Tank 1990 is an unlicensed video game developed and published by Chinese bootleg company, Yanshan Software for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in the early 1990s. It is widely regarded as a modified version, or hack, of Namco's Battle City, originally released in 1985. There is total 15 hacks of Battle City, each labeled from A to N.
Tank 1990 (NES)
Each of these hacks have a combination of new levels with different enemy waves. Enemy tanks have mixed abilities, like small tanks have armor like large tanks, large tanks appear without armor. New powerups are available, like the gun icon that instantly buffs the player tank and the ship icon where the player can move on water. Despite its unofficial status, the game became highly popular, especially in East Asia and Eastern Europe, often included on multi-game cartridges for Famiclone consoles.
The core gameplay of Tank 1990 remains faithful to Battle City: players control a tank tasked with destroying enemy tanks while defending their base, represented by an eagle emblem. Players navigate maze-like levels made of destructible and indestructible walls, collecting power-ups that enhance their tank’s abilities. Tank 1990 introduces several additions to the classic formula, such as new enemy tank types with unique behaviors, more powerful weapons, and advanced defensive upgrades. The game retains both single-player and two-player cooperative modes, providing an engaging experience for solo and multiplayer sessions.
One of the standout features of Tank 1990 is its expanded level design. Compared to Battle City, this version offers more complex and challenging maps, including a wider variety of obstacles and layouts that require strategic thinking. These enhancements contribute to greater replayability and a higher level of difficulty, appealing to players looking for an expanded challenge.
Despite being an unlicensed release, Tank 1990 achieved widespread distribution through bootleg cartridges, particularly in regions where Famiclone systems like the Dendy were popular. The game often appeared on '9999 in 1' multi-carts and became a staple of many childhood gaming experiences in those regions. Its familiar yet refined gameplay, combined with its availability, helped cement Tank 1990 as a cult classic among retro gaming enthusiasts.
While Tank 1990 does not revolutionize the tank combat genre, it successfully builds on the foundation laid by Battle City. Its added complexity, new features, and expanded content made it one of the more memorable unlicensed titles for the NES. Today, it remains a nostalgic favorite for players who grew up with Famiclone consoles and multi-game cartridges, representing an important part of 8-bit gaming history.
More details about this game can be found on
ROMhacking.net.
Find digital download of this game on
GOG
or
Steam.
Game controls:
The NES version of Tank 1990 was originally controlled via the NES controller with a cross-shaped joypad and two action buttons. The basic description of game controls is summarized in the table below. Detailed description of how to play this game can be found a in the attached game manual. Please note that individual
gamepad buttons are emulated by different keys on your PC keyboard depending on the settings of your online emulator (see the table next to the game).
Use the D-pad to direct your tank in any one of four directions. Diagonals are not possible.
Press A or B button to fire in the direction your tank is currently facing.
Same function as button A.
Press Select on the title screen menu to select between a one or two player game.
Use to start the game. Press during play to pause. Press again to resume play.
Videogame Console:
This version of Tank 1990 was designed for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), which was an eight-bit video game console manufactured
by Nintendo in the years 1983 - 2003. In that time, it was the best-selling video game console for which more than 700 licensed games and a number of non-licensed
games were created. Worldwide, approximately 62 million units of this console were sold at approximately price $ 100 per unit. More information about the
NES console can be found here.
Recommended Game Controllers:
You can control this game easily by using the keyboard of your PC (see the table next to the game). However, for maximum gaming enjoyment, we strongly recommend using a USB gamepad that you simply plug into the USB port of your computer. If you do not have a gamepad, buy a suitable USB controller on Amazon or AliExpress or in some of your favorite online stores.
Available online emulators:
6 different online emulators are available for Tank 1990. These emulators differ not only in the technology they use to emulate old games, but also in support of various game controllers, multiplayer mode, mobile phone touchscreen, emulation speed, absence or presence of embedded ads and in many other parameters. For
maximum gaming enjoyment, it's important to choose the right emulator, because on each PC and in different Internet browsers, the individual emulators behave differently. The basic
features of each emulator available for this game Tank 1990 are summarized in the following table:
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