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Aussie Ninja is a drifter
Publisher: Sega/THQ Australia
Fri, 28 April 2006
by: Australian Ninja
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Let's go away, let's go away, Daaaayyytoooooonnnaaa! Whoops, wrong game. I'm from Canada, they think I'm slow, eh?
Outrun 2006 features the SEGA arcade game Outrun 2, with some added console gameplay modes and content. The game cover boasts Net Play, 30 Tracks, Outrun Miles, PSP Connectivity and 13 licensed Ferrari cars. Yes, all Ferraris because red cars go faster.
Sammy's note: We also got the PSP version of the game from Sega/THQ. It rocks and suits the handheld format very well. I will try to review it soon. Both games are basically the same, but the PSP version actually looks better than PlayStation 2!
Net Play has up to six players online. Now I'm flattered and maybe even a little curious but frankly I don't go in for those kinds of shenanigans. My gameplay is strictly Han Solo and offline. I know that doesn't sound right but I, err, stand by my ethnic slur. Vote Quimby.
30 Tracks is somewhat accurate but also kinda not true. The game plays very much like old 16-bit racers where you car sits on the screen in the one spot with the horizon in the distance. Old racers to me feel like they are 'on rails.' The road curves left and sometimes right, mixing it up with some straight road just for laughs.
 | | Pick a flower, hold your breath and drift away |
Outrun2006 is somewhat jarring at first, because of its similarity to these old games and the fact that it doesn't play like most modern arcade racers. So although there are 30 tracks they mostly are the same track with variations of turning left, right, up and down hilly bits then straight again. Not that you'd care about that but you know how game covers like to exaggerate shit.
The less feeble minded of us will remember the stunning original Outrun back in the 80's. Jean pockets stuffed with coins many a gamer would play the deluxe sit in arcade cabinet that housed Outrun. I was more of a watcher than a player and never really a fan of Outrun. I do remember seeing the awesome cabinet though. You could sit in it and it looked like an actual car. Well more like those things kids ride in at the mall but like ten times bigger with a steering wheel and a screen. This was many years before Virtua Racing, Daytona and Sega Rally came along. So back in the day it was a pretty significant and cool arcade game. Of course it played well and had some funky tunes which people today like to get nostalgic about. If you see any of these distinguished and refined gamers getting misty eyed about Outrun, give them a nice slap in the face and bring them back to reality.
Outrun Miles is the term used to describe the points you earn in the new mode. Choosing from the main screen you can play "Outrun2" or "Outrun2006" the first being the arcade conversion the second being the new mode for the console market. In the new mode, you earn Outrun Miles which are then used to unlock music tracks, car colours, mirrored race tracks and more, but nothing terribly exciting. It all works well though to keep you playing and earning "AAA" ranks to unlock more race stages and earn points for unlocking stuff.
The basic gameplay modes are:
Outrun - Drive five stages to the finish
Racing - Race against opponents
Impress Girlfriend - Drive the tracks with crazy odd things to do like 'hit the cars' 'keep passing cars' 'hit the ghosts' 'dribble the beachball.'
Outrun Endurance - Play fifteen continuos stages instead of the usual five
There are variations of each mode of play within the console and arcade Outrun games. I'm talking about the two games on the one disk, so don't get confused now. Overall there is a tidy bit of gameplay added to what would otherwise be a bland arcade conversion. The game is fun and easy to get into. But it is a very 'lite' game. Once you play a bit you'll realise this is not a play for hours on end style Gran Turismo game. Outrun is more suited to short bursts of gameplay and for when you don't have much time available to play.
Awesomely, Outrun2006 has the longest powerslides / drifts of any car game on earth. Take THAT Sega Rally, Burnout and Ridge Racer. Drifting is an essential skill in Outrun, one that needs to be mastered to become good at playing the game. Some stages even require you to drift to earn points.
While certainly a lot prettier than the original Outrun - Outrun2006 is somewhat plain compared to today's modern racer games. So does Daytona come to think of it, but nobody plays Daytona for its looks. Same deal here, In Outrun2 the visuals take a backseat to the solid gameplay. It looks pretty in parts. Especially the casino stage that reminds me of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, very glam, very SEGA. And man, no other game has a flock of Seagulls that fly around above your car at around 180km/h. I think those Seagulls were on drugs or something. I like your games SEGA, and I own many of your consoles SEGA, but if you don't lay off the animal cruelty I'm going to fly to Japan to kick your collective arses.
The music in Outrun is average but I liked it overall. Most of it sounds decent and old school fans will rejoice at being able to choose the music from the original 80s Outrun. All up there is the new music, the old original Outrun music and some sweet modern remixes of those old music tracks. As much as I like the music in Outrun2006 some tracks are to be avoided like the plague. You know how SEGA like to have those insane stupidly annoying music tracks with some grating voice screaming at you while you race? I'm looking in your direction Daytona USA and Sega Rally 2. Well Outrun2006 contains some of those. But each time you play any mode - you can choose your music track first - thank the lord. Because if I had to listen to some more of those god-awful screaming lady music tracks I might come down with another case of Rage-ahol. I already get enough of that from playing the Activision Spiderman games. Must.. finish.. them.. all.. without.. going.. insane in the brain.
 | | The red car is much faster |
So fortunate readers, does this latest Outrun game get two thumbs up? Does it get Leonard Maltin's approval? How many stars does it deserve? I don't know, it's not a bleedin film review is it? Well, on this shiny little spinny disk you get the arcade Outrun2, you get the console extra Outrun2006, with plenty of added play modes. You get a good size collection of Outrun music. You get a mildly attractive plastic Barbie doll seated next to you while you drive; you get a big fat guy in a trucker hat waving you off to start each race - who materialises inexplicably at the end of the same race.
But who would want this? I'm thinking Outrun fans and arcade style racer fans and people that really really like Ferraris. Plus people that like big fat guys waving chequered flags at them.
You also get some PSP hook-up thingamagigger. Don't ask me how that works though, I don't have a PSP. I wish I knew, but, what's that... they have the Internet on computers now?
Sammy (again): Pure novelty value. It is easily done with the link cable, but there's no real point bothering with it, as you don't get much out of it.
Outrun2006 is a solid playing and fun arcade racer, but 'lite' on gameplay depth and longevity. I could say the same about plenty of other quality games though, so don't take that as a criticism. Have a go.
by: Australian Ninja
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Not Snakey but very Solid old school fun. Excuse me while I take a Magical Sound Shower. | |
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