History Main / NitroBoost

* ''VideoGame/StarFox'' features a boost meter that can be used for various moves, including NitroBoost. It recharges while no such move is performed. In ''Command'', its length varies from ship to ship.

* This happens several times in ''{{WesternAnimation/Motorcity}}'', particularly in the episode "Power Trip."

* In ''WesternAnimation/TaleSpin'', the Seaduck used to be equipped with an ''Overdrive'' module that would deploy additional intakes on the engines, allowing them to take the plane to jet-like performance levels. Unfortunately, it was only good for a few seconds, otherwise "[[ExplosiveOverclocking Boom-boom bye-bye]]." The module burned out in the last episode of the {{pilot}} series, and was never repaired or brought up again.

* ''Cruis'n USA'' had a Nitro Boost as a hidden feature. You got one per checkpoint passed.
* ''Cruis'n World'' takes this one level better. A wheelie gives you a slight boost in speed, but a Nitro Boost is available 1 per lap in Championship modes. The Nitro Boost gives a tremendous wheelie with flaming skid marks and a big speed boost for a while after that.
** You can also get a Nitro Boost by timing your throttle on the start.
** Little known trick is to use the Manual transmission, and in Neutral at a low speed, you rev the engine up and when it hits the "Orange" line (between yellow and red) you upshift into gear 1. You get a full on Nitro Boost this way, and it works at any time, not just at the start of the race. You need perfect timing, though, to get it.

* In ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'' itself, the MASC's size and weight depends on the 'Mech's own tonnage and activation requires a roll of 3+, otherwise the actuators freeze and the 'Mech is rendered immobile. When activated, the 'Mech can run at double it's walking speed (for example, a ''Shadow Cat'' Prime that walks at 68.4 km/h or has 6 movements per turn can run at 129.6 km/h which translates to 13 movements in a single turn with the MASC activated). Each successive use adds two to the number you have to roll while each turn not spent using it reduces that number by two. The uses of such can range from making a 'Mech harder to hit, using HitAndRunTactics or bringing a MightyGlacier into brawling range more quickly.

* The "Ford POS" in ''Film/MenInBlack'' has rocket boosters powerful enough to allow driving on the roof of a tunnel.

* The Pegasus Seeds of the ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames'' are a rare example of a Nitro Boost used on a humanoid.

-->-- '''The Announcer/Mr. Zero''', ''[[VideoGame/FZero F-Zero X]]''

* YOU GOT BOOST POWER!! ''VideoGame/FZero'' initially had a boost charge system, with one rewarded per lap to a maximum of three and each machine had it's own boost top speed and boost duration, but all its sequels (sans ''Maximum Velocity'' for the Game Boy Advance, which played the same as the original game) let you boost whenever... but it draws from your energy meter, [[CastFromHitpoints which is also your health]]. You also couldn't use the boost until after the first lap. The series also features some dash pads as well.

* ''Film/MadMaxFuryRoad'': Nux turns on the NitroBoost, then ''removes the steering wheel'', holding it aloft as they zoom ahead of the war party. An exasperated People Eater later lists "nineteen canisters of nitro" among the resources used pursing the protagonists. During the final chase Nux and Max are seen spitting some sort of fluid to the War Rig's engine to give it bursts of extra speed, while trying to outrun Slit who's doing the same to his vehicle.

* Somewhat surprisingly for a game all about speed, it wasn't until ''VideoGame/{{Sonic Rush|Series}}'' (released 14 years after the original) that VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog got access to the tension gauge-powered 'Boost' ability. Before that, there were boost pads which remain to this day.

** The Speed Break and Sonic Boost moves from ''VideoGame/SonicAndTheSecretRings'', ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'' and ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' takes the Boost move from ''VideoGame/{{Sonic Rush|Series}}'' and applies it to the 3D plane, for the same basic purpose. Unlike the Tension Gauge-powered Boost from the latter game, the fuel for the Sonic Boost is rings (Soul Pearls and White Wisps, for ''Secret Rings'' and ''Colors'', respectively).

* ''Film/MadMaxFuryRoad''. Nux turns on the NitroBoost, then ''removes the steering wheel'', holding it aloft as they zoom ahead of the war party. An exasperated People Eater later lists "nineteen canisters of nitro" among the resources used pursing the protagonists. During the final chase Nux and Max are seen applying some sort of fluid to the War Rig's engine to give it bursts of extra speed, while trying to outrun Slit who's doing the same to his vehicle.

** All games after ''Underground'' feature a nitrous oxide system. The higher its level, the more boost you could use. The first game had one single fixed charge of nitrous, akin to real life; the second game has a nitrous tank refilled by pulling stunts, and the two games after that (''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedMostWanted Most Wanted]]'' 2005 and ''Carbon'') have a nitrous tank that continuously and constantly refills itself. (Note for the unwary - you can't just call it NOS, because as ''Film/TheFastAndTheFurious'' people found out the hard way, that's a specific company who will sue you. Most of the games feature both Holley Performance Products NOS and Nitrous Express NX as available systems.) There are cars available for ''Need for Speed: High Stakes'' already that simulate NitroBoost with a modified reverse gear. At the cost of being able to move backwards, the car seems to develop a power boost and increase both its acceleration and maximum speed dramatically.

** ''Hot Pursuit'' 2010 has, for Racers only, an extra type of NitroBoost called "Turbo". Racers start with a limited amount of them, and once they hit the button, they can't stop it except by crashing, hitting a spike strip, or getting EMP'd (which is nearly impossible considering a car on Turbo will easily escape EMP range). What it does is give a ''massive'' boost to acceleration and top speed, for a short duration. Leveling up the powerup increases its power and duration. And yes, it's available alongside normal nitrous.
** ''Shift 2: Unleashed'' also introduces nitrous kits that can be added to your car and works in a realistic fashion.

** ''Need For Speed: Rivals'' mirrors the ''Hot Pursuit'' 2010 examples above, with nitrous boosts for both sides where dangerous moves refills nitrous for racers while high speed refills cop nitrous, and Turbo available as Pursuit Tech to Racers. For both ''Most Wanted'' 2012 and ''Rivals'', driving through a repair shop grants a full nitrous meter alongside the other benefits. Players monitoring your game using Overwatch even have the ability to refill or drain nitrous at the cost of their fuel.
** The 2015 reboot simply titled ''Need For Speed'' lets you choose between nitrous that refills over time and nitrous that refills with stunts like drifting and narrowly dodging traffic.

* ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'': It seems Jak is very fond of zooming at high speed.

** It also boosted both Jak's on-foot speed and his Zoomer's speed for a limited time in ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxterThePrecursorLegacy'' among its other abilities in that game. Picking up more Blue Eco along the way would increase the time it was in use.
** Generic-looking speed boost pick-ups were also used for the stadium races in ''VideoGame/JakIIRenegade'' and the Wasteland vehicles in ''VideoGame/Jak3Wastelander'' (the latter even including an unlockable option for unlimited turbo use).

** In various other titles where you're given a horse, you can "feed" it "carrots" to get a boost of speed.

* The ''VideoGame/MarioKart'' series has the standard red-spotted mushrooms from its platformer cousins as a storable speed boost. In Double Dash, where two characters rode on a single kart (one to drive, the other to use items) the character in back simply shoves the Mushroom into the Kart's tailpipe to activate the boost.
** Every ''Mario Kart'' game since the Nintendo 64 game has had mini-turbos in it (a technique to get boosts on corners through drifting).
*** The original ''VideoGame/SuperMarioKart'' did too, but they were undocumented, invisible, and hard to perform.
** All ''VideoGame/MarioKart'' games also had the zip arrows on many tracks, especially right in front of jumps.

** The Stars could also be considered a Nitro Boost since you have higher top speed for a short period of time.
** The Wii version also has bikes which can wheelie for a slight speed boost in exchange for the ability to get 2nd-tier mini-turbos. Of course, take into mind mini-turbos themselves had been nerfed quite a bit in the transition to this installment.

** In ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'' itself, the MASC's size and weight depends on the 'Mech's own tonnage and activation requires a roll of 3+, otherwise the actuators freeze and the 'Mech is rendered immobile. When activated, the 'Mech can run at double it's walking speed (for example, a ''Shadow Cat'' Prime that walks at 68.4 km/h or has 6 movements per turn can run at 129.6 km/h which translates to 13 movements in a single turn with the MASC activated). Each successive use adds two to the number you have to roll while each turn not spent using it reduces that number by two. The uses of such can range from making a 'Mech harder to hit, using HitAndRunTactics or bringing a MightyGlacier into brawling range more quickly.
* Several ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' stages put your character on a Ride Chaser; pressing the dash button usually gives a burst of speed. Useful, but you can't dodge at the same time, so you're more likely to smack yourself into a wall. ''X8'' has two Ride Chaser stages, one of which has more traditional Nitro Boosts (you have to keep picking up weapon energy to use them). The other gives you both dash and ''brake'' buttons -- when an enemy jetbike comes up behind you, you can brake and watch it speed ahead and crash.
** Let us not forget that all the playable characters in ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' have "emergency acceleration" systems, commonly called dashing, available to give them a speed boost whenever they need to get away from something. Of course, since you can spam it indefinitely, it doesn't end up being used for emergencies so much as just finishing a stage in half the time. The same applies to Zero in ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'', and most of the armor forms in ''VideoGame/MegaManZX''.

* Likewise, just as any other street racing scene game would have, all ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed'' games after ''Underground'' feature a nitrous oxide system. The higher its level, the more boost you could use. The first game had one single fixed charge of nitrous, akin to real life; the second game has a nitrous tank refilled by pulling stunts, and the two games after that (''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedMostWanted Most Wanted]]'' 2005 and ''Carbon'') have a nitrous tank that continuously and constantly refills itself. (Note for the unwary - you can't just call it NOS, because as ''Film/TheFastAndTheFurious'' people found out the hard way, that's a specific company who will sue you. Most of the games feature both Holley Performance Products NOS and Nitrous Express NX as available systems.)
** There are cars available for ''Need for Speed: High Stakes'' already that simulate NitroBoost with a modified reverse gear. At the cost of being able to move backwards, the car seems to develop a power boost and increase both its acceleration and maximum speed dramatically.

*** ''Hot Pursuit'' 2010 has, for Racers only, an extra type of NitroBoost called "Turbo". Racers start with a limited amount of them, and once they hit the button, they can't stop it except by crashing, hitting a spike strip, or getting EMP'd (which is nearly impossible considering a car on Turbo will easily escape EMP range). What it does is give a ''massive'' boost to acceleration and top speed, for a short duration. Leveling up the powerup increases its power and duration. And yes, it's available alongside normal nitrous.

* ''Film/MadMax2TheRoadWarrior.'' The Humungus has nitro boost on his command vehicle. Unfortunately he's going so fast he doesn't have time to swerve on suddenly encountering Max coming in the other direction.
** This is pretty much an obligatory scene in any Mad Max film. In ''Film/MadMaxFuryRoad'' Nux turns on the NitroBoost, then ''removes the steering wheel'', holding it aloft as they zoom ahead of the war party. An exasperated People Eater later lists "nineteen canisters of nitro" among the resources used pursing the protagonists. During the final chase Nux and Max are seen applying some sort of fluid to the War Rig's engine to give it bursts of extra speed.

[[folder:Film]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Gas Tank + FireBreathingDiner = NitroBoost!]]

* In ''Film/GhostRider'', Johnny Blaze's big stunt to jump the length of an arena over [[RuleOfCool Six! Blackhawk! Helicopters!]] required him to fire off the NOS with pinpoint timing.

* Played straight in ''Film/{{Cobra}}'', a popcorn action flick where Sylvester Stallone is a badass cop.

* "Dash Pads": Environmental features that accelerate the player on contact, often represented as arrows.
* "Stored Nitro Charges": Items picked up and stored for later use, usually with an upper limit.
* "Self-Regenerating Boost": Awarded at the end of every lap, or simply recovers over time, like a SprintMeter.

* ''Excite Truck!'' uses the third version, which also recovers instantly during hang time.
** In Excite Bike, running over arrow points keeps you from overheating when using turbo boost and water cools you off in Excite Bots. If you can't find either of these you will be forced to drastically slow down.
* In ''VideoGame/FASTRacingLeague'', you can get a boost by matching the color of your car to that of the tracks on certain parts of the course, or at any time by shaking the Wii remote for the cost of five energy units.

* Nitro boosts are a crucial element in the ''VideoGame/RidgeRacer'' games since they were introduced in the PSP games. Nitro tanks are refilled by drifting (the faster and longer you drift, the faster the tanks refill), with a maximum of three. ''Ridge Racer 6'' introduces Double and Triple Nitrous, which use two or all three nitrous tanks for stronger and longer-lasting boosts. ''7'' turns this trope UpToEleven with other, unlockable Nitrous types, such as Flex Nitrous - a single, massive Nitrous tank that can be used anytime, Hi-Nitrous - the same as normal Nitrous but with shorter and stronger boosts, Long Nitrous - two Nitrous tanks that are as large as a normal tank and a half, and Reverse Nitrous - in which [[DifficultButAwesome you can only charge Nitrous up while using it.]]

** ''[[VideoGame/NeedForSpeedMostWanted Most Wanted]]'' 2012 also features nitrous boosts but it first has to be unlocked for every car via a challenge which also has several variants from the standard burn nitrous to powershot nitrous that cannot be used until the meter is full and drains it in an instant while propelling your car to near top speed. A [[DownloadableContent DLC]] pack introduces jump nitro that boosts the cars speed while in mid-air. Also, like the ''Burnout'' examples below, driving dangerously fills up your nitrous faster and performing takedowns on other racers/cops instantly fills the meter; very useful with the powershot.