| Available on: | PlayStation 4 • Nintendo Switch (Reviewed on PlayStation 5) |
| Developer: | HAMSTER Corporation |
| Publisher: | HAMSTER Corporation |
| Genre: | Driving/Racing |
| Rating: | E for Everyone |
| Release Date: | 12/07/2023 |
| Price: | $7.99 – PlayStation • Nintendo Switch |
DESCRIPTION
Pole Position II is a racing game released in arcades by NAMCO (Bandai Namco Entertainment) in 1983. The game is divided into two modes, qualifying and Grand Prix. If you make a lap in the qualifying round, you will advance to the Grand Prix.
VISUALS
Pole Position II is emulated perfectly and looks and sounds exactly like it did in the arcades and in MAME. All original tracks are included in this release, making this the most complete arcade accurate version ever released to home consoles.
There are 10 filters settings which simulate scanlines and help to enhance the experience and bring back that true nostalgic look and feel of the classic arcade.
The only downside is (again) the Japanese ROM, just like with Pole Position. While the track listings, score, and scenery are in English. The track selection screen text and voice audio, including the iconic “Prepare to Qualify,” are all in Japanese.
GAMEPLAY
Like Pole Position, the controls are super quick and responsive. So it might take a couple of races to get the hang of it. But once you do, you’ll be topping the leaderboards in no time.
There are multiple options available, including Original, Caravan, and Hi Score mode.
The Original Mode allows you to customize the game settings, such as difficulty, laps, and qualifying time. It also provides the option to save your progress. However, in Carvan and Hi Score modes, you cannot make any adjustments to the settings or save your game since these are competitive modes.
In Carvan mode, your objective is to complete as many laps as possible within a 5-minute time frame on two specific tracks. In Hi Score mode, you aim to achieve the highest score possible with only one credit, just like in the arcades.
You can compete worldwide and keep track of your ranking on the online leaderboards in all game modes.
REPLAYABILITY
If you’re looking for a fast, simple arcade racing game Pole Position II is a great choice. Especially, if you’re a fan of classic gaming. The ability to compete against players worldwide and aim for the highest score is definitely enough reason to come back for more!
