1st February 1984
Cybertanks
Tank games seem to be very popular with arcade enthusiasts. In Cybertanks you are presented with a complex maze representing buildings and streets. You must move around these with your tank, blasting away at the four enemy tanks. An advantage you have is that your tank can also shoot out the buildings. The enemy are pretty quick at getting you, especially on the start of a new life; you are left in the same situation which just ended the previous life and the damned enemy tank simply blasts away again. This does mean you have to keep on your toes.
The graphics are neatly done, simple one-character size blocks, but there are no exciting explosions to alleviate the muted green/ brown colours. The sound, too, is quite muted although constant.
On completing the first wave the second sheet has mines, represented by small dots, which destroy anything that touches them. This is about the limit of the game's dangers. and there was a general . feeling that after playing several sheets it all becomes rather repetitive.
Movement is by the cursor keys or 4 = up, 0 = down, P = right, 0 = left, bottom row to the right of V = fire. The program also runs with the Kempston joystick. You could use the AGF or Protek interface for movement.
Putting the fire buttons on the bottom row, makes it a bit awkward to use well.
Packaging and instructions are neat, and the screen title card is marvellous.
Comments
Keyboard positions: Cursor, which can be awkward and a badly placed firing button
Joystick options: Kempston, AGF, Protek
Keyboard play: positive, but a stretch to fire
Use of colour: 1st reviewer liked it, 2nd thought it was average
Graphics: reasonably good
Sound: average
Skill levels: one
Lives: three
Comment 1
'This was actually quite a lot of fun to play, but it's a pity they couldn't have given it more difficulty levels to keep the interest going.'
Comment 2
'Despite their simplicity, the graphics are well designed and move smoothly. Fortunately the enemy tanks dart about quite well, which adds some spice to the game.'
Comment 3
'Another reasonable game, but I think only average.'
Screenshots
