Recommended by Dr. Delicious on this list.
The end of last year was quite a hectic and stressful one for me, but having something I could easily pick up for 15 minutes on a lunch break or in-between other tasks to forget about the world around me was quite a comforting thing. Outrun's vibe is so electrifying and immediate, you boot up the game, pop in a credit, and just go. It was just the thing I needed to clear my mind of all the baggage I've had weighing on me lately. I've heard many complain that the game is over far too quickly, but I suspect this is either due to them looking at the game in relation to other more conventional lap-based racers, or just an admission that they don't have a firm grasp of the game's mechanics yet (completely understandable for a game designed to be played in short bursts with the pressure of a strict time limit, but unfortunate nonetheless)
I kinda knew going in that the game would fulfill my need for something comfy to slip into if I had the time, but I was pleasantly surprised by how neatly the game's mechanics would tie the whole experience together for me.
Simplifying the joy of driving a sports car down to the bare essentials not only widens the appeal of Outrun to everyone, but also trickles down into the moment-to-moment gameplay and creates a truly exhilarating experience in a way I wasn't expecting. The push-pull between the gear system and the absurdly strict timer is a particular highlight for me, having to choose whether or not to switch into the low gear for sharp turns or risk crashing is engaging enough on its own, but speed being the top priority encourages the player to make high risk maneuvers at every turn and always keeps the game from becoming dull.
To the game's detriment, there's not exactly much room for expression here (something I tend to crave in most games) but once the player gets to a point of mastery with the mechanics, that honestly ceases to matter. As soon as you cross the hurdle of learning when to shift gears, how to weave through traffic, or how to complete each route, the game comes full circle and morphs back into what made it so appealing to me in the first place. The track begins to melt away, and all that fills your focus is the horizon up ahead.
Life moves too quickly to focus on the past, so just buckle up and take life one turn at a time.
The end of last year was quite a hectic and stressful one for me, but having something I could easily pick up for 15 minutes on a lunch break or in-between other tasks to forget about the world around me was quite a comforting thing. Outrun's vibe is so electrifying and immediate, you boot up the game, pop in a credit, and just go. It was just the thing I needed to clear my mind of all the baggage I've had weighing on me lately. I've heard many complain that the game is over far too quickly, but I suspect this is either due to them looking at the game in relation to other more conventional lap-based racers, or just an admission that they don't have a firm grasp of the game's mechanics yet (completely understandable for a game designed to be played in short bursts with the pressure of a strict time limit, but unfortunate nonetheless)
I kinda knew going in that the game would fulfill my need for something comfy to slip into if I had the time, but I was pleasantly surprised by how neatly the game's mechanics would tie the whole experience together for me.
Simplifying the joy of driving a sports car down to the bare essentials not only widens the appeal of Outrun to everyone, but also trickles down into the moment-to-moment gameplay and creates a truly exhilarating experience in a way I wasn't expecting. The push-pull between the gear system and the absurdly strict timer is a particular highlight for me, having to choose whether or not to switch into the low gear for sharp turns or risk crashing is engaging enough on its own, but speed being the top priority encourages the player to make high risk maneuvers at every turn and always keeps the game from becoming dull.
To the game's detriment, there's not exactly much room for expression here (something I tend to crave in most games) but once the player gets to a point of mastery with the mechanics, that honestly ceases to matter. As soon as you cross the hurdle of learning when to shift gears, how to weave through traffic, or how to complete each route, the game comes full circle and morphs back into what made it so appealing to me in the first place. The track begins to melt away, and all that fills your focus is the horizon up ahead.
Life moves too quickly to focus on the past, so just buckle up and take life one turn at a time.
DJSCheddar
2 years ago