Tank controls


Tank controls refers to a control system used in video games. In a game with tank controls, players control movement relative to the position of the player character. Pressing up on the game controller moves the character in the direction they face, down reverses them, and left and right rotates them. This differs from many 3D games, in which characters move in the direction players push from the perspective of the camera. The term "tank controls" comes from the steering mechanisms of old tanks, which had to stop completely before turning. Tank controls were common in 3D games in the late 1990s, such as Grim Fandango and the early Resident Evil and Tomb Raider games.
Tank controls allow players to maintain a direction when the camera angle changes. Grim Fandango designer Tim Schafer chose the system as it allowed the developers to create "cinematic" camera cuts without disrupting the controls. Tank controls have received criticism for feeling stiff or cumbersome, and the remastered versions of Grim Fandango and Resident Evil include alternative control schemes. The system became less prevalent over time and free-roaming cameras became standard for 3D games.