World of Tanks (PC) is now available as version 1.0 and looks like a modern game. So is it worth diving into the tank MMO? And what kind of players should definitely join?
World of Tanks was released in 2010 and has been continually expanded since then. Eventually, the old BigWorld engine reached its limits and was recently replaced by the new Core engine. The result is World of Tanks 1.0. But what is it about World of Tanks now and is it worth starting to play with the new version?
Fast Tank Action
World of Tanks is an action MMO with tanks. Your “character” is thus a heavy tank. There is no storyline or campaign. It’s all about PvP, that is, the fight among players. Each team consists of 15 players who fight against each other with their guns. Alternatively, there is also a larger 30vs30 mode with even more tanks.
The goal is to capture the enemy’s base or hold a neutral point depending on the map. If all tanks are neutralized, the round ends as well. If you are destroyed, you are out and can’t rejoin. This makes rounds in World of Tanks often quite short.
So it’s the ideal game if you want to quickly play a few rounds with the tank after work or during a break. You can either enter a match alone with 14 randomly selected players or compete in small teams of 3 players.
Tanks of All Nations, Unite
Before the battle, you choose a tank from your collection. It doesn’t matter which nation the tank belongs to. German tanks fight side by side with French, Russian, or US models.
Only the tier matters, as only tanks of similar strength are sent into battle. The tier is called “Tier” in the game, derived from the English word for level. The higher the “Tier”, the more modern and stronger the tank.
At Tier 1, you’ll find ancient machines from the interwar period. In the middle tiers, there are famous tanks from World War II, including the Panzer IV, the T-34, the M4 Sherman, or the mighty Tiger.
In the top tiers up to level 10, you will often find machines from the 1960s or curious prototypes and uniques like the mighty Maus or the experimental E-100.
Over 500 Tanks from 10 Nations
If you think that there were only a handful of tanks in the war, you’ll be quite surprised by World of Tanks. There are now over 500 vehicles in the game. They come from each of the 10 nations:
- Germany
- Russia
- USA
- United Kingdom
- France
- Japan
- Sweden
- Czechoslovakia
- China
- Poland
Each nation has special characteristics that reflect in the vehicles. German tanks are quite accurate, Russians can take a lot of hits, and the French are fast and have drum magazines later on.
Every Tank Also Falls into One of 5 Classes:
- Light Tanks: These vehicles are ideal scouts and can cause trouble in the rear.
- Medium Tanks: These all-rounders ideally operate in packs and attack from the flank.
- Heavy Tanks: These heavy machines are the “tanks” among tanks. They can take a lot of damage and are heavily armored. Therefore, they are usually found at the front.
- Tank Destroyers: If World of Tanks were a shooter, tank destroyers would be snipers. They usually stand well camouflaged in the second row and shoot precisely into the fray.
- Self-Propelled Guns: These tanks are mobile artillery. They shoot over enormous distances and over obstacles. However, they must also see where the enemy is and rely on scouting.
However, the classes are not set in stone. There are heavily armored tank destroyers that roll to the front like a battering ram. Or heavy tanks that can also act as snipers. Each tank has its own unique gameplay.
Progression Through Research
So how do you acquire the individual tanks? You start with a small little tank that hardly deserves the name “tank”. When you play, you get experience points and silver, depending on your battle performance.
With the points, you unlock new components. Among other things, a new engine or a better main gun. The game is based on reality. So you can’t just attach an 88mm cannon to a little Panzer III.
The unlocked components are then paid for with silver. When you have enough points and have researched certain components, you can unlock and buy the next higher tank in the next tier. This is how you progress through the tiers.
The higher the tier level, the more expensive and longer the unlocking takes.
Arcade Action with a Bit of Realism
The competing game War Thunder allows you to experience realistic simulations. In World of Tanks, things are far less complex. Every tank has hit points. Once they are gone, it explodes. Precise hits on components can immobilize the engine, jam the gun, take out individual crew members, or even blow up the ammunition storage.
Aside from an ammunition explosion, however, a tank can survive such damages. The failure is repaired after a short time, and the affected module is still partially usable. As long as the tank still has hit points, it will roll and shoot.
The armor works quite similarly to real life. If a projectile hits at an unfavorable angle, it will ricochet with sparks. But even if it penetrates, it can somehow get stuck in the armor. Depending on how you angle the armor plates by positioning the vehicle’s hull, a shot may still be deflected.
Additionally, you need to be aware of the various types of ammunition. Some shells penetrate better, while others deal significant area damage but lack piercing power.
Free2Play with Premium Shop
World of Tanks is a free-to-play game that you can play for free without restrictions. However, you can still spend real money there. With that, you can buy the following goodies:
- There is a Premium Subscription that you can take out. This will give you more experience and in-game currency per battle.
- You can also get special Premium Tanks. These are only available for real money and are usually quite solid at their tier. They are generally not better than regular tanks.
- Special Ammunition can also be purchased for real money, but it is also available for in-game currency.
What Has Changed with Version 1.0?
All the previously mentioned features have been long in World of Tanks, and they remain in place with update 1.0. Only the presentation has changed. But it has turned out really well. The game now includes:
- High-resolution textures
- Dynamic dirt, snow, or sand that sticks to tanks
- Explosion craters and unevenness that can be seen on the tank’s suspension
- Beautiful light effects
- Water and grass dynamically deform when you fire your gun or drive through.
- All sounds sound much more impressive
- Every map has a unique music intro and a dynamic soundtrack that adapts to the gameplay.
With all these innovations, World of Tanks 2018 presents itself like a modern game.
Is World of Tanks Right for Me?
World of Tanks excites tank fans with its engaging gameplay and numerous tanks. However, not everyone enjoys the arcade gameplay. Therefore, we have summarized the advantages and disadvantages of the tank MMO:
World of Tanks is the right game for you if you …
- love fast action in between
- are interested in tanks
- are a good team player
- are looking for a motivating free-to-play game
- appreciate gameplay that is easy to learn but hard to master
World of Tanks is less suited for players who …
- prefer realistic simulations
- have problems with hit points in tanks and would rather have a dynamic damage model
- prefer to rush forward alone
- have an issue with faster progress through spending real money and being able to buy the best ammunition directly
- cannot deal with toxic players. World of Tanks has millions of players, including some pretty salty individuals. So the tone can be a bit rough.
If you also want to try World of Tanks, you can find access in the following button. Create an account, download the game, and then you can start playing.
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