Tank! Tank! Tank! goes free to play on Wii U

Nintendo has made good on its promise to broaden its digital software offer by making Namco Bandai’s Tank! Tank! Tank! Free to play.

The game has failed to perform commercially, not least because of the critical mauling that saw it win a Metacritic average of just 45 per cent.

Gamers are now able to download a free ‘basic’ pack that includes three games modes – Monster Battle, Free-For-All and Team Versus. Players will be limited to three sessions of each mode for free every day.

Players can then, if they choose, pay an addition fee on up to ten pieces of DLC that will offer extra levels and modes. Purchasing any of these will also remove the gameplay restrictions.

For the time being these cost only 1.59 per pack, although the price will at some stage increase to 7.99.

It’s a significant move and one that could leave those who paid full RRP for the game last year a little miffed.