OutRun

released on Sep 25, 1986

OutRun is a racing game originating in the arcades. The player can race across varied terrain in a readily available Ferrari, complete with a female passenger, over a series of short tracks. Gameplay is viewed form just above and behind the car. The roads are full of sharp bends and hazards, contact with which can cause the car to roll and lose the player's time. On each section of track there is a fork in the road, allowing the player to choose which direction he or she wishes to go in. The player has to to complete five track sections in total, out of the fifteen in the game.


Also in series

OutRun Europa
OutRun Europa
Out Run Europa
Out Run Europa
Battle OutRun
Battle OutRun
Turbo Outrun
Turbo Outrun
OutRun 3-D
OutRun 3-D

Reviews View More

Well, I finally got to play the original OutRun cabinet! The deluxe one to be specific, where the car you sit in physically shakes and turns you to match what's on screen. I thought it was pretty cool, but completely freaked my wife out when she tried it out lol. I've never been a fan of OutRun's premise I'll be honest - with it not being really a racing game, but more of a "beat the timer with a bunch of stuff in your way" kinda game, but OutRun in comparison to other car driving games at the time is GORGEOUS and plays like something we've never seen before this, allowing the player to really feel like they're in control of the car on-screen.

I'm sure if I spent more time with OutRun, I would eventually get a handle on how to play it properly, but when rating the game, I can't not rate it as anything lower than a 4-Star because this is one of those arcade games that completely revolutionized arcade history and became one of Sega's most successful cabinets to date. Gorgeous graphics, amazing music (implementing a radio to add to the immersion of driving - 12 years before GTA!), and unbelievable controls... you can even change gear! Every gamer should check OutRun out at least once in their life.

4/5

where is the "platform" option for yakuza 0

I needed the friendship to go up so I can own the property please and thank you. Neat game tho I'd probably say my favorite arcade game within Yakuza 0.

Cleared on March 18th, 2024 (SEGA Genesis Challenge: 59/160)

Here's an interesting tidbit about this game. The "get ready" sound effect that is used when you start a race is also used by Space Harrier every time you respawn after you lose a life. Never would've imagined running into that sound effect just after I played that game.

Anyway, Outrun is a game where you drive one large course with multiple different paths leading you to 5 different outcomes. Each route has it's own layout and scenery, and it is well versed in its locations. You drive a car at a high speed, totally not putting the girl next to you in danger. There's 2 different speeds that you can set it to which include L which is meant to be slow and steady while H allows you to move at incredible speed. L is initially useful for starting the race as it has better acceleration, but once you get to 110 miles, switching to and staying in H is optimal as you can just tap the drive button to slow down to improve your steering while maintaining good speed.

There are four different songs that you can choose which include Magical Sound Shower, Passing Breeze, Splash Wave, and Step on Beat. Each of which try to emit a more tropical sound, and Splash Wave in particular reminds me of something I would hear in Sonic Adventure if it was demade on Sega Genesis. I will say that the soundtrack from the arcade does translate really well onto the Sega Genesis. It isn't going to outdo it, but the arcade version already sounded like the Sega Genesis with some extra depth to it.

It's really just a simple race to the finish game. It doesn't give me the excitement that Outrun 2019 did, but for a game made in 1986 and ported to the Genesis in 1991, it did what it sought out to do and make a game where you can go driving.

Yu Suzuki called this a driving game instead of a racing game, and I think you can feel that distinction pretty quickly when playing it. It's almost a meditative experience, and the forefather of other open world car games to come.