Full Throttle (1987 video game)

This article is about the arcade racing game. For other uses, see Full Throttle.

Full Throttle, also known as Top Speed, is a one-player racing arcade game developed by Taito in 1987. It is similar in style to the Out Run games in that it features a fast, red car hurtling through the US countryside. The key difference in gameplay is the addition of a nitro boost button.^[6] The game was released under the title Full Throttle in Japan, Top Speed in North America,^[3] and both Full Throttle and Top Speed in Europe.^[1][2]

Full Throttle / Top Speed
Developer(s)	Taito
Publisher(s)	JP: Taito NA: Romstar EU: Taito[1][2]
Director(s)	Hiroyuki Sakou
Designer(s)	Hiroyuki Sakou
Programmer(s)	Kyouji Shimamoto Takeshi Murata Takeshi Ishizashi
Artist(s)	Hiroyasu Nagai
Composer(s)	Masahiko Takaki
Platform(s)	Arcade, X68000
Release	JP: July 30, 1987[3] NA: August 1987[4] EU: November 1987[1][2]
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Single-player
Arcade system	Taito Top Speed[5]

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Full Throttle on their November 15, 1987 issue as being the second most-successful upright arcade unit of the month.^[7]

Clare Edgeley of Computer and Video Games gave Top Speed a positive review, comparing it favorably to Out Run and complimented its graphics and smooth handling.^[1] Commodore User, on the other hand, rated Full Throttle five out of ten, calling it a clone of Out Run and comparing it unfavorably to Sega's game.^[2]

Legacy

This game was the forerunner of the Taito Z system on which Taito's driving games were based from 1988–91.

Director Hiroyuki Sakou went on to create Taito's Operation Thunderbolt a year later.