Turbo 64 Commodore 64 game

The first challenge you'll encounter in this game is the clever software protection system. After the program has loaded, your computer will prompt you to press the joystick at the right moment to select certain colors as they flash on the screen. When you've correctly input four colors, the check is complete, and you can begin playing the game.

Similar to Jet Set Willy, the colors are displayed on a grid-referenced chart. The computer provides you with two coordinates to locate the squares using a "simple" grid reference system. Unfortunately, the documentation fails to specify which side is the top and which is the side of the color chart. While one side's numbers range from 1 to 83 and the other side's numbers go only up to 54, the example in the documentation uses 5 and 7, which appear on both sides of the grid, leading to potential confusion. However, we could tell you which side is the top and which is the side, but why should we do all the work for you?

The program loads relatively quickly, but you'll likely spend at least eight minutes tackling the software protection, bringing the total wait time to the usual 16 minutes of fiddling around before you can start playing.

When you finally see the screen, it features the classic road stretching into the horizon, reminiscent of Atari's Pole Position racing game. The dashboard displays your RPM and MPH, and you can see the steering wheel in motion.

You have two racetracks to choose from, and you can opt for manual or automatic gear control. Driving on the racetrack requires careful control, as it's easy to oversteer. The addictive aspect of this game, I'd venture to say, lies in the ability to drive faster and faster as you develop the coordination needed to stay on the track.

This can be very exhilarating, akin to having the M1 highway to yourself to speed down in a DeLorean at full throttle without any traffic concerns. However, despite being excellently implemented in all other aspects, it's worth noting that true motor racing involves competing against other cars, as depicted on the cassette cover, where two powerful vehicles race down the track at near-supersonic speeds. In reality, there are no rival cars to compete against here. It highlights the exceptional job Atari did with Pole Position. If you're the kind of person who enjoys cruising down the autobahn at 3 o'clock in the morning, you'll likely appreciate this game.