My Played Video Games Review: OutRun for the Sega Genesis
OutRun is a racing video game released for the arcades by Sega of Japan in 1986. It got ported to the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive in 1991.
This was the first racing video game that I really liked. I never liked racing video games before during the Nintendo NES days because of the boring graphics and gameplay. OutRun changed my mind about the genre when I tried it.
The Story
Zoom down the highway and curve your way into turns as you handle the world's most demanding raceway. Drive at speed towards the finish line. Enjoy the acceleration, lane changes, varied terrain, curves, and much more. Outrun is not just a test of who can drive the best, it is also a matter of who can plan the best race strategy and execute it well. Each race is special and demands your best strategy.
The Graphics and Sound
The graphics are okay for their early 1990s time. Although looking good back then, but it feels a bit sketchy at times, especially if you stop to observe the scenery. But the graphics compliment the game nicely. The backgrounds are beautiful when driving, from the beach to the dry plains and the mountainside.
The animation of the car and driver are good as well. The car is a red 1980s Ferrari with trademark horse symbol. The driver and his lady's flying hair is nicely animated and during an accident.
Sound effects are good but the soundtrack is the best. OutRun has got some of the best music of its time. You can select 1 of the 4 given tracks, which makes the game better. Even most of the Super Nintendo's racing games' music cannot dare compete with it.
The Gameplay
OutRun’s main objective is not racing against the computer or other players but against time. Within a given time you have to finish a route. The time extends through checkpoints at the start of any route. But this means that no multi-player option here but racing against time is not that easy.
The controls are responsive. The gameplay is never frustrating although a bit on the simple side. The gearshift can be useful sometimes as it is used only used once or twice in a race. The game has a nice sense of speed whenever the player can finish a race even without touching the brake button.
The replay value is damn high with 17 different routes to try out and 5 different endings. All those endings have different animations. The fun is in racing every single route. The gameplay is not that easy either so you will be playing this game for some time.
My Verdict
Video game racing fans will find this game to be worth it to play, with several points that will both excite and interest both old and new gamers. Either way, with fast visuals, a nice selectable music option and plenty of routes to take, OutRun is a great port from the Sega arcade division!
Play it on the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive or on emulators.
Hello...! What a good review ;) I'm telling you that I didn't like the NES racing games at first either, and even less the SEGA (I never had it haha xD). But that changed when I knew a game something similar to the gameplay that you mention of "OutRun's", also it was for time and when you were going very well and without colliding with anything a witch appeared in a broom (Well I think it was a witch, I don't remember xD) that passed by giving bonuses and lives in the game. It is very sad that until today I do not remember the name :( But in short friend good content, short but pleasant to read!!!
Where did you play that game? On the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive? I think I might have an idea what that game is.
No friend! I played it a long time ago when I had my nintendo NES, I've been looking for it because I want to play it again and dedicate a post... But the truth is that the name doesn't come to me, I don't remember it :(
Maybe you can find that NES racing game mentioned here.
I never played the genesis version but i have played the arcade version at least. I sucked so bad playing the game i wasted so many quarters.
😀 Nice try!