The game is a lot more than just a good-looking arcade game remake. Battlezone is another take on how to hybridize action and strategy into one complete game. Although at first glance the game looks a lot like titles that have come before (Uprising to name one), Battlezone boasts a strategy element that is much more graceful and an action element that is superior in both presentation and control. In addition to the gameplay, the team is trying to deliver a product that looks great as well, with stunning explosions, realistic lens flares, and smooth terrain effects. All of this is to be wrapped up inside of another Activision interpretation of history, a trademark that the company seems to be getting very adept at indeed.

So what does any of this have to do with the original Battlezone? Not much really. Apart from the fact that you spend a lot of your time driving a tank around a mountainous terrain, there's not really all that much here to remind you that you're playing a sequel rather than a launch. But at least the story it delivers does provide some small relief to gamers like me who have been wondering for years just what the hell it was that they were doing out on those plains of green. And at least I can finally reach those damn mountains. Let's start with this explanation....