World of Tanks Beta Impressions

We got in the trenches with the World of Tanks Beta and prepared a full battle report!

Success in combat is also dependent on team work. Without an SPG, a light tank is low on the food chain, and without a light tank, an SPG is blind. A competitive shooter lives and breathes on the variety and balance of its weapons, and World of Tanks isn't just giant metal bumper cars.

SPGs are those massive guns that can shoot across entire battlefields and are a wonderful addition to World of Tanks' surprising combat depth. It's almost like WoT's version of a super powerful sniper rifle, or some sort of long range threat. Aiming an SPG takes you to an aerial view of the battlefield, and landing as little as one hit will many times be enough to put a tank down.

However, in order to shoot at the enemy, you need to know where he is, which is where the faster, lighter tanks come in. Many times you can contribute to your team just by driving around and spotting the enemy's position for long enough for an SPG to land a kill shot, which they can do from an entire map length away. But if your SPG finds itself in a battle with a tank up close, you'll be dead in no time.

We also piloted tank destroyers which pack a more powerful punch than regular tanks, but give up maneuverability due to their lack of a rotating tank turret. So if the enemy is coming down a crowded street, a tank destroyer is a great option, but out in the open, when tanks circle around each other, a tank destroyer will have a hard time keeping up. All this to say that the combat is unique and deeper than we would have expected.

World of Tanks still gets bogged down in the mud a little though. One has to wonder if SPGs are bit overpowered as they do get most of the kills in most games. We also wish the game had more destructible environments and more traversable terrain. We want to climb up a mountain and run our tank right through a house if we please! We found our tanks doing very un-tank-like things like getting stuck on trees and bouncing off of walls. They also struggled with gradual inclines and generally moved way, way too slowly.

Upgrading is very deep but is also set up in multiple menus in an overly confusing way. You have to earn experience to unlock upgrades and then you need to spend credits to equip the upgrades, but there are also rare tanks and ammo that can only be unlocked by purchasing them with real money.  Hopefully there will be more options to customize our tanks a little bit. We're not talking like, "Pimp My Tank," but some flames or being able to name your tank would have been nice. We just got done playing APB, so, just sayin'.

World of Tanks is as gutsy and unique as the WWII tanks it praises. It's a gutsy concept that has never been tried before, with gameplay that's different than gamers are used to. Not everything is polished and pretty, but it works and deserves to be noticed. Playing World of Tanks as a game reviewer is probably a little bit like seeing a tank for the first time as a WWII soldier. You've just got to say, "Whoa, what is this?"

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hmmm
# Sep 09 2010 at 10:42 AM Rating: Decent
this looks like a really cool game! can you still get into the beta?

Edited, Sep 9th 2010 12:43pm by TempleGod
A Strong Recommend
# Sep 05 2010 at 10:24 AM Rating: Decent
I did not get into the beta for this game but my son did and he was very blue when beta ended and he could not get in to blow up tanks, blue enough that he actually opened his mouth at the dinner table to speak instead of just shoveling in food so he could get back to his computer. This is saying a lot. On that single fact I would have to strongly recommend this game!
wrong
# Aug 31 2010 at 7:04 PM Rating: Good
Yeah, im agreeing with Nala and bezdim on this matter. I am also a beta tester who spent a large amount of time playing the game and testing the Tiger 2.

Overall, the Concept of this game is Awesome! It is a MMO Tactics game that institutes a more Thinking, which most gamers dont do. It causes you to think, If i move here, will i have cover from most fire, or Should i turn and run or turn my front armor to them and bounce shells.

Now, for the Gameplay for a beta was awesome. Now, once they put the newest patch into play, it will probably get a bit better. Addition of new tanks, New Expendable items, and a New nation.

Now, for the Article, yes, it is extremely opinion based and not the greatest of reviews. If you are a heavy tank, you will go slow, your turret will turn slower, but thats the trade off of what real tank warfare was. And, the smaller tanks are not just crappy little bricks of metal. They make a HUGE Difference in how a game will end up. If there werent any light tanks running in and out of a battle, the SPG's would not be able to do there jobs. And i have had experiance running a Pzkpfw II Luchs and killing a PzkpfW IV.

This game is extremely a personal opinion on What is your Playing style. You cannot right a review if you havent played every type of Vehicle in the game.

PS: if you want to see a game that has gone through WAY to many additions and Modifications that have messed the game play and balance up Immensely, go look at Navy Field.

Edited, Aug 31st 2010 9:07pm by dskyle
wrong
# Aug 31 2010 at 8:24 PM Rating: Decent
dskyle if there was a "like" button for your post...it would be clicked...
wrong
# Sep 05 2010 at 10:21 AM Rating: Decent
nala3 wrote:
dskyle if there was a "like" button for your post...it would be clicked...


Ask and you shall receive. Try the little green up-arrow to rate up dskyle's post! I did!
wrong
# Sep 01 2010 at 2:42 PM Rating: Excellent
32 posts
Hey guys, I really, really liked World of Tanks. The majority of my article praises its guts, its innovation. Go back and read my conclusion. Do you guys just scan articles for criticism to get angry about? You know, by freaking out about my criticisms, you draw attention to them, and do a disservice to the game you like so much.

dskyle, you say you didn't like my impressions and then write a post agreeing with the points I made in the article!

me: "Without an SPG, a light tank is low on the food chain, and without a light tank, an SPG is blind."

you: "If there werent any light tanks running in and out of a battle, the SPG's would not be able to do there jobs."

I praised the armored vehicle variety, I praised the teamwork between the armored vehicles. I think we actually agree that the game is good, but you're a little blinded to any shortcomings by your dogmatic zeal for a game you've invested so much of your life into.
WoT
# Aug 30 2010 at 9:23 PM Rating: Decent
Meh, I liked the Review! Thanks for all the good words for the Beta.

I've been playing a little less than a month and have enjoyed myself thoroughly! We're currently waiting for the NA servers to start up on Sept. 1, and there are quite a few people who seem to be going into withdrawal from the wait.

As for the environments; you actually can run through most houses (in my experience). Some are well built and resist tanks unless they have some mass or velocity behind them. Others cave if you bump them with your treads when turning... Speed over terrain is a function of engine and suspension. My little BT-2 can make it around the entire map if I'm not popped by some heavy tank when I pass'em. ;)

Gotta let people know though, that there are some "levels". The dev's don't throw all those rinky-dink little 1930's tanks in with jagdpanthers and T-34/85's... When you start you can (but don't have to) do "Recruit" battles. They give less money and exp, but you can repair your tank cheaper while you learn the ropes.

The first few tanks are very wimpy compared to later tank models, however, an AT-1 or BT-7 are *lots* of fun to max out and run around in as an experienced player trying out new strategies.

Its all good, World of Tanks is still in Beta; it will be a little different game when released.

Look forward to seeing you all in my sights!
wrong
# Aug 30 2010 at 4:33 PM Rating: Decent
honestly your review is very wrong. SPG's SEEM overpowered when your in a light, medium or even some low tier heavy tanks. but once you actually get to higher tier tanks SPG's only do about 100-300 damage to your tank unless they are some insanely big SPG, which in any case can only fire very slowly ( no surprise there )
and yes, they do go slow uphill, you know why? BECAUSE THEY ARE 60 TON MONSTERS!!! the environment is very destructible, and yes there are some bugs, but hell, its closed beta! the menus are only confusing if you are a half retarded chimp....if you want to see a GOOD review then go here: http://www.massively.com/2010/08/17/first-impressions-world-of-tanks/
wrong
# Aug 30 2010 at 6:03 PM Rating: Excellent
32 posts
Listen to me one-time-poster nala3, or I've got a stone cold stunner coming your way! First, way to not acknowledge that 80% of my impressions were gushingly positive, but since you seem to be lip-quiveringly furious over the small (small!) problems that WoT has, lets talk about those. But let me remind you that this article contains my impressions, my opinions, no need to take it so personally. It's not my impressions of "World of Your Mom" or "World of Your Ethnicity." Relax.

Also thank you for linking to someone else's work for a "good review" instead of trying to stand on the merits of your own post.

Nala3, have you ever played a video game before? Video games need to be playable. I don't care if your video game is about tanks or jets or mules, but if you can only make it one time across the map in the entirety of a match, that's too slow. If your'e on one side of the map and someone's taking over your base, you should be able to make it back to try to stop them.

And no, the environment doesn't have nearly enough destruction, especially when compared to games like Mercenaries 2 and Red Faction Guerrilla, which came out years ago. It's an opportunity missed. In my time with it I had my 60 TON MONSTER get stuck on birch trees and 15 degree inclines.

As far as SPGs go, they're great, but even the little tips that pop up on loading screens say that SPGs will be most of your team's offense. I'm simply scatching my head and asking if that's the way it should be.

It's ok nala3, I know from facebook that 31 people and counting "like" my article. I might have to give you that stone cold stunner on principle.

Edited, Aug 30th 2010 8:09pm by MisterBones
wrong
# Aug 31 2010 at 6:40 PM Rating: Decent
lemme just quote some thing here....
Quote:
During the testing period, the game attracted more than 70,000 players
lol notice the "like" button has 48 likes...
ohh and btw im not really mad more than in shock that somebody finds the menus confusing, there are so many ways to get to the same place in the menus. that fact makes it so that the game is very easily navigate around...your review was your opinion....this was my opinion on your opinion....think about it...
wrong
# Sep 01 2010 at 3:29 PM Rating: Excellent
32 posts
50 likes and one overzealous fanboy! I call into question the opinions of anyone who has such a violent reaction to such small criticisms. They're positive impressions, dude, not negative. Do you scan articles to find something you can rant about?

I think you do a disservice to the game by not being able to discuss the places the game needs to improve. That's what the beta phase is for.

And menus, to function, need to be as simple as possible. One menu that you can get to one way is better than multiple menus you get to multiple ways.

WoT is great, and I know, because I play a lot of games, not just one game for a really long time. I'm looking at you nala3.
wrong
# Sep 01 2010 at 6:08 PM Rating: Decent
I do not play one game for a really long time...trust me on this one, I have about 100 different games installed on my PC that I play ( or used to and got bored ) so I am definitely not a 1 game person. ohh and like I said, you gave your opinion, I gave mine, I think that the menus are easy to navigate, you don't. like you said, its opinion.
Quote:
But let me remind you that this article contains my impressions, my opinions

I'm simply expressing mine...
and I do discuss where I see the game needs to improve. If i find an error, I report it. But I don't discuss what i think the game has right. I have only found 4 or 5 buildings that cant be destroyed ( that are supposed to be able to be destroyed ) and when I ask if anybody else knows about them and they do, I just go about my business because it has already been reported....
wrong
# Aug 30 2010 at 8:20 PM Rating: Decent
Nala3 is a very experienced player, and I am happy to have played with or against him in the closed beta.

WWII tanks had THAT much engine power and many times heavy or even medium tanks had difficulties following the terrain.

Also, smart maneuvers can lead the enemy heavy tanks far enough, so the light and medium ones can capture the base. This is called tactics.

Also, SPGs are great and useful but under no circumstances the most principle offensive element. Tanks do that. SPGs are just supporting.

As you have said, the menus can be a real pain sometimes. I dont consider myself smart, and I had to play for about one week to find out every little bit of detail.

Destroyable enviroment. I didnt see anyone getting bothered by that. What could a MORE destroyable enviroment add to the gameplay? CPU usage? People playing WoT dont care about a more destroyable enviroment. If you just sit and stare to brick walls or trees or the general scenery, lol, thats not a game for "you" (speaking generally).

Mechanisms like complexity, simulation elements, and lots and lots of options are the elements keeping that gaming "anti-noob". The day this game becomes "playble" to everyone, is the day that it will reduced to complete sh*t. Just like most today's crappy games.

Edited, Aug 30th 2010 10:27pm by bezdim
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