Credits | |||||||||||||
Released: | 1991 (33 years ago) | ||||||||||||
Publisher: | US Gold | ||||||||||||
Re-releaser: | Kixx | ||||||||||||
Copyright: | Sega | ||||||||||||
Developer: | Probe Software | ||||||||||||
Producer: | Neil Young | ||||||||||||
Coder: | Neil Coxhead | ||||||||||||
Graphics: | Drew Northcott Mark Jones |
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Musician: | Jeroen Tel | ||||||||||||
Information | |||||||||||||
Main Control: | Joystick (Port 2) | ||||||||||||
Players: | 1 Only | ||||||||||||
Language: | English | ||||||||||||
Retail Price: | £10.99 Tape £15.99 Disk £3.99 Tape (Kixx re-release) | ||||||||||||
Tape Loader | |||||||||||||
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Categorization | |||||||||||||
Genre: | Racing, Miscellaneous | ||||||||||||
Tags: | Racing/Driving, Behind view, Automobile, Motorcycle, Naval/watercraft, Europe, Licensed | ||||||||||||
Tie-In License | |||||||||||||
Name: | Out Run | ||||||||||||
Type: | Arcade coin-op | ||||||||||||
Owner: | Sega Enterprises Ltd (Japan) | ||||||||||||
Reference: | Out Run on KLOV | ||||||||||||
Relationship | |||||||||||||
Sequel to: | Out Run | ||||||||||||
Misc relation: | Turbo Out Run | ||||||||||||
YouTube Links | |||||||||||||
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Magazine Reviews | |||||||||||||
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Read review by Northlander
Graphics: 8 ‧
Music: 8 ‧
Playability: 7 ‧
Overall: 8
I played it only recently on emulators. It is possible that the emulated game is not as good as on the real thing, but I have to say that it was a real pain. The first level is quite OK, but from the second on it becomes unplayable. The water stages are almost blind runs. You have no idea about the direction and you just keep steering left or right to avoid obstacles. The third and fourth level on a porsche are ugly. The car bumps here and there with the feeling of not controlling it. Not to mention when you encounter the police, there's little chance to avoid it.
Perhaps, it's just the emulated version that is ugly, but I honestly fail to understand all the fuss about it. There are way better racing games on the Commie. Not as bad as Crazy Cars, but surely not as good as Turbo Out Run.
The intermission screens between levels which describe the plot are very neat too and suit the overall atmosphere of the game.
The big letdown with this game is in aspects of the gameplay. The "turbo" function feels inadequate and underpowered, plus you're not given anywhere near enough replenishments on the road to top it up.
Then there's the controls - all the vehicles feel like you're driving on ice; steering is irresponsive and sluggish and most of the time you end up sliding off the road.
Lastly, there's the ridiculous difficulty - the time limits are outrageous, especially on later levels. Crashing your car just once almost guarantees failure, and you're only allowed 3 continues before having the restart the entire game.
Overall this is a competent racing game and technically brilliant, but they should've spent more time refining the gameplay.
(Heresy! Shout the Turbo Outrun gang... :twisted
I also own the master system version, which is more attractive, but I found that version less playable. One reason you should get it, however, is that it does have a nice soundtrack.