Super Monaco GP

Super Monaco GP is an arcade racing game developed and published by Sega, originally released in arcades and for the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive in 1989. Other home versions followed in 1990 and 1991, with ports for the Amiga, Atari ST, Master System, Game Gear, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum. The Amiga version was developed by Probe Software and published by US Gold.

The game puts you behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car racing through the streets of Monaco and beyond, with a first-person perspective that conveys a strong sense of speed. The arcade original was one of Sega's Super Scaler titles — a hardware platform capable of fast, smooth sprite scaling that created a convincing illusion of 3D racing — and it was a sensation in arcades at the time.

The Genesis version is widely considered the best home conversion, and it went well beyond a simple port. Where the arcade game featured a single course, the Genesis version added a full World Championship mode spanning eighteen circuits, with a career progression system that lets you start as a second driver for a minor team and work your way up by winning races and earning offers from rival teams. You can choose between automatic and manual transmission, with four and seven-speed options available — mastering the manual gearbox gives you a top speed advantage and rewards the effort. The graphics were impressive for a 1990 console game, with smooth scaling, detailed backgrounds, and no slowdown even at high speed. Critics at the time called it one of the best racing games on any console, with Computer and Video Games describing it as something that "literally blows away every other racing game on any console."

The Amiga version, developed by Probe Software, is a solid conversion that captures the feel of the arcade original reasonably well, with good graphics and responsive controls. However, it includes only four circuits in its championship mode, compared to the Genesis version's eighteen, which was a notable omission. Reviewers at the time praised the Amiga port for its presentation and playability while acknowledging it did not quite reach the standard of the Genesis version. Competitors like Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge arguably offered a more complete racing experience on the platform.

Super Monaco GP is a challenging game. The position limit — if you fall below a certain finishing position, the race ends — keeps the pressure on constantly, and the difficulty curve can feel steep. But the tight controls, strong sense of speed, and career mode depth make it a rewarding experience for anyone willing to put in the time.