World of Tanks Review (XB1)

  Do you like tanks?  Do you like tanks battling other tanks?  Well, there's a whole world of tanks in World of Tanks.  There are three key pillars WoT completely nails: It's fun.  It's free.  There are tanks.

  Upon first screwing around with the game you might be tempted to dismiss it as a casual, simple multiplayer miltary sim-lite you wouldn't bother devoting more than a few sessions towards; basic controls are straightfoward, there's not much to the standard game than postitioning your tank and shooting at other tanks, and it's not uncommon to have a match last about a minute if you're overly aggressive.  Then something happens... you keep playing more games, unlocking more tanks, and maybe you have a string of great games where you annihilate half the enemy team and roll into their base.  Whatever that magic formula is that makes one multiplayer game stand apart from the deluge of others released on a regular basis, World of Tanks unquestionably has "it".

  Smart players develop defensive tactics like hiding in a bush waiting for an enemy to expose their vulnerable flanks or rear, or using buildings as cover from incoming artillery shells.  Teams can coordinate maneuvers like sending out a speedy scout tank as bait while snipers pick off anyone foolish enough to chase after it, or turtling near the base setting up brutal chokepoints.  I generally solo-ed it, rushing out like a madman over hilltops and trying to take out at least one enemy and damage another before hell rained down upon me.  World of Tanks can work on so many levels you can't help but admire the mastery of game design on display.

  "Free to Play" is generally associated with negative connotations of microtransactions and gameplay advantages handed out to players with deep pockets, but World of Tanks manages to provide a potentially endless amount of fun you don't have to pay a dime to enjoy.  Sure, some of the scummier trappings are on display; the economy is needlessly complicated, you're alerted to "sales" in the storefront, and (the only one that actually bothers me) you need to spend real money if you want to continue to build your collection of tanks without selling older models to make room in your garage.  All of that is supremely easy to avoid by just jamming "A" to roll into battle and ignoring the rest.  You're only matched with tanks of a reasonable class compared to your own, so there's really no way to go wrong. 

  While the game won't melt your eyes, it does look sharp.  Explosions and buildings crumbling as you smash into them are satisfying on a primal level, and the texture work is greatly improved from the 360 version where I had some experience beforehand.  The controls are intuitive, and the tanks all drive like tanks.  This could easily be a $20-$40 game and not many people would bat an eye.

  I'm currently sucked into that alluring loop of legitimately intense one life battles followed by slow progression toward unlocking perks and bigger, badder tanks.  The moment to moment gameplay is fantastic and there is a ton of content to unlock for the dedicated (or rich).  World of Tanks is a great addition to Xbox One, where you can fire it up for five minutes of quick in and out battles or play all day long if you desire.  Try it.  It's free.