''Full Throttle'', also known as ''Top Speed'', is a one-player
racing
In sport, racing is a competition of speed, in which competitors try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time. Typically this involves traversing some distance, but it can be any other task involving speed to reach a specific go ...
arcade game developed by
Taito
is a Japanese company that specializes in video games, toys, arcade cabinets and game centers, based in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The company was founded by Michael Kogan in 1953 as the importing vodka, vending machines and jukeboxes into Japan. I ...
in
1987
File:1987 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsizes after leaving the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, killing 193; Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes after takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, ...
. It is very similar in style to the ''
Out Run
(also stylized as ''OutRun'') is an arcade driving video game released by Sega in September 1986. It is known for its pioneering hardware and graphics, nonlinear gameplay, a selectable soundtrack with music composed by Hiroshi Kawaguchi (comp ...
'' games in that it features a fast, red car hurtling through the
US countryside. The key difference in
gameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and pl ...
is the addition of a
nitro boost button.
The game was released under the title ''Full Throttle'' in Japan, ''Top Speed'' in North America,
and both ''Full Throttle'' and ''Top Speed'' in Europe.
Trivia
*The car featured is a red
Mazda RX-7
The Mazda RX-7 is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, rotary engine-powered sports car that was manufactured and marketed by Mazda from 1978 until 2002 across three generations, all of which made use of a compact, lightweight Wankel rotary engine. ...
for right-hand driving countries.
*Director Hiroyuki Sakou went on to create Taito's ''
Operation Thunderbolt'' a year later.
*This game was the forerunner of the Taito Z system on which Taito's driving games were based from 1988–91.
*Some of the billboards in ''Full Throttle''/''Top Speed'' are plugs for other Taito games such as ''
Operation Wolf'' and ''Plump Pop''.
*One of the billboards in ''Full Throttle''/''Top Speed'' features two detectives who are obvious references to Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs from ''
Miami Vice
''Miami Vice'' is an American crime drama television series created by Anthony Yerkovich and produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series stars Don Johnson as James "Sonny" Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs, two M ...
''. Taito released the similar ''
Chase H.Q.
is a vehicular combat racing game, originally released as an arcade video game by Taito in 1988. It is sometimes seen as a spiritual successor to Taito's earlier '' Full Throttle''. The player assumes the role of a police officer named Tony Gib ...
'' the following year, which also featured ''Miami Vice''-esque detectives.
*This game has a copyright notice in the Japanese release. US and World ''Top Speed'' releases do not have this screen.
Reception
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.
Clare Edgeley of ''
Computer and Video Games'' gave ''Top Speed'' a positive review, comparing it favorably to ''Out Run'' and stating "it must rank amongst the top as a realistic racing game with great graphics and smooth handling."
''
Commodore User
''Commodore User'', known to the readers as the abbreviated ''CU'', was one of the oldest British Commodore magazines. With a publishing history spanning over 15 years, it mixed content with technical and video game features. Incorporating ''Vic ...
'', 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.
References
External links
*{{KLOV game, id=10161
GameFAQs
1987 video games
Arcade video games
Racing video games set in the United States
Romstar games
PlayStation (console) games
Sharp X68000 games
Taito arcade games
Video games developed in Japan