Set in World War II during the invasion of Normandy, the player takes control of a commando named Paul and codenamed SNAKE (Colonel Ralf in the Japanese version, who also appeared in Ikari Warriors), as he mans the titular Iron Tank to infiltrate the Nazi German stronghold.

to be a spiritual successor to SNK's earlier game Guerilla War due to many similarities in gameplay, graphics and overall layout.

The message was written in the Roman alphabet in block capitals instead of standard Japanese writing systems due to technical limitations with the NES software.

Some paths have fewer but more difficult levels, resulting in a shorter game if the player can successfully negotiate them while others are the reverse.

The level bosses are various different, powerful weapons that include giant tanks, railway artillery, fortresses and grounded aircraft.