Final Lap (c) 1987 Namco.
A Formula One racing game featuring several courses. The gameplay is similar in feel to Namco's 1982 legend, 'Pole Position', although the steering is much looser than that of its legendary predecessor. Down shifting and brakes play major parts in keeping control of the car on the tight, winding courses. Bumping another car will not cause the player's car to explode - as in 'Pole position' - but can send the player OR the rival driver spinning off the track, costing valuable seconds.

>>> TECHNICAL DETAILS
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Derivative Namco System 2 hardware.
Game ID : FL
Main CPU : (2x) 68000 (@ 12.288 Mhz), M6809 (@ 3.072 Mhz), HD63705 (@ 2.048 Mhz)
Sound Chips : C140 (@ 21.39 Khz), YM2151 (@ 3.57958 Mhz)
Screen orientation : Horizontal
Video resolution : 288 x 224 pixels
Screen refresh : 60.61 Hz
Palette colors : 8192
Players : 2
Controls : Steering wheel, gear shifter (High/Low)
Pedals : Accelerator and brake

>>> TRIVIA
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Released in December 1987.
Licensed to Atari Games for US distribution
In 1990, Philip Morris, the tobacco conglomerate, filed a lawsuit claiming copyright infringement against Namco because this game featured a Marlboro billboard, which was found on the real-life Suzuka and Monaco tracks. Philip Morris was under investigation at the time for his role in the increase in pre-teen smoking and the appearance of one of his brands in games aimed towards children and teens did not help the company's already tarnished image. Namco was forced to pay a settlement.
Final Lap is the first multi-player, multi-cabinet networked arcade racing game. Multiple cabinets can be connected to allow up to 8 players to join in the same race.
The upright game only has one pedal; releasing it readily decelerates the vehicle.
Victor Entertainment released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Namco Video Game Graffiti Vol.4 - VDR-5282) on 08/03/1989.

>>> TRICKS AND TIPS
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* A Trick To Get A Better Times : Play a multi-player game! In a multi-player game, the computer cars are less frequent and allow better lap times.

>>> GAME SERIES
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1. Pole Position [Upright model] (1982)
1. Pole Position [Cockpit model] (1982)
2. Pole Position II (1983)
3. Final Lap (1987)
4. Final Lap UR (1988)
5. Final Lap Twin (1989, NEC PC-Engine)
6. Final Lap 2 (1990)
7. Final Lap 3 (1992)
8. Final Lap R (1993)
9. Final Lap 2000 (2000, Bandai WonderSwan)
10. Final Lap Special (2001, Bandai WonderSwan Color)

>>> DESIGNERS / PROGRAMMERS / STAFF
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Music composed by : Shinji Hosoe

>>> GAME PORTS TO OTHER SYSTEMS
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* Consoles :
Nintendo Famicom (1988)
* Others :
LCD handheld game (1987) released by Namco.

>>> OTHER GAME RESOURCES
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Game's rom.
Machine's picture.