OutRun 2

OutRun 2
Developer(s)	Sega AM2 (Arcade) Sumo Digital (Xbox, PlayStation 2)
Publisher(s)	Sega (Arcade) Microsoft Game Studios (Xbox)
Director(s)	Makoto Osaki Daichi Katagiri
Producer(s)	Yu Suzuki
Series	Out Run
Platform(s)	Arcade Xbox
Release date(s)	Arcade JP: December 1, 2003 NA: December 18, 2003 Xbox EU: October 1, 2004 NA: October 25, 2004 JP: January 25, 2005
Genre(s)	Racing game
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer
Cabinet	Sit-down, upright
Arcade system	Sega Chihiro, Sega Lindbergh (SP DX)
Display	Raster, horizontal orientation

OutRun 2 (アウトラン2), usually stylized as OutRun2, is a 2003 racing game released by Sega for the arcades. Although this is the first "official" sequel to Out Run, it is the fourth title in the OutRun series.

Gameplay

OutRun 2 stays true to the race format laid down by the 1986 original, in which the player goes behind the steering wheel of a Ferrari sports car with a young lady in the passenger seat through 5 of 15 stages. As before, the player can choose their course and the soundtrack.

It features an official license from Ferrari this time, not only featuring the iconic Testarossa of the very first game, but also adding another seven Ferrari vehicles. it also expands further based on the original concept, employing young, fashionable characters and rendered landscapes.

This is not a racing game based on realism and physics: This is better shown by the drift aspect that it heavily promotes allowing the player to better control their vehicle around high-speed bends, near-missing traffic vehicles as driver's girlfriend squeals in delight filling up the heart point meter. Drift is made differently between automatic and manual control, providing extra challenge.

The soundtrack was completely rearranged, bringing in seven pieces of music with styles ranging from instrumental rock to upbeat ballad. The original 1986 music is also unlockable.

To fulfill the mix, the game has been overhauled with fully tridimensional graphics and network system, enabling fast-paced multiplayer competition.

Single-player game modes

OutRun 2 provides three single-player game modes: "OutRun mode", "Heart Attack mode" and "Time Attack mode".

Outrun Race is basically the same as the original game: the player drives through 5 of 15 stages, selecting the next course via forks on the road. As before, there is a time limit which is extended when the player goes through checkpoints.

Heart Attack Mode is Outrun Mode with a twist. As well as driving the open-ended course to the time limit, the passenger will frequently request certain stunts and actions. These requests, carried out through marked sections of the course, can include passing traffic cars, drifting around bends, driving through marked lanes, knocking over cones, and simply not crashing into anything for as long as possible. If successfully done, the player will receive heart points and, at the end of the request section, will be graded according to their performance. at the end of the stage, the player will receive an average grading based on performance during previous stunts. Crashing into the scenery at any time will result in the player losing hearts. Should the player reach a goal with a satisfying grade and within the time limits, a more romantic ending will be shown.

Time Attack Mode has the player race a 'ghost' car over a pre-selected course to the time limit. Time checks are presented to the player at various points on each stage.

All bonus unlockable secret tracks from Scud Race And Daytona USA 2 on the Xbox version

Cars

• Novice class (Acceleration - 8; Handling - 8; Top Speed - 6)
  • Dino 246 GTS
  • 365 GTS/4 Daytona
• Intermediate class (Acceleration - 6; Handling - 8; Top Speed - 8)
  • F40
  • 360 Spider
• Intermediate class (Acceleration - 10; Handling - 6; Top Speed - 6)
  • Testarossa
  • 288 GTO
  • F355 Spider (Xbox version only)
  • 328 GTS (Xbox version only)
• Professional class (Acceleration - 6; Handling - 6; Top Speed - 10)
  • F50
  • Enzo Ferrari
  • 250 GTO (Xbox version only)
  • 512 BB (Xbox version only)

Courses

Just like the original, the courses are laid out in the branching triangle format. Most of these courses have fairly obvious old world themed environments.

Development

Developing the game precipitated some changes for its developers, Sega AM2, who had historically written their games using Unix systems. Writing for an Xbox-based system meant they had to adapt to the Microsoft Windows kernel.

List of music tracks

Bold tracks indicate console-only appearances.

• Splash Wave (Euro Remix and 1986 original)
• Magical Sound Shower (Euro Remix and 1986 original)
• Passing Breeze (Euro Remix and 1986 original)
• Risky Ride (Guitar Mix)
• Shiny World (Prototype Remix)
• Night Flight (Prototype and Instrumental mix)
• Life Was a Bore (Instrumental Mix)

Versions

OutRun 2 SP

In 2004, Sega released an upgrade to the OutRun 2 arcade game, titled OutRun 2 SP (OutRun 2 Special Tours or even OutRun 2 Special Edition). The upgrade added 15 all-new courses which are predominantly based around a New World theme.

OutRun 2 SP's new courses, songs and game elements now appear (alongside the originals and new content) in the home video-game OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast.

New courses

OutRun 2 SP DX/SDX

The OutRun 2 SP (SPecial Tours) SDX (Super DeluXe) Logo

An update entitled OutRun 2 SP SDX was shown at a privately held Sega show on July 7, 2006. This updated version of OutRun 2 does not run on the Sega Chihiro, but rather the Sega Lindbergh. This iteration is displayed at a resolution of 800*480 rather than the previous versions' 640*480 and features cooperative play involving both players sitting next to each other in replica Ferraris, taking turns driving the same car with their own set of controls. The 2-Player cabinet is designated as DX (Deluxe), and the 4-Player cabinet is designated as SDX (Super Deluxe), with raceview cameras on the players, and a live leaderboard over the center units .^[1]

Xbox port

In 2004, OutRun 2 was ported to the Xbox. The task of coding shared by Sega AM2 and UK-based developers Sumo Digital. They succeeded in doing so, with a European release on October 1, 2004 followed by the U.S. release on October 25, 2004.

The port preserves the look and feel of the arcade original, but with the additions of 480p anamorphic widescreen support and tweaks to make it more suitable for home play. The arcade game was imported to provide a game type for the port, named simply "OutRun Arcade". This joins two other game types: OutRun Challenge, which includes 101 'missions' distributed over the 15 stages; and OutRun Xbox Live. The Tracks from Scud Race and Daytona USA 2 can be unlocked as a bonus.

In addition, some content from the arcade game is locked away alongside new, unique content, such as extra cars, extra music tracks, and even the original Out Run game itself. This content is unlocked as the player completes the OutRun Challenge missions. Some slight changes were made to the Arcade version such as the 3D model for the newer Testarossa Spider being replaced with a customised Testarossa from 1984. The Japanese version of the game was slightly altered further, fixing some glitches and altering the bonus stages. Another difference is the character Holly wears an all-new costume this time and the character Clarissa wears her original costume from the Japanese arcade version (basically the same except it is more revealing than the costume used for the western versions). Jennifer and Alberto are the only ones who did not wear different costumes.

On June 12, 2007 this game was added to the Xbox 360 backward compatibility list.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores Aggregator Score GameRankings 82%[2] Metacritic 79/100[3] Review scores Publication Score Edge 8/10[4] EGM 6.83/10[5] Eurogamer 8/10[6] Game Informer 6.5/10[7] Game Revolution B[8] GameSpot 8.3/10[9] GameSpy [10] GameZone 8.5/10[11] IGN 8.2/10[12] OXM (US) 8.7/10[13] The Sydney Morning Herald [14] The Times [15]

The Xbox version received "favorable" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.^[3]

References

External links

• Official website for OutRun 2 SP at the Wayback Machine (archived June 16, 2006)
• OutRun 2 at MobyGames