Review: The Mane Six Hijack a Tank, by: Broseph_Stalin · 1:42pm Apr 24th, 2015
Short, quick little review of a short, quick little story. Not really enough to talk about to to go in much depth, and I’ve had full reviews longer then this story, so just a quick little bit. Also, spoilers. it’s so short, no way not to mention them.
Story: The story is extremely simple and exactly what it say in the title. The Mane 6 get in a tank, and proceed to blow stuff up. Till the end when it turns out to all be a co-op video game they are playing. Which makes the whole thing really odd when you think about it, because no game would be as detailed as what the story was describing it like until that point. But served as a good fake out.
Characters: The characters are both fairly in, and extremely out of character. They feel mostly like themselves... other then reveling in destroying their town and gunning down any ponies that try to stop them. Which is mitigated by this all being a game, but even then, seems odd for them to get this into it like that.
Ponyness: Both tanks like that, and video games of that level are incredibly out of place in Equestria. Simply being pushed into the setting simply to make the story work. The Mane 6 feel pretty OOC in their love of destruction. Or at least pushed to the very edge of what is their character.. while still overall feeling like themselves. Plus Trollestia having some fun.
Overall: Good. Surprised by this rating after the wall of what seems like nothing but negatives? It’s because despite all those reasons this shouldn’t work as a Pony fic, it still does. One important thing to keep in mind, is to take every story on it’s own merits, on it’s own terms. Look at what it’s trying to be and judge it accordingly. Not just treat everything the same. If this had been some serious, or semi-serious story, if it had been trying to say this is really how things are or should be, yeah it would be pretty damn bad. But it’s not. It’s just trying to be a bit of lighthearted fluff. Just a quick little “Don’t think to hard about it and just enjoy the ride” type story. And it works because it admits this. It knows what it is, and is only trying to give you a laugh. It knows this isn’t how things could, would, or should be. It’s just asking “Hey wouldn’t it be cool if it was?”
There is nothing wrong with a bit of mindless fun, be it comedy or action. So long as it still works as a story overall, and admits that’s all it is or is trying to be. In the end, while wholly at odds with the setting, making no sense overall when you think about it.. it’s still a fun, entertaining little story. And that is the true mark of a good story. Being fun and entertaining to read.
