Pixel Arcade
About this game
Tank Battle is a top-down maze shooter with a defence objective. You drive a tank around a walled arena, enemy tanks spawn at the top of the screen, and your base sits at the bottom. You lose when your last life is gone or when a single enemy shell reaches the base — whichever happens first, which makes this the only maze game in the hall where hiding is a losing strategy.
The arrow keys drive and space fires in the direction you are facing; on touch you get the four-way pad plus a fire button. Brick walls are destructible, so you can carve your own corridors and firing lanes — but so can the enemy, and a wall you shot away is a hole they can drive through later. Steel walls stop everything until you collect a firepower upgrade.
Enemy tanks come in four types with different speed and armour, and one tank per wave flashes. Destroying the flashing tank drops a power-up: extra firepower, a base shield, a freeze that stops every enemy for a few seconds, or an extra life.
The strongest habit is to hold a position two squares diagonal from the base, where you cover both approach lanes without blocking your own line of fire. Maze tank duels have been a mainstay of arcade and home ports since 1980 and remain the best simple demonstration of destructible terrain.
FAQ
Why did I lose without being hit?
Because an enemy shell reached your base. Defending the base matters more than staying alive.
Can I reinforce the base?
Yes, one power-up temporarily turns the bricks around the base into steel. Use it when enemies break through the left or right flank.
Is there a two-player mode?
Not in this version.
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