/vr/ - Retro Games

Pop'n Tanks! is a very obscure Japan-only game published by Enix. It's a tank combat game, but with colorful environments, cutesy anime characters, and blocky mini-tanks to pilot around various arenas. You can create your own tank from scratch using various parts or play through a story mode with one of the eight characters. Obviously there is also multi-player, either with the story characters or with custom tanks you've saved to your memory card.

The game's lighthearted tone and visuals are unusual for the genre, and gameplay is tight and fast-paced, with battles usually over in less than five minutes. Though it isn't compatible with the later DualShock's control pad, the ability to strafe makes it so that combat is smooth and exciting regardless. Story aside, no Japanese knowledge is required to play.