1991 Du Ma Racing (Asia) (Ja) (Idea-Tek) (Unl)

Du Ma Racing is an engaging horse racing game released for the NES console in 1991 by Idea-Tek. The game offers players an authentic experience of the horse racing world, from training horses to participating in thrilling races.

In Du Ma Racing, players begin by selecting a horse to train. Each horse possesses unique stats for speed, stamina, and acceleration. Players need to dedicate time to training their horse through practice sessions, which helps improve these attributes. Proper training is key for your horse to be competitive in major races.

Before each race, players can place bets on their chosen horse, or on other horses to add to the excitement and earn profits. The betting phase is a crucial part, requiring players to exercise judgment and strategy.

Once the race begins, players control their horse on the track. The racing interface is presented from a side-scrolling perspective, allowing players to monitor their horse's position and that of their rivals. Controls are relatively simple but require finesse: players need to know when to use the whip to gain speed and when to conserve stamina to prevent their horse from becoming exhausted too early. Stamina management is a critical factor, especially in longer races. If the whip is used too much, the horse can tire out and significantly slow down towards the end of the race. Conversely, if not used enough, you might fall behind.

The ultimate goal is to guide your horse to the finish line first. Winning races not only provides prize money but also helps unlock more challenging tournaments and allows you to purchase better horses in the future. Du Ma Racing is an interesting blend of strategic management (training, betting) and real-time control skills (horse racing).