I mainly played Pole Position on those old Jakks Pacific TV games. You hold the A button to accelerate, B to shift gears, and you twist the joystick top to steer. Sadly you are a bit slower but and have a second or 2 left after conpleting a race but it's still fun today.
A friend of mine had the Jakks Pacific Plug ‘n Play which had Pole Position, Ms Pac Man and at least one other game, it was great! It’s also last time I checked really pricey on the collector’s market now.
Great to see Pole Position make it to the Tiny Arcades. Growing up, there was a small arcade that was dying in the near by military base that my dad would take me to. Pole Position was one of the remaining and working cabinets at the time. That starting music brings back some good memories. The Pepsi and Marlboro signs in the original. Looking back it cracks me up. I don't think many games would be able to get by with now. Great review!
Thanks, Aaron. Pole Position is one of those games full of auditory nostalgia triggers. That scratchy, "prepare to qualify" sample that is just barely intelligible (thankfully, it's reinforced by the flag flying by) really seals the deal for a good review here. We know it's not original, but it hits all the right beats.
I'm 22 now and rocking out to intro music every time lol. Just got that Space Invaders My Arcade cabinet, It's so awesome plugged into my monitor speakers. Like a real arcade sound in my room.
That starting music and "Prepare to qualify" instantaneously takes me back to Shore Lanes and our Saturday bowling league. Thanks for the awesome sense memories!
Always happy to hear of someone transported in time through one of our pieces, T2. And you touched on why I think it's important to review these toys. Manufacturers are trying to tap directly into that nostalgic vein and get our money, so it's important that it hit at leas some of the right beats in order to activate those Member-berry endorphins!
@@GenXGrownUp I never realized what a huge factor the sound is when playing these smaller implementations. It's one of those things you don't notice unless it's wrong. I always appreciate GXG's reviews because they're complete and honest. Yes, you point out the shortcomings but you ALWAYS celebrate what they got right. Keep it up!
Update: just got my Pole Position Tiny Arcade in the mail today, and it's a blast to to play. I'm surprised at how well the custom ROM holds up against the original arcade version in MAME. Obviously different, but considering the size and the price, I'm very impressed.
And because of that, growing up in North America, Pole Position was always an Atari title to me. It wasn't until I was much older that I learned the more nuanced lineage.
Just bought one of these (had to get it shipped from the US to the UK). Absolutely love the style of this, with the awesome artwork, light up marquee and mini steering wheel. Kind of odd that they went for such different looking sprites for the car though, compared to the arcade original.
I always wonder if those kinds of little differences are caused by hardware limitations, or the author of the translation mapping his own creativity onto the new version, or maybe a bit of both.
It actually does save, you just have to let it on idle past the high scores screen and wait a couple of seconds while it's showing gameplay and then it goes into sleep mode, then when you start it again it saves.
@@GenXGrownUp that's true, but it's still a way for it to save your high score and kind of turn off, and I have left mine on sleep mode for like a year now and the batteries still work, so it's not like it's going to be battery wasteful.
I'm pretty sure that side panel art was from Pole Position II, not the first one. Regardless, awesome artwork. Some of the best side art of the 80's. Nice review and glad you enjoyed this one!
I don't play a great deal on the Switch. We have four in the house (!), but I do the majority of my play on my PC. Coincidentally, I just hooked up a Switch to play some Pac-Man 99 since that's the only platform it launched on.
@@GenXGrownUp it's the arcade version on the Xbox 360 I'm always the classic arcade games even on the Xbox one these are the only games I like playing John.
Oh, you know it's just digital! 😊 It feels like that standard accelerated digital steering logic, so that a quick tap is a small adjustment but a longer press is a sharper turn.
It’s a shame that it couldn’t replicate the arcade any better than this. It looks like a FC/NES port in comparison. If it had the original assets and a substantially smoother scrolling, I’d get one immediately.
I mainly played Pole Position on those old Jakks Pacific TV games. You hold the A button to accelerate, B to shift gears, and you twist the joystick top to steer. Sadly you are a bit slower but and have a second or 2 left after conpleting a race but it's still fun today.
A friend of mine had the Jakks Pacific Plug ‘n Play which had Pole Position, Ms Pac Man and at least one other game, it was great! It’s also last time I checked really pricey on the collector’s market now.
Great to see Pole Position make it to the Tiny Arcades. Growing up, there was a small arcade that was dying in the near by military base that my dad would take me to. Pole Position was one of the remaining and working cabinets at the time. That starting music brings back some good memories. The Pepsi and Marlboro signs in the original. Looking back it cracks me up. I don't think many games would be able to get by with now. Great review!
Thanks, Aaron. Pole Position is one of those games full of auditory nostalgia triggers. That scratchy, "prepare to qualify" sample that is just barely intelligible (thankfully, it's reinforced by the flag flying by) really seals the deal for a good review here. We know it's not original, but it hits all the right beats.
I'm 22 now and rocking out to intro music every time lol. Just got that Space Invaders My Arcade cabinet, It's so awesome plugged into my monitor speakers. Like a real arcade sound in my room.
That intro music is by the one-and-only Beefy! Find all of his great stuff at beefyness.com! 🎤🔥
That starting music and "Prepare to qualify" instantaneously takes me back to Shore Lanes and our Saturday bowling league. Thanks for the awesome sense memories!
Always happy to hear of someone transported in time through one of our pieces, T2. And you touched on why I think it's important to review these toys. Manufacturers are trying to tap directly into that nostalgic vein and get our money, so it's important that it hit at leas some of the right beats in order to activate those Member-berry endorphins!
@@GenXGrownUp I never realized what a huge factor the sound is when playing these smaller implementations. It's one of those things you don't notice unless it's wrong. I always appreciate GXG's reviews because they're complete and honest. Yes, you point out the shortcomings but you ALWAYS celebrate what they got right. Keep it up!
Went ahead and added this to my Christmas wish-list (and Q-Bert). Fun review
Nice! 🎄
You know you've done your job when you leave me wanting to buy one of my own. Dammit, Jon... I love these Tiny Arcade videos!
Sorry not sorry, King! 😜
Update: just got my Pole Position Tiny Arcade in the mail today, and it's a blast to to play. I'm surprised at how well the custom ROM holds up against the original arcade version in MAME. Obviously different, but considering the size and the price, I'm very impressed.
Crazy good considering, right?
@@GenXGrownUp and so easy to handle. Felt like a legit F1 driver for five minutes 🤣💀
This was originally a Namco release but was licensed to Atari for the American markets while Namco released it in Japan.
And because of that, growing up in North America, Pole Position was always an Atari title to me. It wasn't until I was much older that I learned the more nuanced lineage.
Just bought one of these (had to get it shipped from the US to the UK). Absolutely love the style of this, with the awesome artwork, light up marquee and mini steering wheel. Kind of odd that they went for such different looking sprites for the car though, compared to the arcade original.
I always wonder if those kinds of little differences are caused by hardware limitations, or the author of the translation mapping his own creativity onto the new version, or maybe a bit of both.
@@GenXGrownUp Yeah, probably a bit of artist license.
Yay another review 😃👍
Hope you enjoyed it!
It actually does save, you just have to let it on idle past the high scores screen and wait a couple of seconds while it's showing gameplay and then it goes into sleep mode, then when you start it again it saves.
You need to leave the power switch on for this to work. It's not off, just screen-off and asleep.
@@GenXGrownUp that's true, but it's still a way for it to save your high score and kind of turn off, and I have left mine on sleep mode for like a year now and the batteries still work, so it's not like it's going to be battery wasteful.
@@___Sunflower Oh, really? Well, that's pretty great to know! Thanks. 😀😀
@@GenXGrownUp you're welcome 🙂
pole position was actually made by namco, but since they didn't have much of a presence in America, they had atari publish it.
For sure. Developed by Namco, but here in the U.S. it was under the Atari banner.
I'm pretty sure that side panel art was from Pole Position II, not the first one. Regardless, awesome artwork. Some of the best side art of the 80's. Nice review and glad you enjoyed this one!
Oh, dang! You're absolutely right, Feralinferno! Those two must've blurred the two designs in my memory. Certainly pretty, though.
@@GenXGrownUp hi John great video on this classic arcade game. How does the steering wheel handle? Do you put your fingers underneath it?
@@marccaselle8108 Thanks. It's really just a tiny joystick with a little steering wheel shape on top. You still just lean it left & right for control.
@@GenXGrownUp Thanks John. 🙂
Nice!
Thank you! Cheers!
Hoping for a My Arcade Bubble Bobble review sometime in the future!
Noted, Matty. Thanks for the suggestion.
nice video ! got mine yesterday from FutureFoxToys NC straight to Belgium!
Thanks, sagartie. Hope you didn't have to overpay for the import!
@@GenXGrownUp no me happy
oh hey i was pretty close to buying one of these, was curious as to how close to the arcade it would be, thanks for makin this
Happy to help, win9x. This is one that, if it broke, I might actually consider replacing. If you enjoy these smaller units, this is a definite winner.
Hey Jon would you please do a comparison video both the tiny in micro arcade dig dug
I might do that. Thanks for the suggestion.
That’s really not bad all things considered. Strange that the gearing isn’t there. But it’s remarkably playable regardless.
After TMNT I was not expecting much, but look how nice these can be if you don't over-reach the available tech.
buen video bro
¡Gracias por ver!
John what games do you have for Nintendo switch
I don't play a great deal on the Switch. We have four in the house (!), but I do the majority of my play on my PC. Coincidentally, I just hooked up a Switch to play some Pac-Man 99 since that's the only platform it launched on.
Keep in mind that although the cabinet was mass produced in America under Atari the game itself is actually a Namco classic.
That little arcade looks good John I have the same game for my Xbox 360
Cool, Greg. Is the 360 an arcade version or one of those XBLA updated versions?
@@GenXGrownUp it's the arcade version on the Xbox 360 I'm always the classic arcade games even on the Xbox one these are the only games I like playing John.
So is that digital or analog steering?
Oh, you know it's just digital! 😊 It feels like that standard accelerated digital steering logic, so that a quick tap is a small adjustment but a longer press is a sharper turn.
there are more of them,which one is the best follow you?
I've covered quite a few here. The Ms. Pac-Man is quite good.
I need it
Get it.
I'm shocked at how good those tiny versions are (except for TMNT which was a few bits too much for the hardware to handle)
Agreed.
You're not the only one who thought Pole Position was an Atari Game.
Heh. I know it was developed by Namco, but in my little corner of the world it was an Atari title. 😁
Which one is a better cat Dexter or whiskers
Dexter FTW! 😹
Btw: I will say that Pole Position II is definitely harder than the original Pole Position. I could never get on the leaderboard on the sequel 🤣
I never had much access to PP2 at my local arcades, so I have barely played it. Tougher, eh?
It’s a shame that it couldn’t replicate the arcade any better than this.
It looks like a FC/NES port in comparison.
If it had the original assets and a substantially smoother scrolling, I’d get one immediately.
I thought it was surpisisngly good considering the limitations. But yeah, closer to the original is always better.
Can u still get one?
For sure. amzn.to/3u9Ig7G
this looks cool yes its worth 4 tokens
🟡🟡🟡🟡
Thoughts?
Yes. I have thoughts and I mention several of them in this video review.
I see. But I thought the JAKKS Pacific Ms.Pac Man Pole Position was nostalgic
@@xav.rjrproductions5564 Sure it is. Did I imply it wasn't? That simply wasn't the topic of this particular piece.
man i want this
Go for it! amzn.to/39DyTFE
@@GenXGrownUp nice
Hate to burst your misconception but Pole Position is actually Namco's. Not Atari's. Need proof? Namco Museum has it in it's releases
Thanks for the correction. *its 😜 P.S. Distributed by Atari in the U.S., which is where I grew up.
I've played this on the gba Namco museum, it doesn't play as well as this
It’s too small to be a impulse buy for me
An "impulse"? I see what you did there, Jacob! 😉
Looks like garbage
Quite the opposite.
Good review. I had just picked this up for my Vectrex!
Oh, yeah? I don't think I've ever tried the Vectrex port. How is it?
@@GenXGrownUp It's very fun. One of my favorite Vectrex games!
@@SuperGamesLegend Yeah? Well, I'll remember to try it out next time I'm emulating Vectrex, or better yet, visiting someone who has one.