Tank 1990

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. 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.