Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race

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Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race cover
Developer Nintendo EAD
HAL Laboratory
Publisher Nintendo
Platform(s) Family Computer Disk System
Release date Template:Release[?]
Genre Racing
Input
NES:

Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race (ファミコングランプリ F1レース) is a Japan-exclusive racing game released for the Family Computer Disk System on October 30, 1987. It is a racing game starring Mario in Formula One cars. A tournament was held for this game from October 30 to December 15, 1987. The top 100 players of each of the four difficulty levels received a trophy with their name and rank along with a poster that had the names of all 400 trophy holders. They, along with thousands of runners-up and raffle winners got a Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch sealed in a case shaped like Diskun, the mascot of the Disk System who appeared on all Disk System game covers (and also made an appearance as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee). They also received mock driver's licenses.[1] A sequel was released months later, known as Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally, and it was very different from F1 Race and also subject of a tournament.

This game, along with its sequel, was possibly an ancestor to the Mario Kart series, most likely due to the fact that it features Mario and possesses similar 2D racing mechanics, which was later carried on to Super Mario Kart.

Gameplay

Gameplay of Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Gameplay of the game

In the game, players can choose to play alone or with other cars. Cars have a certain amount of body quality, tire quality, and fuel; body decreases whenever the player crashes into a wall or another car, as well as whenever they drive off of the road, while tire and fuel decrease with time. The player can go to a pit-stop to regenerate the body, tire, and fuel; however, doing this takes away race time. Running out of body or fuel is an immediate disqualification, while running out of tire causes the treads to wear out and makes the steering erratic.

Steering is done with the left and right buttons. Due to the camera angle, this means careful attention must be paid to the direction the car is going when preparing to steer. Acceleration is performed with B Button; additionally, certain cars are capable of turbo, which allows them to continue accelerating beyond their typical top speed by pressing B Button and up at the same time. B Button and A Button at the same time, meanwhile, allow the driver to brake. When starting a race, A Button revs the car in low gear, while B Button brings it up to high gear, as a predecessor to the Rocket Start. As with most games, pausing is done by pressing Start Button; when on the pause screen, the player can retire by pressing Select Button.

Screenshot of the initial shop from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
The shop

Winning the Grand Prix rewards players with money (measured in millions of dollars), which can be used to buy more expensive cars. There are a total of 24 different cars, each having a different level of power, body, tire, and fuel capacity, though they also cost varying amounts. The player's garage can hold up to three cars at a time, so to buy a fourth, one must first be sold. The player cars come in red, yellow, green, and blue, while opponent cars additionally come in different colors (which due to palette limitations, are rendered through combinations of the four main colors rapidly flashing between each other to blend them together, with the fastest one flashing between all four). In the game, Mario is the player's driver, wearing the same color as the vehicle he drives; his likeness is also used for his pit crew, with all but the crew chief also wearing the car's color.

There are a total of ten circuits spread across four race levels (analogous to cups) with four circuits each - as such, some circuits appear in multiple race levels. An additional circuit is used for the time trial mode. The majority of the circuits are classified as Dry, meaning traction is good on them, but a small amount are instead Wet, where traction is poor. Usually, other cars, walls, and off-road areas are the only obstacles, but occasionally oil slicks appear on the road as well from retired competitors.

To continue to the next race in any given level, the player must finish within 9th place in the first two levels or within 6th place in the second two levels. Finishing within the top six always earns a cash reward; knocking apart lesser cars, meanwhile, results in a fine. If the player does not finish within the required placement, that vehicle is retired. If all three vehicles are retired, it results in a Game Over.

Cars

The shop always carries twelve cars across four tiers; higher tiers are unlocked by completing race levels and replace the respective lower tier in the shop's availability. The player starts with $50 million.

Default

Group 1 - $10M
No. 1
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 500PS
Turbo: No
Fuel: 3.5km/l
Body: 99
Tire: 50/Dry
No. 2
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 500PS
Turbo: No
Fuel: 3.5km/l
Body: 75
Tire: 75/Dry
No. 3
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 600PS
Turbo: Yes
Fuel: 3.2km/l
Body: 60
Tire: 50/Dry
Group 2 - $30M
No. 4
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 600PS
Turbo: Yes
Fuel: 3.2km/l
Body: 99
Tire: 50/Dry
No. 5
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 600PS
Turbo: Yes
Fuel: 3.2km/l
Body: 75
Tire: 75/Dry
No. 6
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 800PS
Turbo: No
Fuel: 2.8km/l
Body: 60
Tire: 50/Dry
Group 3 - $100M
No. 7
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 600PS
Turbo: Yes
Fuel: 3.2km/l
Body: 99
Tire: 99/Dry
No. 8
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 800PS
Turbo: No
Fuel: 2.8km/l
Body: 60
Tire: 50/Wet
No. 9
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 800PS
Turbo: Yes
Fuel: 2.1km/l
Body: 50
Tire: 50/Dry
Group 4 - $300M
No. 10
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 800PS
Turbo: Yes
Fuel: 2.1km/l
Body: 75
Tire: 75/Dry
No. 11
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 800PS
Turbo: Yes
Fuel: 2.1km/l
Body: 60
Tire: 75/Wet
No. 12
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 800PS
Turbo: No
Fuel: 2.8km/l
Body: 60
Tire: 99/Dry

Unlockable

Group 5 - $500M
Complete race level 1
Replaces group 1
No. 13
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 800PS
Turbo: Yes
Fuel: 2.1km/l
Body: 99
Tire: 99/Dry
No. 14
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 1000PS
Turbo: No
Fuel: 2.3km/l
Body: 50
Tire: 50/Dry
No. 15
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 1000PS
Turbo: No
Fuel: 2.3km/l
Body: 35
Tire: 99/Dry
Group 6 - $1000M
Complete race level 2
Replaces group 2
No. 16
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 1000PS
Turbo: No
Fuel: 2.3km/l
Body: 75
Tire: 75/Dry
No. 17
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 1000PS
Turbo: No
Fuel: 2.3km/l
Body: 60
Tire: 75/Wet
No. 18
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 1200PS
Turbo: Yes
Fuel: 1.5km/l
Body: 35
Tire: 75/Dry
Group 7 - $2000M
Complete race level 3
Replaces group 3
No. 19
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 1200PS
Turbo: Yes
Fuel: 1.5km/l
Body: 60
Tire: 75/Dry
No. 20
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 1000PS
Turbo: No
Fuel: 2.3km/l
Body: 75
Tire: 99/Dry
No. 21
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 1200PS
Turbo: Yes
Fuel: 1.5km/l
Body: 50
Tire: 75/Wet
Group 8 - $5000M
Complete race level 4
Replaces group 4
No. 22
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 1200PS
Turbo: Yes
Fuel: 1.5km/l
Body: 60
Tire: 99/Wet
No. 23
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 1200PS
Turbo: Yes
Fuel: 1.5km/l
Body: 75
Tire: 99/Dry
No. 24
Sprite of a car in the shop or garage from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Power: 1500PS
Turbo: No
Fuel: 1.3km/l
Body: 35
Tire: 99/Dry

Opponents

There are six scripted opponents who drive consistent vehicles and usually stay in the same placement of the race.

Opponents
1: Michel Rumble
Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Nationality Flag of France. For French release dates.
France
Color Animation of an opponent-only car driving from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
hotpink
2: Antonio Zico
Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Nationality Flag of the Federative Republic of Brazil since May 11, 1992. For Brazilian release dates.
Brazil
Color Animation of an opponent-only car driving from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
yellowgreen
3: George Turbo
Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Nationality The Flag of England (distinguish the Union JackMedia:Flag of UK.png)
England
Color Animation of an opponent-only car driving from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
purple
4: Bronco Maccini
Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Nationality Flag of the Italian Republic since June 18, 1946. For Italian release dates.
Italy
Color Animation of a red car driving from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
red
5: Howard Axel
Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Nationality Flag of the United States of America since July 4, 1960. For North American (and sometimes South American) release dates.
United States
Color Animation of a blue car driving from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
blue
5: Panther Pedalf
Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Nationality Flag of the Federal Republic of Germany since 1949. For West German and reunified German release dates.
West Germany
Color Animation of a green car driving from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
green

Additionally, several racers of lesser importance appear in orange cars; they affect the player's own placement, but do not appear on the minimap. Most drive very slowly, and will often be lapped within the second lap. When they are caught up to from a lap ahead, they are colored teal. If a lesser car is collided with twice, it retires and leaves an oil slick in its wake.

Race levels

Level 1
Level.1-1
Preview map of Circuit-1 from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Circuit-1
Dry
Level.1-2
Preview map of Circuit-2 from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Circuit-2
Dry
Level.1-3
Preview map of Circuit-3 from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Circuit-3
Dry
Level.1-4
Preview map of Circuit-4 from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Circuit-4
Dry
Level 2
Level.2-1
Preview map of Circuit-3 from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Circuit-3
Dry
Level.2-2
Preview map of Circuit-4 from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Circuit-4
Dry
Level.2-3
Preview map of Circuit-5 from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Circuit-5
Dry
Level.2-4
Preview map of Circuit-6 from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Circuit-6
Dry
Level 3
Level.3-1
Preview map of Circuit-5 from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Circuit-5
Dry
Level.3-2
Preview map of Circuit-6 from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Circuit-6
Dry
Level.3-3
Preview map of Circuit-7 from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Circuit-7
Dry
Level.3-4
Preview map of Circuit-8 from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Circuit-8
Wet
Level 4
Level.4-1
Preview map of Circuit-7 from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Circuit-7
Dry
Level.4-2
Preview map of Circuit-8 from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Circuit-8
Wet
Level.4-3
Preview map of Circuit-9 from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Circuit-9
Dry
Level.4-4
Preview map of Circuit-10 from Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race
Circuit-10
Wet

Gallery

Logos

Artwork

Mario

Miscellaneous

Sprites

Racing
Pit/finish

Screenshots

References