Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race

Famicom Grand Prix: F1 Race (ファミコングランプリ　F1レース) is a Japan-exclusive racing game released for the Family Computer Disk System on October 30, 1987. It is a racing game starring Mario in Formula One cars. A tournament was held for this game from October 30 to December 15, 1987. The top 100 players of each of the four difficulty levels received a trophy with their name and rank along with a poster that had the names of all 400 trophy holders. They, along with thousands of runners-up and raffle winners got a Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch sealed in a case shaped like Diskun, the mascot of the Disk System who appeared on all Disk System game covers (and also made an appearance as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee). They also received mock driver's licenses. A sequel was released months later, known as Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally, and it was very different from F1 Race and also subject of a tournament.

This game, along with its sequel, was possibly an ancestor to the Mario Kart series, most likely due to the fact that it features Mario and possesses similar 2D racing mechanics, which was later carried on to Super Mario Kart.

Gameplay
In the game, players can choose to play alone or with other cars. Cars have a certain amount of body quality, tire quality, and fuel; body decreases whenever the player crashes into a wall or another car, as well as whenever they drive off of the road, while tire and fuel decrease with time. The player can go to a pit-stop to regenerate the body, tire, and fuel; however, doing this takes away race time. Running out of body or fuel is an immediate disqualification, while running out of tire causes the treads to wear out and makes the steering erratic.

Steering is done with the left and  right buttons. Due to the camera angle, this means careful attention must be paid to the direction the car is going when preparing to steer. Acceleration is performed with ; additionally, certain cars are capable of turbo, which allows them to continue accelerating beyond their typical top speed by pressing and  up at the same time. and at the same time, meanwhile, allow the driver to brake. When starting a race, revs the car in low gear, while  brings it up to high gear, as a predecessor to the Rocket Start. As with most games, pausing is done by pressing ; when on the pause screen, the player can retire by pressing.

Winning the Grand Prix rewards players with money (measured in millions of dollars), which can be used to buy more expensive cars. There are a total of 24 different cars, each having a different level of power, body, tire, and fuel capacity, though they also cost varying amounts. The player's garage can hold up to three cars at a time, so to buy a fourth, one must first be sold. The player cars come in red, yellow, green, and blue, while opponent cars additionally come in different colors (which due to palette limitations, are rendered through combinations of the four main colors rapidly flashing between each other to blend them together, with the fastest one flashing between all four). In the game, Mario is the player's driver, wearing the same color as the vehicle he drives; his likeness is also used for his pit crew, with all but the crew chief also wearing the car's color.

There are a total of ten circuits spread across four race levels (analogous to cups) with four circuits each - as such, some circuits appear in multiple race levels. The majority of the circuits are classified as Dry, meaning traction is good on them, but a small amount are instead Wet, where traction is poor. Usually, other cars, walls, and off-road areas are the only obstacles, but occasionally oil slicks appear on the road as well from retired competitors.

To continue to the next race in any given level, the player must finish within 9th place in the first two levels or within 6th place in the second two levels. Finishing within the top six always earns a cash reward; knocking apart lesser cars, meanwhile, results in a fine. If the player does not finish within the required placement, that vehicle is retired. If all three vehicles are retired, it results in a Game Over.

In Time Trial mode, the player can record and beat times on six unique circuits, as well as use them to practice the game's mechanics. A car is provided for these, and the player can choose whether or not it is turbo-capable, as well as the course and number of laps. Multiple players can play on this mode.

Cars
The shop always carries twelve cars across four tiers; higher tiers are unlocked by completing race levels and replace the respective lower tier in the shop's availability. The player starts with $50 million.

Opponents
There are six scripted opponents who drive consistent vehicles and usually stay in the same placement of the race.

Additionally, several racers of lesser importance appear in orange cars; they affect the player's own placement, but do not appear on the minimap. Most drive very slowly, and will often be lapped within the second lap. When they are caught up to from a lap ahead, they are colored teal. If a lesser car is collided with twice, it retires and leaves an oil slick in its wake.

Sprites

 * Racing