Battlezone (2008 video game)
An update of the arcade classic tank shooter.
Battlezone (2008) is an arcade title from Stainless Games that revamps the original vector-graphics tank shooter. It includes both a modernized version with fresh gameplay elements and a direct port of the classic game.
The game offers two modes: Evolved and Classic, each with Normal and Throttle Monkey difficulty settings. Evolved retains the core mechanics of the original while adding Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Capture the Flag multiplayer, plus 1080i graphics, Dolby 5.1 audio, and Xbox Live Vision support. Classic mode keeps the original gameplay unchanged but introduces Achievements and Leaderboards.
Online play supports two to four players in Deathmatch and Capture the Flag, and Xbox Live Vision lets players see friends during matches.
Reception was mixed. Critics praised the gameplay as worth a look and noted that additions by Atari and Stainless added value, but others found it an awkward update torn between reverence for the original and distracting modern concessions.
- Release
- 2008
- Developer
- Stainless Games
- Genre
- Tank shooter
- Platform
- Arcade
- Modes
- Evolved, Classic
- Multiplayer
- Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag
Lore & Background
Battlezone was released by Stainless Games in 2008 as an update of the original Battlezone arcade vector graphics tank shooter. The game includes two modes: Evolved and Classic, each with Normal and Throttle Monkey difficulty settings. Evolved mode updates the core mechanics of the classic game and adds Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Capture the Flag multiplayer modes, along with 1080i graphics, Dolby 5.1 audio, and support for Xbox Live Vision. Classic mode is unchanged from the original but adds Achievements and Leaderboards.
Reader's Guide
Battlezone (2008) represents an attempt to modernize a classic arcade title while preserving its original gameplay. The game received generally mixed reviews. It was acclaimed for its gameplay appeal and the value added by Atari and Stainless, but others called it an awkward update stuck between misplaced reverence for the original and distracting concessions to modern gaming conventions. The inclusion of both Evolved and Classic modes allowed players to experience the original game alongside new features, though the reception indicates a divided opinion on the success of this approach. Its significance lies in being a direct update of a landmark arcade game, attempting to bridge old and new audiences.
Did You Know?
- The game features two modes: Evolved and Classic.
- Both modes have Normal and Throttle Monkey difficulty settings.
- Evolved mode includes Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Capture the Flag multiplayer.
- Classic mode adds Achievements and Leaderboards to the unchanged original.
More in Video game remakes 1-24
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