Tank Battalion
Encyclopedia
Tank Battalion is a multi-directional shooter arcade game
that was released by Namco
in 1980. It was later ported to the Japanese Famicom
(with a corresponding Vs. System game) and Game Boy, but for unknown reasons was retitled Battle City
. This game was also ported to the MSX 8-bit computers with its original name.
, must destroy 20 enemy tanks in each level, which enter the playfield from the top of the screen. The enemy tanks attempt to destroy the player's base (represented on the map as an eagle
), as well as the player's tank. A level is completed when the player destroys all 20 enemy tanks, but the game ends if the player's base is destroyed or the player loses all his lives.
A sequel named Tank Force
was released in 1991, which allowed 2 players to play simultaneously.
Eventually there was an 8-player version, played looking down on a table with 2 players per side.
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
that was released by Namco
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
in 1980. It was later ported to the Japanese Famicom
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
(with a corresponding Vs. System game) and Game Boy, but for unknown reasons was retitled Battle City
Battle City (video game)
Battle City is a multi-directional shooter video game for the Nintendo Family Computer produced and published in 1985 by Namco. The game was later released for the Game Boy and was included in the Japanese version of Star Fox: Assault...
. This game was also ported to the MSX 8-bit computers with its original name.
Gameplay
The player, controlling a tankTank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
, must destroy 20 enemy tanks in each level, which enter the playfield from the top of the screen. The enemy tanks attempt to destroy the player's base (represented on the map as an eagle
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
), as well as the player's tank. A level is completed when the player destroys all 20 enemy tanks, but the game ends if the player's base is destroyed or the player loses all his lives.
A sequel named Tank Force
Tank Force
Tank Force is a multi-directional shooter arcade game that was released by Namco in 1991. It is the sequel to Battle City, released 6 years earlier, which is a sequel to Tank Battalion, released 11 years earlier than Tank Force...
was released in 1991, which allowed 2 players to play simultaneously.
Eventually there was an 8-player version, played looking down on a table with 2 players per side.