Grand Prix

The game is played with an overhead view of the racetrack which scrolls horizontally.

Atari 2600’s Grand Prix game description

The goal is to reach the finish line in the shortest possible time on one of the four different tracks included. Of course, there will be obstacles on the tracks which will slow the player’s car down if they’re not careful.

The player drives a Formula One car in a time trial on one of four race tracks, each of which has a different difficulty level. Difficulty is gauged by the length of the course, the number of cars and oil slicks on the track, and the number of bridges to cross.

The player views the race from a top-down perspective, and the screen scrolls from right to left. The player’s car maneuvers only on a vertical axis, and loses a little speed when it does so.

The joystick’s button is the throttle: Depressing it accelerates, and releasing it decelerates. Pressing the joystick leftward applies the brake. The transmission audibly shifts as the player’s car accelerates and decelerates.

Grand Prix is a time trial, and the competing cars are obstacles rather than competition for the finish line. The player’s car can easily outpace the other cars, but if it collides with one, its speed drops lower than that of the impacted car.

Driving over an oil slick causes the player’s car to skid slightly sideways, but does not slow it down. Once every scale mile, the player crosses a narrow bridge over blue water.

Colliding with any wall of the bridge stops the car, and the player must slowly gain speed to continue. A patch of oil slicks precedes a bridge. This both forewarns the player, and presents a hazard while trying to steer onto the bridge.

Competing cars do not cross bridges nor the finish line; if they are about to approach either one, they stop suddenly.

Numerous other cars will often get in the way, oil slicks will cause the player’s car to temporarily lose control, and on the more difficulty tracks, narrow bridges will cause the player’s car to come to a complete stop if they miss the path.

Play Atari 2600’s game Grand Prix onine

You can play Grand Prix online here, in a web browser, for free!