Turboat is a video game in the action genre developed by Mass Tael Co., Ltd. and published by ASCII Corporation originally released in 1984. It is currently playable on MSX.
Turboat was an MSX game released in 1984 that quickly revolutionized the gaming industry. At the time, arcade racers were always in 2D, with the player controlling a car or some other vehicle from an overhead view. Turboat introduced a third-dimension to the genre, allowing players to drive their boats around tracks in three dimensions.
This change in how racers are presented had a huge impact on the industry. Prior to the release of this game, racers were either presented in a side-scrolling sprinter format or from an overhead point of view. After the release of the Turboat, developers began seeking additional ways to make their racers more realistic and exciting. An example of this is the inclusion of banks and other objects around the track that the player must avoid.
Turboat also boasted an impressive list of features. It had multiple tracks which included several kinds of curvature and some with obstacles for players to drive around. Artificial intelligence was also used to simulate other boats in the race. The MSX version even included a two-player mode with the use of external modifiers.
The visual details lent to the immersive atmosphere of the game. The water was realistically presented with the surface undulating, changing based on the direction of the current. The boats were powered by four separate engines that provided a realistic sense of speed and acceleration. Combined, these features helped contribute to the game's success at the time of its release.
Though the graphics and gameplay of Turboat were impressive, its effects could be seen in other racing genres decades later. Its use of a third dimension and watery tracks helped create a totally new kind of racer, and its combination of visual and technical aspects made it a groundbreaking game. The impact of the Turboat continues to be seen today, making it one of the seminal entries in the genre's history.
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