Game guide
Battle City Power-Ups: What Each One Does and How Long It Lasts
Key takeaways
- The helmet and the clock each last about 10.6 seconds, the shovel about 21 seconds, the spawn shield about 3 seconds.
- The game counts these down one step every 64 frames, about 1.07 seconds on the NES.
- Each star raises your tank one level, up to three; three stars break steel, and losing a life resets them.
- An extra life comes with the tank power-up and once at 20,000 points.
In Battle City the helmet shield and the frozen clock each last about 10.6 seconds, the shovel’s steel wall about 21 seconds, and the shield you get when your tank appears about 3 seconds; three stars make your tank strong enough to break steel. We did not time these with a stopwatch. We read them from the game’s own code: the routine that runs when you pick up a power-up, and the counters that tick down while it lasts. Here is what every power-up in Battle City does, how long it lasts and how to use it.
How power-ups appear
Some enemy tanks flash red as they drive in. Destroy a flashing tank and a power-up appears somewhere on the map. Drive over it to collect it before it disappears. Each one is worth 500 points. The helmet and the star go to the tank that picks them up; the clock, the shovel and the grenade help both players.
Inside the game every power-up has a number, and a small table sends each number to its own piece of code. That table tells us exactly what each one changes.
How long each power-up lasts
The helmet, the clock and the shovel each set a counter. The game lowers these counters by one every 64 frames, which on the NES is about 1.07 seconds. Multiply the starting value by 1.07 and you have the time.
| Power-up | What it does | Counter | Lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helmet | A shield around your tank: enemy shells cannot destroy it | 10 | about 10.6 s |
| Clock | Every enemy tank on the map stops moving and shooting | 10 | about 10.6 s |
| Shovel | The brick wall around your eagle turns to steel | 20 | about 21.3 s |
| Spawn shield | The shield your tank has whenever it appears | 3 | about 3 s |
| Star | Your tank grows one step stronger, up to three stars | – | until you lose a life |
| Grenade | Destroys every enemy tank on the screen at once | – | instant |
| Tank | One extra life | – | instant |
The counter ticks on a fixed clock that does not wait for you, so the first second may be a little short. Plan on about 10 seconds for the helmet and the clock, and about 20 for the shovel. When the shovel’s counter drops below 4, the wall around the eagle starts to flash as a warning.
What the three stars do
The star raises your tank’s power level by one step each time, up to three steps. The game keeps this level for as long as the tank survives, and it starts again from zero after you lose a life.
- One star: your shells fly faster, so you hit enemies before they can turn.
- Two stars: you can have two shells on the screen at once, which doubles your rate of fire.
- Three stars: your shells break steel walls.
Three stars change how you play a stage: steel corridors that were dead ends become short cuts, and armoured enemies go down much sooner. That makes the third star the most valuable power-up in the game, and the main reason to keep your tank alive.
7 tips for the power-ups
1. Kill flashing tanks first
A flashing tank is the only source of power-ups. When one appears, deal with it before the others, even if it is further away.
2. Grab the clock, then clean up
About ten seconds of frozen enemies is enough to destroy three or four tanks that would otherwise fight back. Drive straight at the nearest ones.
3. Take the shovel when the eagle is in danger
Twenty seconds of steel around the eagle lets you leave the base and hunt. When the wall starts to blink, head back.
4. Use the helmet to break through
With the shield on, you can drive past enemies and shells to a better position, or block shells aimed at the eagle with your own tank.
5. Save the grenade moment
A grenade destroys what is on the screen right now. If you can, wait until several enemies are on the map before you pick it up.
6. Protect your stars
Losing a life takes all your stars with it. Once you have three, play a little more carefully and let the enemies come to you.
7. Your spawn shield is short
The shield after you appear lasts about three seconds. Use it to move out of the corner you start in, not to sit still.
Extra lives
You start with three lives. The tank power-up adds one, and the game gives you another when your score reaches 20,000 points, once per game.
Battle City cheats
On Yes This Game you can switch the power-ups on for good. Press the magic wand button next to the full screen button above the game and choose:
- Strongest tank: all three stars, every time your tank appears.
- Invincible: the helmet shield never runs out.
- Freeze enemies: the clock never runs out, so enemy tanks stand still.
- Unlimited lives: your tank always comes back.
The cheats work for player 1 only, and the eagle can still be destroyed, so it is still possible to lose. Reloading the page turns them off.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the helmet last in Battle City?
About 10.6 seconds. The helmet sets a counter of 10 that the game lowers once every 64 frames.
How long does the clock freeze enemies?
Also about 10.6 seconds: the clock uses a counter of 10 with the same 64-frame tick.
What does the shovel do?
It turns the brick wall around your eagle to steel for about 21 seconds. When it is about to end, the wall starts to flash.
What do the stars do in Battle City?
One star makes your shells faster, two let you fire two shells at once, and three let you break steel walls. You lose them when you lose a life.
How do I get extra lives in Battle City?
Pick up the tank power-up, and reach 20,000 points for one more, once per game.
Are there Battle City cheats?
On Yes This Game, yes: strongest tank, invincible, freeze enemies and unlimited lives, behind the magic wand button next to full screen.