Vector Tanks Extreme for iOS

Vector Tanks Extreme is a tank combat game that is obviously inspired by the classic stand-up arcade game Battlezone. In the original you used two joysticks to move your tank, with one controlling the left track and the other controlling the right. In Vector Tanks Extreme you use up and down motions on either side of the screen to simulate the two-joystick control method, and touch the middle of the screen to fire your weapons. As you blow away tanks, you'll find powerups that give you new weapons, add to your shield supply, and give you rapid-fire guns for a short time. The vector graphics are quite a bit better than the old classic Battlezone and you'll meet many more types of enemies all with unique abilities making them hard to hit. You get three game modes: a straight combat mode to go for your high score with three lives; a Rage mode that challenges you to blow away as many enemies as you can in 2 minutes; and a practice mode that lets you explore the map with no enemy fire.

Vector Tanks Extreme is a lot of fun to play once you get the hang of the controls; it took me about three games to be able to move around well. But what this game lacks is a firing system that lets you fire while moving. Since you're using the two-joystick control scheme, in order to fire, you often have to stop moving and hit the center of the screen. Staying still is often what gives your enemies the chance to score hits, so the ability to move and fire would make this game much better. Overall, even with the awkward firing system, Vector Tanks Extreme is very fun to play, with tons of enemies, cool weapons to use, and an increasingly challenging AI (especially in Rage mode).