in those games, staying out of harm’s way long enough here allows the tank to slowly repair itself. But there are still health pick-ups too. However, even with this generous system, the game is tough. The 15 levels spread across three worlds aren’t that long, but getting through them is a true test of patience and skill.

Tanks vs Aliens sounds like the deconstructed premise of a dumb summer blockbuster. And that’s the kind of great fun it delivers, just in video game form.

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