When playing a tank simulator game like Panzer Front , you need three things to look good: These are the tanks, the environments, and the explosions. Agetec let all the horses run on this one, as the graphics are as sweet as a honey-coated sugar cube. Drawing on a reservoir of 40-plus tanks, PF certainly has a tank for anyone whether you're a weekend general or a tank aficionado. Tanks are true to their real-life visage, and have their perfect nationality markings to prove it. And you thought that a huge two-ton mobile cannon couldn't look good in a little Mary Kay? Of course, you'll have to drive these tanks around the terrain, which is as distinguished as the tanks themselves. The ground goes from dirt to mud, with appropriate tread marks to match. You leave rifts in the fresh-fallen snow as you struggle to defend or overthrow Stallingrad. There are perfectly rendered cities that are war-scarred, while others aren't. The forests and fields look appropriately agricultural, while I clearly thought for a second that there were giant stalks of corn in my living room. Finally, what good is corn if there aren't explosions around to appreciate it? The explosions are wonderful. Bigger tanks take hits and smoke as 'out of order' becomes more imminent, while the smaller tanks clearly explode in an impressive array of yellows, reds, and that funny 'burnt sienna' color. I know war isn't pretty, but at least Panzer Front looks good.

The sound is a 'both ends of the spectrum' kind of thing. The sound effects are wonderful, with the gas, diesel, or steam engines sounding gassy or steamy enough. The different artilleries being fired each have their own auditory signature as well. The explosions are brilliant, giving off more bass and reverberation than that '79 ghetto sled with all the speakers rattling its trunk that rolls through your hood. Suffice it to say that the effects do an excellent job. At the other end of the spectrum is the music. Panzer Front kind of has an each nationality with its own distinctions thing going. This is no different with the music either as the Russians, Americans, and Germans each have their own tune. However, the issue I have with the music is going through 25 missions hearing the same national tune definitely makes you want change to a neutral nationality. So while the effects deserve applause, the music needed to be more dynamic.

Panzer Front keeps it real simple here. There are four things you can do from the Main Menu. You can choose Tank Select which will let you choose from six fictitious tanks, and allows you to choose any area you want to explore and conquer. Tactics Mode is the meat and potatoes of this game, where you select a nationality, and try to best the different scenarios thrown at you. If you find that the tank given you initially doesn't suit your needs, there is the option to choose a different tank. So if you're German, and decide your Tiger tank just doesn't light the grill for you, why, pick up a Sherman tank. You'll be blasting allies with their own tanks and you can even label yourself the 'German Sherman.' No, I did not eat paint chips as a kid... Things start simmering down with Tutorial Mode, which really frustrated me because the buttons are presented in a movie-like format in which you're to watch and memorize. I would have preferred a more interactive tutorial, instead of 'when fifty tanks are shooting at you, push square, then D-pad to aim, then square to fire.' Of course if the shells you are using don't penetrate the heavier tanks' armor, then you'll have to hit square, aim, square, select, aim and then square. Simple enough after practice, but it would have been easier in the controlled environment of a tutorial, and not with fifty Panzers ramming tank shells down my barrel. The Option Mode is everything its supposed to be, letting you control all the basic glues of the game to gameplay affecting items like splash damage. Agetec made Panzer Front into a respectable game with all its options. Sometimes you just don't feel like going through missions. You want a tank loaded with overstuffed explosives, and you want to go out and run some trees over while shooting bad guys. With PF , you get that.

Probably another small knock on the game is its difficulty. Granted the training missions are easy enough, requiring you to take out 2-4 tanks with no breakage of sweat. Yet, as soon as you finish training and jump into the first mission, oh boy, talk about tough! You've got Panzers or Russian tanks hiding in the cornfields nailing you while you can't see them. Tanks are behind buildings and camouflaged perfectly. Panzer Front definitely is not for those who are into a quick thrill. This will test your mettle down to the last drop. There is NO option to turn down difficulty which I greatly would have liked. Alas, it was not to be and try as I might, the Panzers and Tigers shredded me so nicely, I would have gone great on a plate of Rigatoni and meatballs. I'll admit, its fun and challenging as all get out, but sometimes, it was downright angering. War ain't easy, and neither is Panzer Front .

Finally, a manual that tells you all the controls! After reading the manual, I was ready to fight. It was a good read that was also pretty darn informative. I found that after reading the manual, with a fair amount of tank driving, I was able to handle my Camry in real life with the greatest of ease. The controls are a bit rough in the beginning, but you become accustomed to them quickly. No one said controlling a huge tank would be easy, and the controls are semi-realistic I'd fathom. All in all, Panzer Front is a well put together game.

Riot Rundown: Yeah, this game is difficult, but it is fun. I think that any patient person, a la RPG'er or simulation lover, would really like this game. I think the lack of ability to manipulate difficulty will leave non-fanatical gamers a little upset and overwhelmed, but Agetec tried their best to have Modes that anyone can enjoy. My two cents seem to be saying Panzer Front is a well put together game with few areas needing a little more attention.