Tank Commander

Tank Commander is a video game in the strategy genre developed by The Big Red Software Company Ltd. and published by Domark Software Ltd. originally released in 1995. It is currently playable on DOS.

Tank Commander is a fun and very underrated tank combat game by Domark.

The review on Tanksim.com says it all: 'Tank Commander was released in 1995 as a tankim with multiplayer capability. The graphics predate the Pentium and are only adequate. If you can accept its limitations, TC can offer passable gameplay. 

Once you get started, you arrive at the settings panel where you adjust the sound and detail levels and alter the standard keyboard settings.  A selection of seven missions awaits you, including volcanic, arctic, desert and urban settings. Each mission consists of subsections with different objectives. Complete the first objective and you can continue with the mission. You can watch the action using the pursuit, gunner, driver, commander or satellite views.

No matter how you look at it, the physics of the tanksim is completely detached from reality. Your tank will turn and accelerate much faster than in real life. The tank drives more like an upgraded mustang than a 63-ton armored assault vehicle. You will spend a lot of time zooming and shooting at targets that the on-board radar points out to you. Tank speed and radar aren't the only unrealistic aspects of the simulator.  You have at your disposal, in a single tank, the cannon, the coaxial machine gun, the flamethrower, the mine destroyer and even a guided missile. Tank Commander is sure to equip you well! And if you run out of ammo too soon - and you will - there are 'power-ups' in the game to replenish your reserves and armor.

If you've come to the conclusion that Tank Commander plays to the hilt with realism, I'm not going to try to convince you otherwise. With dated graphics and borderline physics, what can be said in TC's favor. Well, completing the mission is a challenge. The AI is aggressive and you will be under constant fire. Most missions give you the option to call for help. Air support comes in the form of war hungry A-10 Warthogs. These guys can help you clear a beach in a hurry. In this simulation, you don't have to relax or reconnoiter; you have to shoot and get the hell out of there. The enemy will show up in many forms: Leopard tanks, helicopters, individual troops (which is fun to run over!), hovercraft, destroyers...you name it.

No matter how arcadian, Tank Commander pushes with a mean attack. And the difficulty level increases as you progress through the missions. During the mission, small videos of your crew members will appear in the upper right corner to advise and alert you. Listen to them. It's not your first rodeo. Completing an objective is rewarding and you can get hooked playing this simulator even if it's not pretty. Sounds are the last in line. Nothing can replace the echoing main gun that M1 Tank Platoon 2 offers. 

The programmers of Tank Commander show off some novelty by including drones and surveillance helicopters. And wait until you climb a ridge and take a look at the ancient pillars of Stonehenge - where are we, Toto? 'Share the fun with a friend - TC offers modem and network play for up to four players, although I've never tried this feature'.

All in all, a commendable effort that doesn't quite measure up to M1 Tank Platoon, but is fun and quite innovative for its time.

It is possible that we have multiple downloads available when different versions exist.