Al Unser Jr.'s Turbo Racing

Al Unser Jr.'s Turbo Racing
Al Unser Jr.'s Turbo Racing
	North American cover art
Developer(s)	Data East
Publisher(s)	Data East
Director(s)	Ken Fukaki
Producer(s)	Tokinori Kaneyasu
Programmer(s)	Yoshi Nakamura
Composer(s)	Shōgo Sakai ; Takafumi Miura ; Masaaki Iwasaki ; Yuji Suzuki
Platform(s)	Nintendo Entertainment System
Release	JP: January 31, 1989; NA: March 1990; EU: 1991;
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Single-player

Al Unser Jr.'s Turbo Racing is a racing video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System console released in 1990. It is an adaptation of the 1989 Japanese-market Famicom game World Grand Prix - Pole to Finish (ワールドグランプリポールトゥフィニッシュ, Wārudo Guran Puri Pōru tu Finisshu), with the most notable changes being the addition of Unser as an in-game coach, the number of laps, sound and interface design. Therefore, the game remains based on the Formula 1 World Championship, despite Unser having never competed in it. This game features a season mode and two time trial modes. In season mode the player uses either Al Unser Jr. or a make-their-own-driver.

Versions released outside North America were simply titled Turbo Racing with all references to Unser removed, due to the relative obscurity of CART and Unser outside of North America.

Gameplay

The game is a racing video game. The player directs the car using the D-pad, accelerating with A and braking with B. The gauges, speed, and several other things can be seen at the bottom of the screen. Turbo boosts can be used by the player when necessary, but must be refuelled when empty. Hazards such as signposts and other cars must be avoided. Qualifying is held prior to each race, but is difficult because only one lap is given.

Due to the limitations of the NES, curves appear to come out of nowhere, making turning unusually difficult.

Modes

World Championship Season

Players choosing the World Championship Season race as Al Unser, Jr., or start their own team. Playing as Unser, Jr. gives the player the best car possible and the best chance to win immediately. If a players choose to start their own team, they would have to spend a season climbing up the rankings, improving the car. Players run a full 16-race schedule, with several races varying in distance.

If a player drives as Unser, Jr., he takes his likeness, and drives the blue and white Valvoline Lola-Chevrolet. If a player starts his or her own team, a name is entered, and personalized team colours are chosen. Unser, Jr.'s car is maxed out for set-up points, and a new entry starts with minimal set-up points. The remainder of the championship season is filled with fictional drivers, bringing the total to 26 cars per race.

At each race, the player has the chance to receive advice about the course from Al Unser, Jr., and set up the car to qualify. Unlimited practice is also allowed prior to qualifying. During qualifying, a player must complete one lap as fast as possible to determine the starting position on the grid. If a player qualifies fastest, he will start on the pole position. If a player retires from qualifying, he will start last (26th). The player is allowed one last opportunity to set up the car for the race, and choose the music to be played during the race. The race begins from a standing start, and runs a specific number of laps.

For each race, points towards the championship are awarded to the top six finishers (9-6-4-3-2-1), consistent with the points system utilized in Formula One at the time. The top six finishers also receive a certain number of set-up points to improve the car. At the end of the season, the driver with the most points wins the World Championship.

During each race, the player must avoid accidents such as running into other cars and hitting signposts. Accidents can harm engines or blow tires, which can be repaired by pitting. While pitting, the race is halted so as not to put the player at a disadvantage due to each race's unusually short length (about three to five laps).

The game uses a turbo boost system, which, when depleted, must be refilled before it causes engine damage.

Time trial mode

The game features two time trial modes, "A" (with computer opponents) and "B" (without computer opponents). Players can choose any of the sixteen tracks, and number of laps (1-9). The gameplay is the same as that of the World Championship season. The fastest lap would be recorded for each session. As many as four players can run the time trial, one at a time, and the best laps are recorded for comparison.

Circuits

Turbo Racing features a 16-race Formula One schedule, loosely resembling that of 1988. Several of the tracks were not accurately depicted, and some were replaced. The sequence did not follow that of the Formula One schedule. The tracks are as follows:

Round	Race	Location
1	Brazil	Nelson Piquet
2	Spain	Jerez
3	Hungary	Hungaroring
4	Austria	Österreichring
5	West Germany	Hockenheim
6	Monaco	Monaco
7	Mexico	Hermanos Rodriguez
8	Canada	Gilles Villeneuve
9	France	Paul Ricard
10	Belgium	Spa-Francorchamps
11	Italy	Monza
12	Portugal	Estoril
13	Japan	Suzuka
14	Australia	Adelaide
15	U.K.	Silverstone
16	United States	Long Beach

The Austria circuit in the game is based on Zeltweg in Austria. Austria was no longer on the Formula One schedule at the time the game was released. The Imola circuit in San Marino, which was part of the schedule prior to and at the time the game was released, was absent from the game.
The USA circuit is based on the Long Beach Grand Prix street circuit. The circuit was part of the Formula One schedule from 1976 to 1983, but used a slightly different layout at the time. Starting in 1984, and at the time the game was released, the Long Beach circuit was part of the CART series. The layout in the game depicts the circuit's configuration at that period. In his career, Unser, Jr. was successful and won six times on the course, which is speculation on why the track was included in the game. The United States Grand Prix was held at Phoenix Street Circuit the year of the game's release.
The Mexico circuit used in the game was based on an old layout of Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, which was no longer in use at the time the game was released.
All the tracks in the game measured approximately 3.3 miles, and the fastest lap possible on any and all tracks was 52.6 seconds. In reality, all of the circuits widely vary in distance and lap time.