View source for Final Lap

{{Short description|1987 video game}}
{{about|the 1987 videogame|other uses|Final lap (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Final Lap
| image = Final Lap arcade flyer.jpg
| caption = Japanese arcade flyer
| composer = [[Shinji Hosoe]]
| developer = [[Namco]]<br>'''Famicom'''<br>{{vgrelease|JP|[[Arc System Works]]}}
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP/EU|Namco<ref name="CVG77"/>|NA|[[Atari Games]]}}
| released = '''Arcade'''{{vgrelease|JP|September 1987|EU|February 1988<ref name="CVG77"/>|NA|May 1988}} '''Famicom'''{{vgrelease|JP|August 12, 1988}}
| genre = [[Sim racing|Racing simulation]]<ref name="CVG77"/>
| series = ''Final Lap''
| platforms = [[Arcade game|Arcade]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Family Computer]]
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
| arcade system = [[Namco System 2]]
}}

{{nihongo foot|'''''Final Lap'''''|ファイナルラップ|Fainaru Rappu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1987 [[Sim racing|racing simulation]] [[video game]] developed and published by [[Namco]].<ref name="CVG77" /> [[Atari Games]] published the game in the United States in 1988. It was the first game to run on Namco's then-new [[Namco System 2|System 2 hardware]] and is a direct successor to Namco's ''[[Pole Position]]'' (1982) and ''[[Pole Position II]]'' (1983). It was ported to the [[Famicom]] by [[Arc System Works]], making it Arc System Works' debut game.<ref name="ASW25th">{{cite book |title=Arc System Works 25th Anniversary Character Collection |publisher=[[ASCII Media Works]] |date=October 22, 2013 |page=246 |url=https://archive.org/details/akushisutemu25shnenki/246.jpg}}</ref>

''Final Lap'' was the first racing game to allow up to [[multiplayer video game|eight players]] to simultaneously race on the [[Suzuka Circuit]] in a [[Formula One]] race. This was, at the time, considered a revolutionary feature, and was implemented by linking together up to four two-player sitdown-style arcade cabinets.

There was also a single-player mode, in which the player's [[score (gaming)|score]] was based on how far the car traveled until time ran out or if the player completed four laps. It was a major commercial success in Japan, becoming the third highest-grossing arcade game of 1988, the highest-grossing dedicated arcade game of 1989, and second highest dedicated arcade game of 1990.

==Gameplay==
[[Image:FinalLap.png|thumb|left|Preparing to turn a corner (arcade)]]
The player drives Formula One cars of the 1987 season and may choose between [[Williams FW11|Williams-Honda]], [[Lotus 99T|Lotus-Honda]], [[McLaren MP4/3|McLaren-Porsche]], or [[March 871|March-Cosworth]]. 1987 was the first year a Formula One grand prix was held on the [[Suzuka Circuit]], the main track in the game. The track layout is reproduced accurately, going so far as to include sponsor [[billboard (advertising)|billboard]]s, but the length is greatly shortened, and it takes less than forty seconds to complete one lap in the game.

The Famicom version is mostly unrelated to the original arcade game, including more tracks and somewhat simpler game play. The Famicom version features both a single-player and two-player split screen mode. The game uses an upgrade system, rather than different cars. The game will slowly increase the computer controlled car's difficulty, requiring the player to continuously upgrade the car in order to keep up. The upgrades consist of engine upgrades, brake upgrades, tire upgrades, and extra boost. The game was released in Japan on August 12, 1988.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.giantbomb.com/final-lap/3030-37092/releases/|title=Final Lap International Releases|website=Giant Bomb|language=en|access-date=2020-04-12}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| Allgame = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="Allgame">{{cite web |last1=Cook |first1=Brad |title=Final Lap - Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=10062&tab=review |website=[[Allgame]] |access-date=14 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115222539/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=10062&tab=review |archive-date=15 November 2014 |date=1998}}</ref>
| CVG = Positive<ref name="CVG77">{{cite magazine |title=Arcade Action |magazine=[[Computer and Video Games]] |date=February 1988 |issue=77 (March 1988) |pages=90–3 |url=https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-077/page/n89/mode/2up}}</ref>
| SUser = 9/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Coin Ops |magazine=[[Sinclair User]] |date=18 May 1988 |issue=75 (June 1988) |pages=82–3 |url=https://worldofspectrum.org/archive/magazines/sinclair-user/75#82}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[Commodore User]]''
| rev1Score = 5/5<ref name="Commodore User">{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Nick |title=Arcades: Final Lap |url=https://www.solvalou.com/arcade/reviews/267/614 |access-date=13 October 2019 |agency=[[Commodore User]] |date=May 1988 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202105913/https://www.solvalou.com/arcade/reviews/267/614 |archive-date=2 February 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
{{Expand section|date=September 2021}}

''Final Lap'' was a major commercial success in Japan, where it remained one of the most-popular and profitable arcade games, being towards the top of arcade earnings charts for three consecutive years.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - アップライト, コックピット型TVゲーム機 (Upright/Cockpit Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=325|publisher=Amusement Press|date=1 February 1988|page=23|lang=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - アップライト, コックピット型TVゲーム機 (Upright/Cockpit Videos) |magazine=Game Machine |issue=360 |publisher=Amusement Press |date=July 15, 1989|page=23|lang=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - アップライト, コックピット型TVゲーム機 (Upright/Cockpit Videos) |magazine=Game Machine |issue=368 |publisher=Amusement Press |date=November 15, 1989 |page=23 |lang=ja}}</ref> It was Japan's third highest-grossing arcade game of 1988 (below ''[[After Burner]]'' and ''[[Operation Wolf]]''),<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25: '88 ''/ "Game of the Year '88" By Game Machine'' |magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]] |issue=348 |publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]] |date=15 January 1989 |pages=10–1, 26 |lang=ja |url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19890115p.pdf#page=6}}</ref> and went on to become Japan's highest-grossing dedicated arcade game of 1989.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Videos of The Year; "Tetris", "Chase H.Q." |magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]] |issue=372 |publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]] |date=15 January 1990 |page=26 |lang=ja |url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19900115p.pdf#page=14}}</ref> It was later Japan's second highest-grossing dedicated arcade game of 1990 (below ''[[Super Monaco GP]]'').<ref>{{cite magazine |title="Tetris" Has Still Earned More Than "Final Fight" |magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]] |issue=396 |publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]] |date=1 February 1991 |page=22 |lang=ja |url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19910201p.pdf#page=12}}</ref>

The game received positive reviews from critics. Clare Edgeley of ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'' called it "a first class racing sim" that is "tremendously addictive" especially in multiplayer mode and a "definitive must" for all racing drivers.<ref name="CVG77"/>

==Legacy==
''Final Lap'' was followed by ''[[Final Lap 2]]'' in 1990 which featured courses in [[Japan]], the [[United States]], [[Italy]], and [[Monaco]]; ''[[Final Lap 3]]'' in 1992, which featured courses in [[England]], [[France]], [[San Marino]], and [[Spain]]; and ''[[Final Lap R]]'' in 1993, which featured courses in [[Belgium]], [[Brazil]], [[Germany]], and [[Hungary]].

There were also a number of spin-offs: a [[Racing video game#Racing role playing games|racing-RPG]] ''[[Final Lap Twin]]'' released for the [[TurboGrafx-16]] in 1989; and ''Final Lap 2000'' and ''Final Lap Special'', a pair of games released for the [[WonderSwan]] and [[WonderSwan Color]] respectively.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{KLOV game|id=7797}}

{{Final Lap series|state=expanded}}
{{Atari Games}}
{{Formula One games}}

[[Category:1987 video games]]
[[Category:Bandai Namco Entertainment franchises]]
[[Category:Arcade video games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Namco games]]
[[Category:Arc System Works games]]
[[Category:Namco arcade games]]
[[Category:Atari arcade games]]
[[Category:Racing video games]]
[[Category:Formula One video games]]
[[Category:Sports video games set in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Shinji Hosoe]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Cancelled Sega Saturn games]]
[[Category:Pole Position and Final Lap series]]