Review

Let’s face facts: there are many gamers out there who are simply not going to “get” OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast. For many the ultimate goal is how quick they can complete a game and move on to the next one. They’ll take one look at this, realise they can “finish” it in about 10 minutes and go back to playing 50 Cent or something. The gaming Elite, however, will probably get all moist at the opening bars of “Magical Sound Shower”. To these people: Welcome!

I’m sure anyone getting this far into the review doesn’t need me to explain what OutRun was, is and always will be. So with this in mind we can concentrate on the game itself. Basically, 2006 is an even more in-depth version of OutRun 2, which hit the Xbox to the sound of crickets chirping in 2004. So why, you may ask, are we getting another instalment if the last one failed? Quite simply: because it’s brilliant, and now PS2 and PSP owners can get in on the act as well!

In Coast 2 Coast a much bigger deal has been made of the mini-games and the pixel-perfect arcade conversion of OutRun 2 SP (All the tracks from the regular game and the SP version are now included doubling the number to 30) is buried far down in the menus. Now in order to gain access to more cars and secrets you’ll have to spend a great deal of time in the Coast 2 Coast mode.

Here you are thrown into dozens of challenges. These can be as simple as winning a race against 30 opponents or overtaking as many cars as possible within the time limit or you could find yourself having to slipstream as much as you can, just winning the race may not be enough for you to progress. Some of the crazier challenges: shooting aliens or collecting hearts; are good for a bit of extra novelty but pretty soon you want to get back to just power-sliding around corners.

To be honest, beyond the additional tracks and the ability to slipstream not much has actually changed since the last outing, but there was very little that needed to change anyway. It’s just that there is now so much more of it than there was before, offering much more value for money.

If you’re one of the fortunate few who own OutRun 2 then there’s just about enough here to warrant another purchase. PS2 and PSP owners should snap at the chance to experience arcade racing at it’s very best, especially as the PSP is the same game with a tiny drop in graphics quality. Anyway, I’m off to try that 15 Stage OutRun 2 SP continuous mode…

About the Review

Platform

Microsoft Xbox

Developer

Sumo Digital

Publisher

SEGA

Released

31st March 2006