Lil Tanks | logo

I love me some retro, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that I decided to back Lil Tanks on Kickstarter. What is Lil Tanks, you ask? Developed by Lead Money Games, it’s a tribute to classic arcade, quarter crunching games of yesteryear. The plot revolves around a menace known only as the Cuur devastating and reshaping our planet (sound familiar, 90’s gamers?). Of course, our last ditch effort is all that can stop them, which is a powerful prototype called, you guessed it, Lil Tanks!

Lil Tanks | Combat

While it won’t win any awards for story, Lil Tanks looks to have great gameplay and lots of frenetic combat. Best of all, the game makes use of light RPG functionality and lets you power up and customize your tank how you see fit. If that sounds good to you, you can check out Lil Tanks today on Steam. It’s currently discounted 20% to $7.99, so jump on it quick! To see more about the game, check out the full press release below.


The Cuur have invaded Earth and started terraforming the planet – reshaping the terrain and tinkering with the atmosphere. In a last-ditch effort, Humanity’s greatest minds have come together to create a prototype vehicle program – code-named “Lil Tanks.”

You’re dropped right in the middle of a chaotic battlefield where quick reflexes and weapon mastery are critical to victory. Be prepared to face off against more than 20 unique enemies – including laser turrets, aircraft, mechs, and deadly bosses who will stop at nothing to destroy your tank. Battle the Cuur across four different environments ranging from deserts and swamps to tundras and volcanic wastes. Luckily, a companion Lil Tank joins you in battle – so you never have to fight alone. This Lil Tank is indestructible and can operate independently – or be piloted by a local co-op player.

Lil Tanks | Missiles

Turn your tank into the ultimate Cuur-killing death machine with a robust RPG system. Level up and you’ll be able to equip upgrades such as a shield, double shot, speed booster, triple shot, wide shot, spread shot, and missiles. Your level does not reset when you die, so you can come back stronger and better equipped after each defeat. Collect power-ups dropped by enemies on the battlefield – and unleash a flurry of missiles, a burst of flames … or even an electrifying lightning gun!

Lil Tanks features four different game modes to test your skills. Campaign mode pits you against the Cuur as you fight to take back your planet from their control and save Humanity. Activate Hardcore mode by collecting medals throughout the campaign; each medal provides a different challenge that makes Lil Tanks even tougher. In Endless mode, see how long you can survive a never-ending onslaught of Cuur. Boss Training lets you practice exterminating bosses so that you can develop the perfect strategy for future encounters.

DEVELOPER QUOTES

Andrew Pungprakearti (co-founder, Lead Money Games):

“From humble beginnings, Lil Tanks has grown into an insanely addictive arcade shoot ’em up inspired by countless quarter-munchers from our childhood.”

Anthony Meschi (co-founder, Lead Money Games):

“The game has come a long way since the first prototype, which skewed more toward tower defense than all-out action. We hope Steam users have a blast and experience what made the ‘80s and ‘90s such an incredible time to be a gamer.”

KEY FEATURES

* Play through 4 different game modes: Campaign, Hardcore, Endless, and Boss Training.
* Engage more than 20 unique types of enemies – including mechs, laser turrets, aircraft, and more.
* Destroy the Cuur’s forces to level up and unlock permanent shield and weapon upgrades.
* Find power-ups dropped by enemies and unleash even more destruction!
* Team up with a friend who can pilot your indestructible companion tank in local co-op.
* Defend the planet from the Cuur assault across four different environments – such as deserts, swamps, tundras, and volcanic wastes.
* Rock out to an original soundtrack composed by Kelly Warner – whose music has been featured on Comedy Central, MTV, NBC, ESPN, and more.

CHANGELOG (since first public demo)

* Updated menus
* Intro/outro cutscenes
* Dialogue scenes between stages
* Unlockable tank duos
* Additional stages
* Weapon swap mechanic
* Adjusted difficulty
* Boss Training mode
* Endless mode with online leaderboard
* Achievements (Steam)
* 7 unlockable gameplay mods
* Screen size options

PRICING & AVAILABILITY
Lil Tanks is now available on Steam (PC/Mac/Linux) for only $7.99 (20% off). The game will return to its original $9.99 pricing after one week (April 11).

ABOUT THE DEVELOPER

Co-founded by Andrew Pungprakearti and Anthony Meschi in 2014, Lead Money Games is a humble, two-person development studio located in the Bay Area (Rohnert Park, California). Lil Tanks is the duo’s premier title, which has evolved from a tower defense game for mobile to an action-packed desktop side-scroller. For more information about Lead Money Games, please visit www.leadmoneygames.com.

Josh Speer
Josh is a passionate gamer, finding time to clock in around 30-40 hours of gaming a week. He discovered Operation Rainfall while avidly following the localization of the Big 3 Wii RPGs. He enjoys SHMUPS, Platformers, RPGs, Roguelikes and the occasional Fighter. He’s also an unashamedly giant Mega Man fan, having played the series since he was eight. As Head Editor and Review Manager, he spends far too much time editing reviews and random articles. In his limited spare time he devours indies whole and anticipates the release of quirky, unpredictable and innovative games.