Welcome to OutRun, a 1980s SEGA arcade driving game designed by SEGA legend Yu Suzuki.
This 34 year-old arcade classic challenges you, a road trip-taking, unlicensed Ferrari-driving speedster to speed through 4 stages of varying traffic and environments within a set time limit. It was released to much fanfare in 1986 in a few different cabinets, the most impressive of which is a sit down cabinet with speakers behind the driver’s head.
Courtesy of wikipedia
The machine still looks incredible today and is a true testament to the time and money that SEGA put into their arcade division at the time.
It's success, like its predecessor Hang-On (also developed by Yu Suzuki), was predicated on wowing crowds with its good looks in addition to its adrenaline-pumping gameplay. In true arcade fashion, the game holds no prisoners with the idea of getting as many people to play it in the shortest time possible.
Click here for a full playthrough of Hang-On https://youtu.be/PNksHs0l7L8
OutRun is a game that has since been released on countless platforms, some of which have adjusted and improved its graphics over time, but that does little to affect the standing of the original.
In short, it is a perfect arcade game.
Quite the title and claim of course, but how does it back it up? How has it stood the test of time where other games haven’t? Simple and addictive gameplay, an iconic soundtrack, 15 beautifully designed stages, 5 different endings but most importantly a balance that makes it more than the sum of its parts and a game that still ranks as one of the best ever.
The controls are simple but require a certain mastery to pass the course. You have simple left and right controls to move your car side-to-side to avoid the traffic ahead of you, but you need to quickly judge the best course of action when that logjam is closing in on your bumper. Whether it's running through the traffic, going off road, taking a shunt or decelerating, it's those split second judgements that make a good Out-runner. High and low gear require quick shifts when you hit a car, crash or veer off onto the grass for a period of time is key as well as letting go of the accelerator through corners.
Click here for a full playthrough with all stages and endings.
The designer and director Yu Suzuki travelled across Europe for research purposes in order to formulate in his mind the stages and environments to best include in a continent-traversing game. In what seems like an utter impossibility based on the hardware available to him at the time, he somehow managed accurately recreate the experience in an arcade cabinet. A relaxing road trip with difficult gameplay that makes the casual gamer want more seems more like an idea discarded in the early planning stages rather than being actualized into a highly influential and industry-changing game.
Hang-On (released a few years earlier), was just as successful as OutRun at release, but its not looked upon with as much adulation despite it being a faster game with crisper visuals. This is in part due to its extreme difficulty but other aspects of the game also do very little to ease the player's frustration when failing to progress. The only audio track available is highly addictive and memorable but is up tempo. The backgrounds are dark and the track is grey and emotionless, making it a little less enticing to return to. Conversely, OutRun has a choice of three audio tracks of varying tempo aiming to give the player a choice, one of which is clearly intended to relax the player.
The stages are bright, colourful and lovely to look at, giving you a sense of calm as you attempt to best this challenging game.
Key to this calming approach is its leeway with mistakes as it's possible to clear the game with one or two minor mistakes (Hang-On allows for none!). This not only gives the player hope, but means the player is more likely to continue playing as they blame themselves for their failure rather than the game.
While most attempts end in failure, complete runs can be done in 5 minutes, so can be enjoyed in both short spurts or for hours on end when your best efforts go up in smoke.
Key points
+ The animation and the game's physics have all been updated on more recent versions, the best I’ve seen is on the Nintendo 3DS, but the original is no slouch. The stages still look great.
+ The audio tracks are iconic.
+ Chasing your top scores and finding your favourite route is rewarding and fun.
+ The music and atmosphere create by the game allows you to enjoy its difficulty, rather than despise it.
+ Full throttling down a narrow road without colliding with anything while you listen to relaxing 80's SEGA tunes never gets old
Overall – 10/10
OutRun manages to be both exhilarating and relaxing each and every time regardless of how long you've been playing it. In the gaming industry, ideas considered innovative are soon copied and technology is quickly improved upon, but there are some instances when the overall experience of a game cannot be replicated. OutRun is the perfect example of such a game - a game that shines brighter with each passing generation and showcases the brilliance of those responsible.
Versions played – PS4 Shenmue, Nintendo 3DS 3D Remaster
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