It's your big chance to qualify for an unspecified big race at a track near Mt. Fuji in Japan. First, you try to get through the qualifying heat, racking up laps around the track as fast you can and accumulating as few wrecks as possible. If you pass muster, then you get to try it again with other cars on the track! (Atari, 1983)

A reasonably faithful version of the then-megahit arcade game, this was actually very good considering the 2600's graphics limitations. But it shared the arcade game's repetitious nature, which made it a short-lived game which quickly depleted the novelty associated with its name. And, as usual, Activision's programming wizards upped the stakes and made a better game for the 2600 than Atari could...

Rating:  Four quarters - a couple of minor irritants, but mostly a compelling and addictive game.

Enduro

As one of many drivers in a round-the-clock endurance race through many areas, terrains and weather conditions. While the pretty boys at Fuji may have sunshine all the time (or so it seems), an Enduro racer has to contend with slick snow, nighttime driving conditions (where the other drivers' tail lights are the only warning you have of their presence), fog (which is much like night driving, but about 10 times worse), and so on. (Activision, 1983)

Enduro is a killer driving game, taking the same graphical gimmick that made Pole Position a hit, and increasing the challenge of the game. Allowing for the 2600's graphics, Enduro is actually a more unpredictable and challenging game than the arcade version of Pole Position. One of Activision's specialties, colorful graphics, effectively convey the changing time of day throughout the game. It's a blast!

Rating:  Four quarters - a couple of minor irritants, but mostly a compelling and addictive game.