Lotus Turbo Challenge

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Lotus Turbo Challenge
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Magnetic Fields, Gremlin Graphics Software
Distributor: Ecofilmes (PT), Electronic Arts Australasia (AU)
Licensor: Lotus
Genre: Racing
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code US 1992-12 $49.9949.99 716301 EU 1992 E134SMXI EU (EA Classics) 1996-09-13 EAX02401040I PT 199x PT (EA Classics) 1996 MDJEA0339 UK 1992-12-17 £39.9939.99 E134SMXI CZ 199x AU 199x
Non-Sega versions Amiga Archimedes Atari ST
ESRA

Lotus Turbo Challenge is a racing game developed by Magnetic Fields and published by Gremlin Graphics for the Sega Mega Drive. It is a port of Lotus Turbo Challenge 2 for the Amiga and Atari ST computers.

As the original Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge was not released on consoles, its sequel dropped its numeral for its Mega Drive release and was advertised as being the first Lotus game. A similar situation would happen with its sequel, Lotus III, which was renamed to Lotus II: RECS for its Mega Drive release. The game was distributed by Electronic Arts.

Gameplay

Two-player split screen

Similar to OutRun, Lotus Turbo Challenge is a driving game where players drive through open-road courses and race against the clock. Other racers appear, but they act only as obstacles as the game does not keep track of each player's position. Each course is divided into multiple timed segments. Passing an orange checkpoint adds more time to the timer, and passing a red checkpoint finishes the race and progresses to the next course. Players are awarded bonus points for any time remaining at the end of the race. Courses contain hazards, such as puddles that cause the car to slip, boulders that slow the car down, or logs that launch the car into the air. The car cannot crash, but hitting hazards generally costs the player time. If a player runs out of time, the player's car slows to a stop and the game ends.

The cars use 5-speed manual transmissions, but there is an automatic gear mode where the game shifts for the player. With automatic gears, the car accelerates with and brakes with . With manual gears, the car accelerates with and brakes with . It upshifts with and downshifts with . In either mode, pressing plays a sound clip of someone exclaiming "yeehaw!", which the instruction manual suggests using to taunt opponents when passing them.

The game can be played by one player or by two players simultaneously in a split-screen view. In two-player games, there is a bar that shows the relative positions of the two players (red for player one and white for player two).

Cars

As the name suggests, the game was backed by British car manufacturer Lotus, so all the cars in the game are Lotus models. The car is selected automatically depending on the track rather than chosen by the player.

	Lotus Elan
	The Lotus Elan is used on odd-numbered tracks. It is a front-engine, front-wheel-drive roadster (the only front-wheel-drive vehicle ever produced by Lotus) with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
	Lotus Esprit
	The Lotus Esprit Turbo is used on even-numbered tracks. It is a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

Tracks

	Forest
	Night
	Password: SLEEPERS
	Fog
	Password: HERBERT
	Snow
	Password: BUSINESS
	Desert
	Password: APPLEPIE
	Interstate
	Password: STANDISH
	Driving under the trucks as they cross awards bonus points.
	Marsh
	Password: MALLOW
	Running over an Extra Time icon adds seconds to the timer.
	Storm
	Password: TEA CUP
	Running over a Turbo icon provides a temporary speed boost.

Production credits

Copyright 1992 Gremlin Graphics Software Ltd

• Sega Version by: Philip Rankin, Pete Daniels
• Original Game by: Shaun Southern, Andrew Morris
• Approved and Licensed Product of: Group Lotus Plc

Source:

In-game credits

---

• Developed by: Gremlin Graphics
• Programming: Philip Rankin
• Graphics: Pete Daniels
• Producer: Joss Ellis
• Assistant Producer: Rupert Easterbrook
• Product Management: Andrew Corcoran, UK; Frank Gibeau, US
• Package Design: William Gin
• Package Illustration: Tom Stimpson
• Documentation: David Luoto, Clive Downie
• Documentation Layout: Emily Favors
• Quality Assurance: Ashley Richardson, UK: Jonathan Skolnick, US
• Original Game: Magnetic Field Software Design Ltd

Source:

US manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Lotus Turbo Challenge/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #134: "January 1993" (1992-12-15)
also published in:

• Mean Machines Sega (UK) #5: "February 1993" (1993-01-28)

Print advert in Mega Force (FR) #13: "Janvier 1993" (199x-xx-xx)
also published in:

• Mega Force (FR) #14: "Février 1993" (1993-0x-xx)
• Mega Force (FR) #15: "Mars 1993" (1993-0x-xx)

Print advert in Mega Force (ES) #10: "Febrero 1993" (1993-xx-xx)

Print advert in AS Magazin-Video Igrice (YU) #13: "Jul-Avgust 1995" (1995-xx-xx)
also published in:

• Svet Kompjutera (YU) #130: "Jul/Avgust 1995" (1995-xx-xx)
• Svet Kompjutera (YU) #132: "Septembar 1995" (1995-xx-xx)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 50 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 67 Bad Influence! (UK) PAL 89 Consoles + (FR) 47 Computer & Video Games (UK) 81 Computer & Video Games (UK) 75 Computer + Video Giochi (IT) 81 Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U 88 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 87 Freak (IL) 80 GameFan (US) 75 Game Mania (UK) 91 Game Power (IT) 65 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 83 Gamers (DE) 67 GamesMaster (UK) PAL 79 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 55 Joypad (FR) PAL 81 Joystick (FR) PAL 68 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL 91 Mega (UK) PAL 83 Mega Action (UK) 88 MegaTech (UK) PAL 85 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 84 Player One (FR) 89 Play Time (DE) 83 Power Play (DE) 64 Sega Power (UK) PAL 81 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 91 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 89 Sega Zone (UK) PAL 79 Sega Force (SE) 64 Sega Force (UK) PAL 81 Supersonic (FR) 88 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 79 Video Games (DE) PAL 71

	78
Based on 36 reviews

Lotus Turbo Challenge

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU (EA Console Classics)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, PT
Cover

Mega Drive, PT (EA Console Classics)

Mega Drive, AU
Cover

Mega Drive, CZ (Datart)
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, CZ/SK (EA Console Classics; DDC Agency)
Cover
Cart Manual

Technical information

Main article: Lotus Turbo Challenge/Technical information.