Tanki X is a client based multiplayer online game in the arcade tank simulator genre. It was created on the Unity engine by AlternativaPlatform, a Russia-based game developing company, as a sequel to Tanki Online. The game uses the free-to-play business model, where players can download and play the game for free. However, players can also pay real world money in the form of micro transactions to get "X Crystals". These X Crystals merely unlock special cosmetic features for tanks and do not effect the gameplay. The Open Beta Testing started on September 15, 2016[1] and was released on Steam on April 20, 2017.[2]
Gameplay
Players control their own tank, created from a variety of turret and hull combinations, and compete against each other in a variety of maps and game modes. At the moment, Tanki X features three game modes: Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Capture the Flag.[3] At present, a total of nine maps, both fictional and inspired by real world locations, exist within the game. The fictional maps are Sandbox, Silence, Massacre, West Prime, Area 159, and Moon Silence. The real world inspired maps are Kungur, Rio and Iran. Players can create their own tank combination from a selection of 11 turrets and 7 hulls, all unique in their strengths and weaknesses. There are 70 turret and hull combinations in total.
Capture the Flag on Tanki X map "Area 159".File:Tanki X Iran.pngA Spider Mine in Tanki X (Iran Map)
Turrets are divided into 4 classes:
Close Combat (Firebird, Freeze, Isida)
Short Range (Hammer, Twins, Ricochet)
Medium Range (Smokey, Thunder, Vulcan)
Long Range (Railgun, Shaft)
Hulls are divided into 3 classes:
Light Hulls (Wasp, Hornet)
Medium Hulls (Viking, Hunter, Titan)
Heavy Hulls (Dictator, Mammoth)
File:Tanki X Hulls.pngHulls in Tanki X. Wasp (upper left), Hornet (lower left), Hunter (upper middle), Viking (center), Titan (lower middle), Dictator (upper right), and Mammoth (lowFile:Tanki X Red Crystals.jpg"X Crystals". The Premium currency in Tanki X. er right). File:Tanki X Massacre.jpgCapture the Flag mode on the Tanki X "Massacre" map.
Turrets and hulls have "Mastery" levels and hulls exclusively have "Module Slots". The more players use a hull or turret, the more Mastery XP is gained, thus increasing the turret or hull's Mastery Level. The higher a turret or hull's Mastery Level, the more times players can upgrade their perimeters. After any turret or hull is upgraded a certain number of times, it unlocks an M1, M2, or M3 skin, depending on how high its upgrade level. A Hull's Module Slots can be equipped with special abilities. The more a hull is upgraded, the more Module Slots it has available. Module abilities only activate temporarily and undergo a timed cool-down before once again being used.
Modules are divided into 4 classes:
Scouting (Increased Damage, Radar)
Support (Turbo Speed, Spider Mine)
File:Tanki X MoonSilence.jpgThe low gravity, outer space map in Tanki X called "Moon Silence". A variant of the "Silence Map".Defense (Enhanced Armor, Accelerated Gears)
Special (Recharging, Mine, Invisibility, Target Focus, Temperature Block)
In order to obtain Modules themselves, players craft them from unique combinations of "module parts". The game's "Resources Kit" randomly gives players different parts (i.e. Laser, Nanobots, Quantum Circuit, Field Generator, Super Magnet, etc.) necessary to create a module.
In-game Currency and Ranking System
For every tank destroyed or flag captured, players build up a number of Crystals and XP (rank experience points) which they are rewarded at a match's conclusion. Players' number of received Crystals is based on their fulfillment level of three criteria: XP gained in the match, the number of tanks they destroyed, and their K/D ratio (players' number of enemy kills in respect to their number of deaths at enemy hands). The amount of XP players gain has its own set of rewards. Players gain new ranks at particular XP milestones which publicly represent their level of skill, dedication, and time playing the game.
Players can also buy X Crystals. X Crystals are a premium currency, which is bought with real world money, and unlocks special skins, graffiti, special shell colors for turret ammo, and paints for tanks.
Graphics and Optimization
Like its predecessor, Tanki Online, Tanki X is designed to allow players with cheaper, less powerful computers play the game smoothly but not heavily sacrifice graphical fidelity. The Low, Medium, and (sometimes) High settings are commonly used by players with weaker PCs, while Maximum and Ultra graphics settings allow players with higher tier PCs to experience everything Tanki X provides graphically.
Community and Game Events
AlternativaPlatform actively engages with their Tanki X community. Weekly sales are held on products in game. Battlefunds, are increased during event celebrations as well as discounts and bonuses on payment methods. Real world holidays, such as Christmas, International Women's Day, Cosmonautics Day, April Fools, Warrior's Glory Days, Valentines Day, and Halloween, are each celebrated in game with their own unique paints, graffiti, and discounts.
The Tanki X community at large gathers on the Tanki X Forums where they discuss the game, give feedback, submit fan art, and even ideas for the game itself. One fan-idea, Turret Coating, has already been implemented by Tanki X into the game. This allows players to add a second layer of paint to the tank's turret exclusively. Rather than a tank bearing one paint, covering both the turret and hull.
Public Reception and Release on Steam
During Tanki X's 2016 CBT (Closed Beta Testing) MMOs.com approached Tanki X from a somewhat neutral stance. They listed Tanki X's pros as "+Tank customization. +Quick respawns. +Weapon variety. +Pick up and play," and its cons as "-Limited sense of progression. -Underwhelming audio."[4] MMOs.com has not released a review a Tanki X as of its full release.
Upon full, public release, on September 15, Tanki X predominately received praise. Alpha Beta Gamer complimented Tanki X, describing it as, "an awesome ride, with super responsive controls, smooth framerates, bombastic explosions and fun gameplay.”[5] GameGuru noted Tanki X's uniqueness compared to other tank games, stating, "From the entire variety of well-made tank action games, Tanki X is the only one that has tanks jumping from platforms and becoming invisible."[6] MegaObzor described their experience with Tanki X as "...thinking that I’m going to play a few matches but ended up playing for two straight hours before exiting the game. The 15 minute long matches are fully action packed with shooting, tactics, and all sorts of other tricks."[7]
On April 13, 2017, Alternativa Platform announced their plans to release Tanki X on Steam on April 20, 2017.[8] As promised, Tanki X was released on Steam on April 20, 2017. The game received mostly positive views and, as of May 22, 2017, has a total of 441 reviews with 320 positive reviews and only 121 negative reviews.[9]
