Oh the nostalgia! This is one of the very first games I ever loaded up on the Amstrad back in the day.

Got my first computer for Christmas 1986, an Amstrad CPC 664. This was the only game that came with it. Not a gem, but of course will always have a special place in my heart. That funky tune in track select really brought back some memories. Thanks, Chinny!

I had the MSX version. You didn't mention that it's the only version where the hands on the steering wheel moved when overtaking. I was impressed at the time, but I did later get Hyper Rally on cartridge which was a much better game, though more a Pole Position clone. Brought back memories. First time a game taught me that learning to change gears means you can go faster on corners. I forgot about the juddering.

@ManuelBilderbeek

4 жыл бұрын

Indeed, C64 version reminded me of a bad version of Hyper Rally. Different price range though....

Your videos are so refined ChinnyVision, I love the graphics, they're a pleasure to watch.

The Commodore 16 version was the first computer game I ever saw - it led to a misspent (and very expensive) youth!

The wrists aren't huge on the Spectrum version, the driver just has baggy sleeves. :)

There are a finite number of laps you need to complete on the C64 version, once you've completed them you get a bonus for the number of cars you passed.

@chinnyvision

4 жыл бұрын

I was bored WAAAAY before that point!

@GigerPunk

4 жыл бұрын

@@chinnyvision Well, that's formula one for you, innit?

Had it on the C16 good wee game thanks for the videos chinny

This was literally the first C64 game I ever played, I got my C64 as a christmas present 1987 and it came with this game and Olli & Lissa (which I still like to this day). I played this game a few times... until I got my hands on Super Cycle and Pitstop II and never looked back.

1.99 for a Rob Hubbard tune... All day... Grand Prix Circuit by Accolade is a shining star on the c64 as far as simulation goes.... Nice one Chinny...

This was the very first game I bought for my Speccy with my pocket money- that front cover is seared into my memory! Thanks for covering bought back some very happy memories :0)

@alanharrison2726

4 жыл бұрын

Driver had a watch on an arm's like a power lifter lol .

My first C16 game. It was... alright? The character-based car movmenet made it really dangerous.

Those Spectrum Sound Effects, I'm sure I've heard vaguely similar German Industrial/EBM music...

Maybe the "Simulator" part is actually mirroring those driving experiences you can do at many racing circuits. Because when I drove the Formula single-seater car at Knockhill years ago, I spent the entire time passing everyone else who were just tiptoeing around the track at a pedestrian pace (even the bloke driving the Ferrari F430), and then spinning wildly because I'd nudged the grass....

Of all of those, I'd probably pick the C64 version - but I like LCD games, so no surprises there. It's interesting - and I know that this is an apples and oranges comparison - but when you compare this to a proper 8-bit racing simulator like Revs, you get an appreciation of what was shoved out at any price and what was decent software back in the day.

Both the Commodore 64 and Commodore 16 version is an actual race (well, sort of but not really), okay it isn’t actually a race but it doesn’t play on forever. It is eight laps to complete the track although it really just calculates your score, no final race car positions. So yeah, it’s still just a hi-score game. Phew! The C16 version only has one track compared to the C64’s eight though. Both are still way more fun than the other versions anyway, but it has been somewhat debated which of the C= versions are better out the two in terms of playability :)

C64 version looks the best imo

Is that the Humber Bridge and Ribblehead Viaduct on the C16?

@alanharrison2726

4 жыл бұрын

No Sheffield viaduct . Clearly with trees next to an same size lol

Chequered Flag on the Spectrum but worse. Got it :)

Nigel Mansell's Grand Prix was the only CPC F1 game worth any time at all. This Mastertronic effort looks painful!

@chinnyvision

4 жыл бұрын

Not even Continental Circus?

@ivarfiske1913

4 жыл бұрын

3D Grand Prix

Interestingly Amstrad version has 7 colors on screen at once in 320x200 mode.

@chinnyvision

4 жыл бұрын

They've split the raster so the sky and status bar are effectively one section and the car and road are another. Probably doesn't help the speed when there are a lot of cars around.

@dartsma464

4 жыл бұрын

Compare that to 6 colour Wec Le Mans on the CPC in the same resolution. I love the way the Amstrad CPCs can look so good. It has no restrictions on colour placement. kzread.info/dash/bejne/eqmZsKqderHIlbg.html

@axtrifonov

4 жыл бұрын

@@dartsma464 Yes, i saw it, ChinnyVision has a video about Wec Le Mans game too.

To be fair, on the CPC this can't hold a candle to Amsoft's 3D Grand Prix released the same year.

@chinnyvision

4 жыл бұрын

A fraction of the price though.

@Crazy_Borg

4 жыл бұрын

@@chinnyvision Amsoft titles were 8.95 Pounds back then, weren't they?

@chinnyvision

4 жыл бұрын

@@Crazy_Borg Vs £1.99. in today's money that's a nearly 15 quid difference!

For a budget game it isn;t too bad. For me the problem is I had played Chequered Flag first and although it didn't have other cars to race against I still think it is a better game. C64/C16 versions look not bad tbh, but they do look like blatent Pole Position rip-offs.

It's funny - I feel like I can appreciate it on some levels, at least as a budget release… but keep thinking of other games I'd rather play which were out at that time. Like for the C64? I'd rather Revs and actually play a simulator. On the Speccy, I think ye olde Checkered Flag is more fun, even if it's hotlapping over a full race experience. And for the CPC, 3D Grand Prix certainly looks the part. I think the Pole Position knock-off nature is more tolerable on the C16, at least as there wasn't a port there. But of course, it's barely a 5 minute play.

I owned this game on the CPC and hated it. I always found steering around corners to be really difficult and the way the car seemed to swerve towards the edge of the corners made it feel like I was like driving on ice! The way your car breaks down after a couple of seconds when the revs get too high while using manual gears also felt ridiculous to me. Did that really happen to Formula 1 cars in the 1980s?

You've made the big time. Phantom dislikes are showing up your videos now. lol No it wasn't me, either!

@chinnyvision

4 жыл бұрын

Oh that's happened for years. It's all engagement of course so it all helps.

The C64 version bored you, yet the Choppy MSX, Speccy, and Amstrad...didnt?............you can hardly hit the other cars.

@chinnyvision

4 жыл бұрын

Why would it being a bit choppy make me bored? The C64 and C16 get repetitive very quickly and while the Z80 versions aren't great, there is at least some variety.

naff racer all round , c64 seems way more playable as usual but still poor.

C64 ver. looks like Atari 2600 game...