Pole Position II Arcade Review – Best of the ’80s?

Channel:

Lonster's Arcade

Subscribers:

459

Published on May 23, 2025 3:01:14 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hePR86tVZrU

Game:

Pole Position II (1983)

Duration: 0:00

5 views

0

🕹 Game Name: Pole Position II
📛 Alternate Names: NA
📅 Release Date: October 1983
🔫 Genre: Racing / Simulation
👨 🏻 ‍💻 Developers: Namco
👨 🏻 ‍💻 Publishers: Namco, Atari, Inc. (North America)
🔢 Max Players: 1
⁉ Cooperative: No

🕹 Game Introduction:
Pole Position II fired up the arcade tracks in 1983, building on the breakthrough of the original with sharper graphics, more tracks, and even tighter gameplay. It wasn’t just a sequel — it was a pit stop to greatness.

🕹 Game Description:
This time, players had the freedom to choose from four race tracks: Fuji Speedway, Test Track, Seaside, and Suzuka. Pole Position II added color enhancements, improved animation, and deeper track strategy, making it one of the most engaging racers of its generation.

🎴 Game Play:
👉 🏻 Begin by selecting one of four different tracks with varying difficulty levels.
👉 🏻 Qualify with a timed lap — finish fast enough to enter the main event.
👉 🏻 Shift between low and high gear to control speed around turns and straightaways.
👉 🏻 Dodge rival cars and avoid roadside obstacles like signs and grass.
👉 🏻 Crashing into cars or objects leads to fiery wrecks that cost time.
👉 🏻 Survive the race long enough to keep receiving time extensions and continue competing.

📕 Background & History:
Namco quickly followed up the massive success of Pole Position with this sequel. With enhanced visuals and more content, Pole Position II solidified its place as the go-to arcade racing game of the early '80s. It was the pack leader in technical evolution for racers.

🐣 Cheats, Tricks, Bugs, and Easter Eggs:
👉 🏻 Stick to the inside edge of curves to improve lap times.
👉 🏻 Quickly shifting up after the first turn can boost your early momentum.
👉 🏻 Crash during qualifying after crossing the line to sometimes trigger odd lap time readings.

🐱 ‍💻 Hacks:
👉 🏻 Bootleg versions allowed infinite time or fixed opponent AI for practice or testing.
👉 🏻 Custom ROMs emerged allowing users to swap car colors and logos — rare in official releases.

🎉 Trivia:
👉 🏻 The only track carried over from the first game was Fuji Speedway.
👉 🏻 The game was often bundled in dual-screen cabinets alongside the original.
👉 🏻 Pole Position II's cabinet featured sharper colors and redone decals from the first game.
👉 🏻 Test Track was the easiest course, while Suzuka was considered the most difficult.

👓 Lonster's Review:
Pole Position II gave fans exactly what they wanted — more of everything! More tracks, more challenge, better visuals. The smooth transitions, the bright explosions, and the shifting strategy made it one of the best arcade follow-ups ever released.

🌟 Legacy:
While many racing games were stuck in neutral, Pole Position II put the pedal down on progress. Its multi-track format became a standard in future racing games and its animation style influenced everything from OutRun to Daytona USA.

✨ Cultural Impact:
Pole Position II was a staple in arcades throughout the '80s. From bowling alleys to pizza parlors, it drew in crowds and kept players locked into the thrill of the race. It helped establish arcade racing as a must-have genre.

💭 Lonster's Final Thoughts:
This game didn’t just follow the leader — it lapped the competition. Pole Position II is still a blast to play today, and it paved the way for decades of high-speed action. If you haven’t played it, buckle up and fix that.

📱 Where To Find Lonster da Monster?:
Lonster's Pop! Obsession:    / @lonster_da_monster  
Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/lonster_da_monster/  
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/lonstrdamonstr  
TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@lonsterdamonster  
Twitch Gaminghttps://www.twitch.tv/lonster_da_monster  
Buy Me A Beerhttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/lonsterdamonster..
Please don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE & turn on your NOTIFICATIONS so you never miss a video!!!

#️ ⃣
#lonstersretroarcade #lonsterdamonster #arcade #arcades #retroarcades #arcadegames #arcadegame #arcaderacer #arcadeplayers #arcade_game #arcadehacks #arcadegamemachine #arcadestick #arcadeshooter #videogame #videogames #videogaming #videogameaddict #videogamemusic #videogamer #videogametrailer #gameteaser
#polepositionII #namcoracing #suzukatrack #classicarcaderacing #arcaderetrogames #testtrackfun #fujiarcade #arcaderacersunite