Tanarus is a unique vehicular combat action game published for Windows in 1997 by Sony Interactive Studios America and developed by Verant Interactive—the studio that would later gain renown for *EverQuest*. Conceived from the start as an internet-focused experience, it features team-based tank battles in 3D environments, eschewing traditional narrative campaigns or sequences of predetermined missions.
The action unfolds from the perspective of an armored vehicle's driver and gunner. At the start of each match, players can choose from various tank models and customize their loadouts with different weapons and support modules. This flexibility allows vehicles to be tailored to specific playstyles: direct assault, base defense, terrain exploration, or team-based reconnaissance. The arsenal includes heavy weaponry, missiles, and mines, while each tank's specific attributes determine its mobility, durability, and offensive capabilities.
Objectives varied depending...
Tanarus is a unique vehicular combat action game published for Windows in 1997 by Sony Interactive Studios America and developed by Verant Interactive—the studio that would later gain renown for *EverQuest*. Conceived from the start as an internet-focused experience, it features team-based tank battles in 3D environments, eschewing traditional narrative campaigns or sequences of predetermined missions.
The action unfolds from the perspective of an armored vehicle's driver and gunner. At the start of each match, players can choose from various tank models and customize their loadouts with different weapons and support modules. This flexibility allows vehicles to be tailored to specific playstyles: direct assault, base defense, terrain exploration, or team-based reconnaissance. The arsenal includes heavy weaponry, missiles, and mines, while each tank's specific attributes determine its mobility, durability, and offensive capabilities.
Objectives varied depending on the map and team decisions. Matches might focus on destroying enemy tanks, capturing reconnaissance stations for tactical advantages, or seizing the opposing team's flag and returning it to base. Up to four teams could compete simultaneously—with multiple players per side—turning every battle into a blend of fast-paced action, coordination, and territorial control. Communication and timing—such as knowing when to switch vehicles—were just as crucial as landing accurate shots.
In addition to its online multiplayer component, the retail version included a training mode for practicing against AI, an extra tank known as the "Mag Rider," and a city editor that allowed users to design new maps. Environments ranged from deserts and devastated cities to post-apocalyptic landscapes, featuring lighting effects, day-night cycles, and weather conditions that could impact vehicle handling. Support for 3D acceleration via Microsoft Direct3D placed it among the first generation of online combat games featuring three-dimensional graphics.
More than just a conventional shooter, Tanarus represents one of the earliest attempts to offer persistent, team-based tank battles over the Internet. Its concept—ahead of its time—relied on servers and online subscriptions; consequently, it is now considered a discontinued title of primarily historical interest. Nevertheless, its blend of customization, capture-the-flag mechanics, vehicular combat, and team strategy secures it a unique place in the realm of retro PC gaming.
