Full Throttle (1987 video game)

Full Throttle, also known as Top Speed, is a one-player racing arcade game developed by Taito in 1987. It is similar in style to the Out Run games in that it features a fast, red car hurtling through the US countryside. The key difference in gameplay is the addition of a nitro boost button.[6] The game was released under the title Full Throttle in Japan, Top Speed in North America,[2] and both Full Throttle and Top Speed in Europe.[3][4]

Full Throttle / Top Speed
Developer(s)Taito
Publisher(s)
Director(s)Hiroyuki Sakou
Designer(s)Hiroyuki Sakou
Programmer(s)Kyouji Shimamoto
Takeshi Murata
Takeshi Ishizashi
Artist(s)Hiroyasu Nagai
Composer(s)Masahiko Takaki
Platform(s)Arcade, X68000
Release
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player
Arcade systemTaito Top Speed[5]

Reception

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In Japan, Game Machine listed Full Throttle on their November 15, 1987 issue as being the second most-successful upright arcade unit of the month.[7]

Clare Edgeley of Computer and Video Games gave Top Speed a positive review, comparing it favorably to Out Run and complimented its graphics and smooth handling.[3] Commodore User, on the other hand, rated Full Throttle five out of ten, calling it a clone of Out Run and comparing it unfavorably to Sega's game.[4]

Legacy

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This game was the forerunner of the Taito Z system on which Taito's driving games were based from 1988–91.

Director Hiroyuki Sakou went on to create Taito's Operation Thunderbolt a year later.

References

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  1. ^ Akagi, Masumi (October 13, 2006). アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971–2005) [Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971–2005)] (in Japanese). Japan: Amusement News Agency. pp. 136–7. ISBN 978-4990251215.
  2. ^ a b "Full Throttle (Registration Number PA0000340904)". United States Copyright Office. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Edgeley, Clare (November 15, 1987). "Arcade Action". Computer and Video Games. No. 74 (December 1987).
  4. ^ a b c d "Arcades: Full Throttle (Taito)". Commodore User. No. 51 (December 1987). November 1987. p. 148.
  5. ^ "System 16 - Taito Top Speed Hardware (Taito)".
  6. ^ "Full Throttle, Arcade Video game by Taito (1987)".
  7. ^ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - アップライト, コックピット型TVゲーム機 (Upright/Cockpit Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 320. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 November 1987. p. 25.
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