Panzer Elite Action Preview

A 3 level demo sometimes isnâ??t usually enough to give real solid views on a game but in certain cases like Panzer Elite Action which is a very focused game, revolving around tank battles, in wide open expanses, it gives the vibes, focus and direction of the game perfectly.

Panzer Elite Action looks to be pulling no real punches but in this case this could be an advantage for commanding your own tank, with a load of your colleagues doing likewise, needs sole concentration. If you have too much going on, flowering up of the game, then the single focus, the essence of Panzer Elite, could be lost.

Over 18 missions with 3 different campaigns from Stalingrad to the tank battle of Kursk to the Beaches of Normandy looks quite an exciting scenario.

The no frills theme grabs you from the first instance and we are not talking about a game with the very basic presentation and ideas, no we are coming at it at the angle that you are in your tank, with an outside view, and you have to seek, search and pulverise the enemy with all the weaponry you have onboard and of course with a collection, an arsenal of tanks, with which you can reap some serious damage on the enemy and the structures that go into hiding and camouflaging the enemy!

Getting to grips with the controls of your tank can be perplexing as you can rotate the gun turret, a full 360 degrees, whilst you also can go backwards and forwards at the same time, taking into account the elevation of the view you wish to use whilst on the move. Now take into consideration that for some reason although the tank moves backwards and forwards at the same speed, for some unknown factor, the brain tells you to move forward with the front of the tank in the correct position. Going forwards with the back of the tank just makes you confused! There is no god darn reason why but it all feels correct the proper way.

Once youâ??ve understood the key presses for the various movements, the undulation on the tank, as you canter around, needs some tuning in as well, and you will soon start to move at a real pace albeit the fact those tanks are slow and ponderous. As you are predominantly facing tanks with smidgeons of ground artillery and some air raids, everything, including the enemy, seems on a par and relative in terms of aggression, tactics, size and movements. Many other similar games are heavily balanced against you.

All told, the mix conjures up a collection of tanks, buildings and personnel and itâ??s a question of cat and mouse appearing to be the foundations the gameplay is built upon. OK, you have to go for installations but itâ??s outflanking, out foxing and out maneuvering and above all out shooting that is central! Although it did seem that taking hits from other tanks took a multitude of shots before our demise whereas in some cases a sole well aimed missile at the â??Hunâ?? could blow them away, almost instantly, so letâ??s put this down to the fact that this was a demo/introduction to the game and the winning factor equaled a feel good one!

A set of key presses will allow you to employ your squad of tank brethren in a number of ways; both defensive and out and out attack where onscreen information flags will assist this process. OK, itâ??s slightly tricky when you are both manoeuvring your tank, firing at others with the mouse presses, whilst calling for the support of other tanks but then again commanding isnâ??t an easy position to assume.

We are informed also that there are strategies to execute via the differing tanks which we assume means that some are faster, some more packed with power, so if itâ??s to wipe out a installation then you use the big daddy tank, whilst some fast manoeuvres, where there is scouting to be done, by the nippy tank. Ok, we are being simplistic but you get the idea!? Objectives are displayed on screen so once youâ??ve achieved one goal you will be set the next!

There are also secondary factors to consider, looking at the general status of the squad, possible commands you can issue and thinking a little ahead, if thatâ??s possible. There did appear to be a kind of â??follow the leaderâ?? philosophy if you donâ??t use the command keys throughout; â??weâ??re with you mateâ?? ensued but only strangely in the case of winning through! Not sure if that is good or bad!

The actual ambience the game managed to convey was certainly a positive factor, as were the settings which came across as realistic, plausible and playable and the AI, from what we have seen in this small offering, was excellent although one or two collision and detection points with the scenery and other tanks were totally out of sync.