You know what are always enjoyable? RC Tanks, especially ones that can fire things at your least-favorite sibling. It took Emitter Critter to realize how this universal source of fun might translate to flash form, and the result is the new top-down shooter, Awesome Tanks. Gameplay is nothing too complicated: Shoot stuff. Get coins. Buy upgrades. But at a time when so many arena games are drenched with gore or zombie blood (not that there's anything wrong with that!), it's always cool to see polished work of the genre that is "kid-friendly" without feeling too "kiddy".
Awesome Tanks' fifteen levels have the combination of frenetic action and colorful explosions that all ages should enjoy, and the level editor is immensely fun to tool around with, though there seems little reason for it not to be unlocked from the start. The upgrade system could have better priced and better explained. As it is, your tank metaphorically hits a wall every couple of levels as you struggle to earn enough cash to become competitive again. Still, Awesome Tanks should keep your fingers happily clicking and turrets happily firing for quite a while.
Aww, it's such a cheery, fun looking game, but there seems to be a glitch in the mouse events: As I move my mouse it reacts slower, and slower. Seems to be queueing up the events faster than it can handle them.
I'll have to try it on another computer, 'cus it sure looks like a bundle of fun : D
An exploitable bug:
You can cancel the cooldown of the cannon by switching to another weapon and then back. Using this you can lay down massive area damage wherever enemies would gather.
Further info on the bug:
You don't even have to switch weapons, just hold down the number for a weapon and unleash holy destruction.
I feel like the AI needs some artificial stupidity. In particular, laser tanks are just too fast. I either lose a significant chunk of my health to them, or I rocket them from so far away that it feels like I'm cheating.
Update