![F-1 Grand Prix [Model SHVC-FG] screenshot](images/game/61286_2.png "F-1 Grand Prix [Model SHVC-FG]")
F-1 Grand Prix © 1992 Video System Company, Limited.
F-1 Grand Prix was the first officially licensed Formula One game on Nintendo’s 16-bit console. Developed to capture the burgeoning popularity of F1 racing in Japan during the early 90s, the game features realistic car physics for its time, a comprehensive season mode, and an authentic roster of teams and drivers from the 1991 Formula One World Championship.
GAME ID: SHVC-FG
The Licensed Pioneer: This title was a milestone for the Super Famicom, as it was one of the first games to secure an official licensing agreement with FOCA (Formula One Constructors Association). This allowed for the inclusion of real-world team names and driver profiles, which set a high bar for sports authenticity on the system.
Split-Screen Capabilities: While single-player focused on the full season championship, the game’s inclusion of a two-player split-screen mode was a technical highlight. It allowed friends to compete directly on the same track, a feature that was heavily promoted in Japanese television commercials at the time.
The Video System Pedigree: Video System was already well-regarded for their arcade racing titles, and they brought that experience to the SFC by implementing a "pseudo-3D" effect using the console’s Mode 7 graphics. This gave the tracks a sense of depth and speed that was largely unseen in home consoles prior to this release.
Reviews:
[FR] July/August 1992 - Consoles + N.11: 78/100
[FR] July 1992 - Joypad N.10: 83/100
Average note: 80.5/100