Intellivision · 1980
Armor Battle
A two-player tank duel where each side commands a pair of tanks across randomly generated battlefields.
- Publisher
- Mattel Electronics
- Format
- Cartridge
- Genre
- shoot 'em up
- Released
- 1980
01
Overview
Armor Battle pits two players against each other in head-to-head tank combat, with each side fielding an active tank and a reserve that can be swapped at any time. Battles unfold on one of 240 procedurally generated maps featuring buildings, forests, roads, water, and invisible mines that can turn a round. Terrain matters: roads speed tanks up, forests and water slow them down, and buildings block both movement and fire.
02
Why it matters
Armor Battle was among the earliest Intellivision titles and helped define the console's launch-era identity. Its tank-swap mechanic and invisible mines added strategic depth that went beyond simple shooting, influencing later two-player combat games.
03
The physical edition
A typical complete Intellivision copy includes the cartridge in its box with an instruction manual and the original box art. Regional and retail variants differ in packaging details, so confirm the specific edition before purchase.
04
Playing it today
Armor Battle requires two players and an Intellivision console; no CPU opponent is available. The slow tank movement and early-era controls take adjustment, but the strategy layer rewards patient play.