After the apocalypse, we’ll all wear gray, brown, or green. And, we’ll have given up inhumane sports like wrestling and dog-racing for something more civilized... like open-field combat in tanks. 3DO’s new PlayStation game, World Destruction League: Thunder Tanks is obviously a whimsical take on such institutions as the NFL, WWL, and others, with a “game-show” theme reinforced by two announcers who commentate during the action. The various environments and levels are set to music that sounds more like a live band than synth-o-rama, which is refreshing. Weapon effects are over the top, and 3DO managed to pack some major frenzied action into each level. The fact that almost everything can be destroyed (hence the name) means the levels are a constantly changing visual canvas.

I really like how things are set up in WDL for both Single- and Two-Player Modes. The simplest mode is Tournament, where you go up against waves of drones and characters to complete levels and stages on the way to becoming champion of the WDL. Each stage is split between levels that have different objectives and opponents. One nice thing about 3DO’s game design is that Single-Player objectives mirror modes in multiplayer, giving you a taste of what’s to come. Each level is set in a world location with any number of unique challenges and hidden areas. The objectives can be as simple as destroying opponents or getting to a goal-point, or as complicated as playing “Capture the Flag” under a hail of enemy fire, landmines, and other hazards. Getting through Tournament Mode gives a nice taste for what WDL: Thunder Tanks has to offer, but you’ll beat it pretty quick.

After you’re crowned king, grab a friend and play one of the Skirmish Modes. These are split between competitive Two-Player destruction missions and “Capture the Flag” derivatives. Deathmatch Mode is a full-on blast-fest set in your choice of city and tank, trying to blow up the other guy. Family Mode is the same, except that your primary and secondary weapons fire with a single button, providing watered down action for less advanced gamers. Capture the Flag and Frenzy Mode are about gathering flags (either the opponents’ or some that are randomly placed and re-spawned) and getting them back to home base before the other guy does. And yes, you’re still able to wreak havoc while hunting down flags. For loners like me, 3DO included the option to play against A.I. opponents as well as, or in addition to, a real-life human.

Each one of the nine tanks has cool abilities and special weapons, along with a weird character driving. Much like Vigilante 8, Thunder Tanks is as much about the back-story on each character as the vehicles. Some tanks are heavy and packing big heat, while others are small and nimble, but light on armor or weaponry. A tank for everyone, and if you feel a little unmatched, there are power-ups galore to even the odds. Leaky old tanker-trucks just waiting to be detonated serve as traps for your opponent, and pushing the other guy into a speeding train or auto-gun is a nice trick, also. Up to four tanks, with any combination of Single- or Two-Player settings, can be chosen and modified for Skirmish Modes. Not much chance of anyone wearing this game thin too soon...

If I had a gripe about WDL: Thunder Tanks, it would be the fact that it’s too easy. Especially in a fast tank with a fast finger, you won’t find anything too unstoppable. Enemies become faster and stronger as the difficulty is dialed up, but I wish a more extreme mode could have been accessible in either Tournament or Skirmish Mode. The real fun is in Two-Player, where all the whiles and unpredictability of being human come into play; I slobber, thinking about games like this as network-ready on PS2. Don’t get me started...

Control is an area, like Difficulty, that could have used tuning in Thunder Tanks. Most tanks handle the way you might expect them to, and there’s a major difference between the ground-models and the hover-tanks. All the same, I found moving around was sometimes unpredictable, and even the swiftest tank could seem like it was stuck in the mud. Analog controls are nice; for tanks that have “strafe” abilities, the right analog stick lets you move quickly from right to left while firing. Main and secondary weapons are available, and shoulder buttons can be used to fire the main weapons, strafe, or move the tank’s turret. You only have to worry about ammo with the secondary weapon, and there are some nice power-up weapons available when you run dry.

Balancing the opposition is a nice feature available on both Tournament and Skirmish Mode, with additional choice of location and environmental hazards. Drone tanks and auto-guns are variable, but the exploding tankers and even some of the power-ups can be as risky for you as for the other guy. One nice element that appears in-game is the tank’s HUD, displaying your progress toward accomplishing the mission objective and a sweeping radar screen to help find bad guys and steer you toward a flag or power-up. Saving a game can be done with memory card or password, in case you’re short on storage.

World Destruction League: Thunder Tanks is a nice package, and if racing fast cars or space combat is getting a little old, you’ll enjoy the variety. Especially with all the fun of Two-Player Mode, you’ll get plenty of mileage out of this one if you choose to add it to your library.