Pole Position for Intellivision

[+thegoldenband]

I've had INTV Pole Position for a while now, but had only played it very briefly on 1-2 occasions. Today I decided to fire it up and figure it out...

 

...and much cursing ensued.

 

Seriously, has anyone gotten ANYWHERE with this game? I can make it past the first couple curves in the qualifying race, but after that it's almost impossible to avoid collisions with the roadsigns or other cars. The lack of control on curves is maddening, and the lack of brakes even more so.

 

There also seems to be some sort of strange issue whereby you have to stop ALL controller input in order to slow down. Or at least, I noticed that when I was frantically trying to slow down while cornering, I had to take my thumb completely off the disc in order to see any change, even after downshifting.

 

Of course, given that the original arcade game is also completely aggravating, maybe that makes this a good port!

 

So am I missing something, or is this game just borderline unplayable?

[+thegoldenband]

...and of course, right after I made that post, I fired the game up again, and immediately qualified for the Big Race. Almost made it through the first lap, too.

[Rev]

I put in Pole Position a few months ago. i give it a 5 out of 10.

[BassGuitari]

 

Seriously, has anyone gotten ANYWHERE with this game?

 

There also seems to be some sort of strange issue whereby you have to stop ALL controller input in order to slow down. Or at least, I noticed that when I was frantically trying to slow down while cornering, I had to take my thumb completely off the disc in order to see any change, even after downshifting.

 

Of course, given that the original arcade game is also completely aggravating, maybe that makes this a good port!

 

 

To answer the first question: believe it or not, yes. Not very far, but yes. In fact I was just playing INTV Pole Position over Thanksgiving, and I at least passed the qualifier on the easiest track (I was never good at Pole Position on ANY platform, so I never really bothered to try a tougher track...which could well be near-impossible to navigate).

 

You're right about the "braking" system. You kind of have to just downshift and simultaneously back completely off of the accelerator to slow down (you can still turn, though). I don't know why there couldn't have been a braking feature ("Down/Back" on the disc, maybe?), but as it is, it's just one of those games that you've got to get the hang of, I suppose.

 

I'm not a fan of Pole Position generally, but the Intellivision version is at least different enough from other versions to make it interesting. It's quirky and flawed, but I dunno...I think it's kind of cool in spite of itself. Plus, I like being able to say I own Pole Position for Intellivision.

[soporj]

Great game!!!

 

My late wife's favorite!!

[Rev]

Great game!!!

 

My late wife's favorite!!

Did you guys play a lot of games together?

[SoulBlazer]

This is prob the worst game for the Intelivision besides some of the Coleco ports. It's a good effort, but as Keith himself said, the system just wasn't built to handle a game like this and it shows.

[slab0meat]

I like this new soporj.

[soporj]

Did you guys play a lot of games together?

We did!! She liked Frogger too!!!

[Crazy Climber]

Pole Position is terrible.

My childhood friend loved it, and it is one of the only games I actually have Intellivision nostalgia with. He is now serving life for murder though....just saying....

[+Lathe26]

Pole Position is terrible.

My childhood friend loved it, and it is one of the only games I actually have Intellivision nostalgia with. He is now serving life for murder though....just saying....

Sheesh. That's terrible. How do you feel when you think back to when you think back to the time you knew them? Sad, creeped out, disappointed, angry, meh, etc?

 

I'm only asking because someone I knew hung themselves in jail after they were sentenced but before they were transferred to prison. However, they never were my friend so my feelings are "I am surprised but yet not surprised".

 

If this isn't something you want to discuss, that is understandable.

[Crazy Climber]

Sheesh. That's terrible. How do you feel when you think back to when you think back to the time you knew them? Sad, creeped out, disappointed, angry, meh, etc?

 

I'm only asking because someone I knew hung themselves in jail after they were sentenced but before they were transferred to prison. However, they never were my friend so my feelings are "I am surprised but yet not surprised".

 

If this isn't something you want to discuss, that is understandable.

Doesn't bother me at all, we were friends but he was an asshole, lol