Pole Position (Return of Arcade) (1996) - Every PC F1 Game

Pole Position (Microsoft Return of Arcade) by Namco/Microsoft, 1996.

This is actually the Anniversary Edition from 2000, but it's the same 16 bit application (here running in PCem). This early port of Pole Position isn't 100% arcade accurate, but without comparing it directly to the arcade version, it's hard to spot the differences! It's certainly better than the 1984 PC DOS port!

1. Race Start (Monza): 0:00 The game only has the Fuji circuit (although, amusingly, they redrew the track map on the menu screen (compared to the arcade original), presumably to avoid any copyright issues!).

2. Spray Effects (Silverstone): 0:21 Again, there's only one track in this game, and it's not Silverstone! This game also has no wet weather. It does, however, have puddles on the track (to avoid). These were missing from the 1984 PC DOS port.

3. Tunnel & View (Monaco): 0:31 This game has no tunnels anywhere (or Monaco), so I've shown the game crossing the start/finish line, which is the only point something interesting goes by on the track!

4. Wet Track (Spa-Francorchamps): 0:40 Again, this is not Spa-Francorchamps! This game has no wet weather, so here's a bit of gameplay in dry conditions instead.

5. Pitstop (Interlagos): 0:52 There's no Interlagos in this game, either! Pole Position doesn't have pitstops or a pitlane, so you just end up on the grass! Unlike the original 1984 PC DOS port, your car explodes when passing the gantry... not a great pitstop then!

6. Huge Crash (Montreal): 1:00 This is once again the included single circuit, and not Montreal. Much like other racing games of the era, your car explodes in a massive fireball when you touch a rival car, so overtaking is risky!