Battle City

Battle City

Battle City is Namco’s classic 1985 Famicom multidirectional tank shooter, a refined sequel to the earlier arcade game Tank Battalion. Players control a tank and must destroy 20 enemy tanks per stage while protecting their eagle base at the bottom of the screen. The game features destructible brick walls, indestructible steel, water, ice, power-ups that upgrade your tank, two-player simultaneous play, and a built-in level editor. Although never officially released outside Japan, it became extremely popular worldwide through Famicom clones and multicarts, often appearing under names such as Tank 1990.

Game Overview

Battle City (バトルシティー) was developed and published by Namco for the Family Computer and released in Japan on September 9, 1985. It is a top-down multidirectional shooter in which the player controls a tank on a grid-based battlefield.

The main objective is to destroy all 20 enemy tanks that appear in each stage while preventing them from destroying the player’s base (marked by an eagle emblem). Enemy tanks come in several types, with the strongest requiring multiple hits. Terrain includes brick walls that can be destroyed, steel walls that are nearly invulnerable, water that blocks movement, and ice that makes tanks slide.

Power-ups appear when certain enemy tanks are destroyed. These include tank upgrades (faster movement, stronger shots, or the ability to destroy steel), temporary invincibility, a timer that freezes enemies, a shovel that reinforces the base with steel, a grenade that destroys all on-screen enemies, and extra lives.

The game supports simultaneous two-player co-op and includes a Construction mode that lets players design their own stages (though custom levels cannot be saved permanently on the original hardware). With 35 official stages of increasing difficulty, simple but strategic gameplay, and excellent two-player action, Battle City remains one of the most iconic and frequently bootlegged Famicom titles. The popular “Tank 1990” versions found on multicarts are hacks that often add extra levels, different maps, new power-ups, or altered difficulty.

Quick Specifications

• Title: Battle City
  
• Also Known As: Tank 1990 (common bootleg/hack name on multicarts)
  
• Japanese Title: バトルシティー (Batoru Shitī)
  
• Platform: Famicom / NES (Japan-only official release)
  
• Developer: Namco
  
• Publisher: Namco
  
• Release Date: Japan – September 9, 1985
  
• Genre: Multidirectional Shooter / Tank Action
  
• Players: 1–2 (simultaneous co-op)
  
• Stages: 35 official stages + Construction mode
  

Key Features

• Top-down tank combat on a grid-based battlefield
  
• Protect the eagle base while destroying 20 enemy tanks per stage
  
• Multiple enemy tank types with different strengths and speeds
  
• Destructible brick walls, steel barriers, water, and ice terrain
  
• Power-ups that upgrade tank speed, firepower, and special abilities
  
• Simultaneous two-player cooperative mode
  
• Built-in Construction mode for creating custom levels
  
• Simple controls with deep strategic play
  

Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Was Battle City officially released outside Japan?

No. The original Famicom version was Japan-only. It spread internationally mainly through unlicensed multicarts and Famicom clones, where it is frequently labeled “Tank 1990” or similar names.

What is the difference between Battle City and Tank 1990?

Battle City is the official Namco game. Tank 1990 usually refers to popular bootleg or hacked versions that often feature altered or expanded level sets, modified enemy behavior, additional power-ups, or different difficulty.

How do you protect the base?

The eagle base at the bottom of the screen must not be destroyed. Players can use the Shovel power-up to temporarily reinforce it with steel walls, or carefully manage enemy paths and destroy threats before they reach it.

Can two players play together?

Yes. Battle City supports simultaneous two-player cooperative mode, with both players sharing the goal of clearing stages and protecting the base.

Is there a level editor?

Yes. The original Famicom version includes a Construction mode that allows players to design their own stages, although the custom levels cannot be permanently saved on original hardware.