Pole Position

• Release Date: 1983
• Genre: Racing
• Style: Formula-1/Indy Racing
• Similar Games: Mario Andretti Racing (Sega Genesis), Andretti Racing (Sega Saturn), Andretti Racing (PlayStation), Pole Position (Commodore 64/128), Andretti Racing (IBM PC Compatible), Pole Position (Atari Video Computer System), Pole Position (Arcade), Pole Position (Intellivision), Pole Position (Vectrex), Pole Position (Texas Instruments TI-99)

Game Description

Even though the signs along the roadway are blank, "Prepare to Qualify" lacks the benefit of voice accompaniment, and the graphics aren't as rich, Pole Position for the Atari 5200 is a solid port of the super-challenging 1982 arcade game. Obviously, the 5200 joystick doesn't work as well as the coin-op steering wheel, but it does support trackball control.

Roots & Influences

The sit down arcade game of the same name was wildly popular. Atari was so successful with this version and then with the same title on the 2600, that improvement was bound to occur on the 5200.

Review: Overall

Pole Position for the 5200 is the racing game of the early 80s. It offered unprecedented control over the car and game options; and the graphics were eye candy to acolytes of a fledgling industry. Four different tracks, gear shifting and challenging enemy competition made Pole Position the classic it is now. More importantly, Pole Position pioneered an entirely new avenue for game development and proved that racing games were great fun.

There is no doubt that Pole Position was a seminal game of the early 80s, and of the industry as a whole. From the sit down arcade game that was catching eyes all around the country to the popular version styled by Atari, Pole Position is 100% classic. How then did this title turn out on the Atari 5200, and how does it compare to other versions.

Up against the innovative, sit-down classic in the arcade, Pole Position for the Atari 5200 is a let down. Firstly, the standard issue controllers can't stand up to the mechanics offered in the arcade version. Gameplay is immeasurably enhanced by a steering wheel, and anchoring that wheel is a further improvement. Even if you have the Steering Wheel expansion for the 5200, the feel of the sit down arcade game simply cannot be reproduced at home. Also, for some reason the devoted monitor seems to deliver less blocky graphics, but perhaps that is simply the mystique of the arcade. (When I say "blocky," I mean BLOCKY).

Up against the Atari 2600 version, this game is a substantial improvement. Mainly, this version is better because programmers were able to build upon their work on the earlier version of Pole Position. Also, the capabilities of the 5200 to support more exacting graphics compounded the ability of programmers to produce a better game.

Review: Enjoyment

Amazing gameplay makes Pole Position a model for successful racing games.

Review: Graphics

Superb . . . . . . . for 1982.

Review: Sound

Nice driving sounds, but dispensable.

Review: Replay Value

Challenging enough to play again and again and again.

Review: Documentation

A little bit of care was put into all of the manuals for the {!5200}.