For those unfamiliar with the original, Outrun was a no frills arcade racer and this sequel plays in virtually the same way the original did more than 15 years ago. The core of the game is to get to checkpoints within a certain time limit, so you’re racing against the clock rather than a CPU. With each attempt you’ll find yourself getting closer to the checkpoints, therefore replay value relies heavily of self motivation. Shortly before reaching the checkpoint the road will split into two, giving you an option of which route (easy or hard) you would like to take. There are 16 different routes in all which essentially lead to 5 different endings. This xbox sequel includes additional elements for the home console which is to be excepted because it would be hard to justify the release of a simple arcade racer into the home console market without extras. In essence there are three main components; Arcade Mode and Outrun Challenge which are both broken into three sub sections (we will elaborate on shortly) along with the Xbox Live compatibility which allows you to partake in an 8 vehicle race, upload and share your best time trial ghosts and post your best scores. We will start with the Outrun Challenge mode which has been custom built for the xbox to give the game some extra tray time in your console. Accompanying you on your journey is a girl (your may remember the blond hair flying in the wind in the original game). This time your passenger is much more demanding and depending on how well you execute specific maneuvers determines how impressed you make your girl (sounds Japanese doesn't it). The Mission Mode contains 101 Missions which you must complete to unlock additional vehicles, courses and tunes etc. Once a mission is complete your female companion will rate your driving skills, of which you require an A to complete the mission, an AA is great or AAA is the highest rank which sticklers like me shoot for. Some of the challenges are innovative and enjoyable like “keeping your speed above the minimum” or drive inside the correct colored zones”, yet they are perhaps most valuable to you for learning the layout of the courses. Free race is also part of the outrun challenge which allows you to race against a rival CPU or friend via system link. This mode allows you to custom select your route which can also be a good way to practice the courses if you find it hard to motivate yourself through time trials. The Arcade mode features traditional Outrun gameplay with the addition of heart attack mode which is the same as arcade mode yet incorporates elements of the 101 missions. So not only must you get through checkpoints within the time limits, you must also execute specific driving maneuvers to earn hearts which will determine your overall ranking. A good challenge for those who have mastered the original routes. There are now 3 views to choose from; traditional rear view, one from the dashboard and ridge racer bumper bar view which helps build the speed factor but can be awkward when drifting through S-bends. The mechanics work fairly well, the cars handle just like you would expect an arcade racer to handle, yet the amount of drifting can get monotonous and recovery from high speeds may be challenging for beginners yet satisfying for those patient enough to persist. The surroundings look crisp, yet we picked up some very rare occasions of slow down and brief glitches which were so few and far between they should not pose a problem to potential buyers. Overall it’s a fun racer but not really worth the $99.95 (AUD). I would recommend a hire before you buy because whilst it may give you a buzz for nostalgic reasons (the original music is included and the original arcade game is unlockable) or simply because you love racing games, I am not sure how long this will last in your CD tray because there just ain’t enough meat on the bones here. Considering the sheer volume of quality titles for the xbox that are much deeper (involved and engaging) than this one, even for an original Outrun fanatic like myself the longevity is an issue.
The original Outrun game was one I devoted many hours to. I was young when I played the game; arguably, it's a game that launched me into this fickle world of warring companies and sophisticated graphical effects. Imagin... Read Full Review
If there was ever a game that screamed "RENTAL!", OutRun 2 is it. This title's gameplay is so simplistic it makes Daytona look like Gran Turismo by comparison! Having said that, what OutRun2 lacks in depth and substanc... Read Full Review
