Trax (video game)

File:GB Trax (Totsugeki! Ponkotsu Tank).png

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Trax is a shooter game.Trax instruction booklet (Game Boy, US) The player controls a tank with a cannon that can be rotated to any one of the cardinal directions. Correspondingly, where traditional shooters consist of either horizontal or vertical levels, Trax mixes the two within the same level.

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Trax was developed by HAL Laboratory.{{cite web|url=https://www.hallab.co.jp/works/detail/000758/|title=突撃！ポンコツタンク/TRAX | ハル研究所|publisher=HAL Laboratory|date=2023|access-date=2023-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305221446/https://www.hallab.co.jp/works/detail/000758/|archive-date=2018-03-05|url-status=live}}

{{Video game reviews

|ASM = 8/12{{cite magazine|last=Alter|first=Sandra|url=https://archive.org/details/Aktueller_Software_Markt_-_Ausgabe_1991.05/page/n124/mode/1up|title=Konsolen: Gummipanzer? - Ponkotsu Tank (Game Boy)|magazine=Aktueller Software Markt|issue=52|publisher=Tronic Verlag|date=May 1991|page=123|language=de}}

|CP = 84%{{cite magazine|last=Harbonn|first=Jacques|url=https://archive.org/details/Console_Plus_Numero_011/page/108/mode/1up|title=Game Boy Review: Trax|magazine={{ill|Consoles +|lt=Consoles +|fr|Consoles +}}|issue=11|publisher={{ill|M.E.R.7|lt=M.E.R.7|fr|M.E.R.7}}|date=July 1992|page=108|language=fr}}

|Fam = 23/40{{cite magazine|title=NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: 突撃！ポンコツタンク|magazine=Famitsu|issue=119|publisher=ASCII Corporation|date=January 11, 1991|language=ja}} ([https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=13643 Transcription] by Famitsu.com).

|JP = 77%{{cite magazine|last=Prézeau|first=Olivier|url=https://archive.org/details/joypad-magazine-011/page/n159/mode/1up|title=Game Boy: Tank Il Y Aura Des Hommes! - Trax|magazine={{ill|Joypad (magazine)|lt=Joypad|fr|Joypad (magazine)}}|issue=11|publisher=Challenge SARL|date=August 1992|page=160|language=fr}}

|JS = 87%{{cite magazine|last=Demoly|first=Jean-Marc|url=https://archive.org/details/joystick014/page/n139/mode/1up|title=Consoles News - Game Boy: Ponkotsu Tank|magazine=Joystick|issue=14|publisher=Sipress|date=March 1991|page=140|language=fr}}

|ONM = 59%{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/nintendo-magazine-system-1/page/111/mode/1up|title=Nintendo Magazine System Game Index: Game Boy|magazine=Nintendo Magazine System|issue=1|publisher=EMAP|date=October 1992|pages=109–111}}

|PO = 79%{{cite magazine|last=Scamps|first=Olivier|url=https://archive.org/details/playerone-magazine-022/page/n117/mode/2up|title=Tests De Jeux - Game Boy: Trax|magazine={{ill|Player One (magazine)|lt=Player One|fr|Player One (magazine)}}|issue=|publisher={{ill|Média Système Édition|lt=Média Système Édition|fr|Média Système Édition}}|date=July–August 1992|pages=122–123|language=fr}}

|TOT = 32%{{cite magazine|last=Jarratt|first=Steve|url=https://archive.org/details/total-10-october-1992/page/n82/mode/1up|title=GB Reviews Round-Up: Trax|magazine=Total!|issue=10|publisher=Future Publishing|date=October 1992|page=83}}

|VGS = 66%{{cite magazine|last=Englhart|first=Stephan|url=https://archive.org/details/video-games-de-1992-08/page/114/mode/1up|title=Test: Panzer For Peace - Trax (Game Boy)|magazine={{ill|Video Games (magazine)|lt=Video Games|de|Video Games}}|issue=9|publisher=Markt & Technik|date=August 1992|page=114|language=de}}

|rev1 = Play Time

|rev1Score = 81%{{cite magazine|last=Müller|first=Christian|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3APlayTime_DE_1992-01.pdf&page=80|title=Konsolen Spiele: Trax (Game Boy)|magazine={{ill|Play Time (magazine)|lt=Play Time|de|Play Time}}|issue=8|publisher=Computec|date=January 1992|page=80|language=de|access-date=2023-12-24}}

|rev2 = Super Gamer

|rev2Score = 37%{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/super-gamer-01/page/n125/mode/1up|title=A-Z of Games - Nintendo Games Index: Game Boy|magazine=Super Gamer|issue=1|publisher=Paragon Publishing|date=April 1994|pages=125–126}}

}}

Trax garnered average reception from critics.{{cite magazine|last=Nihei|first=Wes|url=https://archive.org/details/gamepros-handheld-video-games-issue-2-fall-1991/page/24/mode/1up|title=Game Boy ProReview: Trax|magazine=GamePro's Handheld Video Games|issue=2|type=Special|publisher=IDG|date=October–November 1991|page=24}} Joystick{{'}}s Jean-Marc Demoly said it was a dynamic game that deviates a bit from traditional shoot 'em ups, and highlighted its graphical presentation. Aktueller Software Markt{{'}}s Sandra Alter found the game easy to control, but noted that it slowed down when too many enemies appeared on the screen. Play Time{{'}}s Christian Müller commended the game's audiovisual department, precise controls, and good handling. Jacques Harbonn of Consoles + gave the game positive remarks for its humorous introductory sequence, its varied range of weapons, playability and multiplayer mode, but saw the drab visuals and unexceptional soundscape as weak points. Player One{{'}}s Olivier Scamps celebrated the game's production value and multiplayer, but noted the occasional slowdowns and considered its low difficulty a major flaw.

Joypad{{'}}s Olivier Prézeau found the game's four-player mode appealing, and commended its originality, humorous situations, sprite animations and visuals, but noticed the occasional slowdown. Video Games{{'}} Stephan Englhart opined that the game's enemies, landscapes, and weapons were not designed with much imagination. Englhart criticized the game's lack of variety and low difficulty, but highlighted its four-player mode. Nintendo Magazine System (Official Nintendo Magazine) rated Trax as a "Snooze-inducing driving-type game which lacks the pace and excitement to get the adrenalin flowing". Steve Jarratt of Total! commended the game's frenetic action, but lamented its short length. Super Gamer labelled it as a strange but repetitive multi-directional shooter.

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{{reflist}}

{{Portal|1990s|Japan|Video games}}

• [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/gameboy/585974-trax Trax] at GameFAQs
• [https://www.giantbomb.com/trax/3030-52442/ Trax] at Giant Bomb
• [https://www.mobygames.com/game/61591/trax/Trax] at MobyGames

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Category:1991 video games

Category:Electro Brain games

Category:Game Boy games

Category:Game Boy-only games

Category:HAL Laboratory games

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games

Category:Run and gun games

Category:Tank simulation video games

Category:Video games developed in Japan

Category:Video games scored by Hirohiko Takayama