When the original OutRun was released in 1986, it became an instant classic to racing fans. The cherry-red convertible Ferrari with the female passenger gave OutRun a distinctive look, which is almost iconic in its recognizability today. With the release of OutRun2 on the Xbox, Sega has effectively recaptured the magic of the original game. While it may not offer the sophistication of other racing games on the market, OutRun2 has an old-school sensibility that makes it both appealing and addictive. A wealth of content and an online mode add to the game's great value as well.
OutRun 2 includes a variety of great-looking tracks to race on.
First and foremost, OutRun2 looks and sounds great. The cars are accurately modeled, down to the placement of each wing, spoiler, and body scoop. You'll see your tires smoke as you drift around corners, and your car kicks up grass and dirt if you veer off the road. Each of the game's stages is fun to look at and drive through, and they offer a ton of variety. Tracks include an Egyptian desert complete with pyramids, a majestic European castle, and a Parisian street stage that ends at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe. Most importantly, OutRun2's frame rate holds up well, even with a lot of traffic onscreen. With all of these objects whizzing by you, the game delivers a pretty good sense of speed. OutRun2's sound effects are also pretty good all around, whether you're listening to the different car engines rumbling or tires squealing on a powerslide. The game's whimsical pop music soundtrack fits the game's carefree theme well, and fans of the first OutRun will recognize remixed versions of the original songs.
The most notable aspect of OutRun 2's gameplay is its simple interface. In most racing modes, you need only worry about the basics of driving: steering, accelerating, and braking. Those who wish to use manual transmission have just two additional functions to worry about--upshifting and downshifting. But the simplicity here belies the depth of racing skill you'll need to employ on the game's numerous courses, all of which are cleverly designed for racing in both directions. It's possible to put your car into a powerslide around each corner. But knowing when it's truly correct to do so instead of keeping your traction to find the best line around a bend is central to the game's challenge. You'll feel strangely compelled to race over and over again to find ideal paths through OutRun2's tracks. Thankfully, the game's brief loading times make this repetition a relatively painless process and it helps contribute to the game's addictive nature.
It's worth noting that while you can crash in OutRun2, none of the Ferraris will take visible damage. It doesn't matter if you grind the wall, spin out, or even get your car airborne and then flip it--you'll always end up on the correct side so you'll be ready to roll. Crashing still slows you down greatly of course, so it's best to stay on the road and avoid bumping other vehicles or the walls.
You'll eventually unlock 12 different Ferraris in the game.
There are 12 different fully licensed Ferraris in OutRun2, although you begin the game with only four of them unlocked. The cars in the game hail from several different time periods, and include true exotics like the F40, F50, and Enzo, to classics like the Testarossa and 328 GTS. Every car has unique characteristics with respect to acceleration, handling, and top speed, but in practice there doesn't seem to be a dramatic amount of difference between all the cars. And while the original OutRun featured a cherry-red Ferrari, you'll be able to change the color of each of the cars in OutRun 2. Shades run from standard black, white, red, and silver to racing yellow, blue, and forest green.
