OutRun 2006: Coast to Coast Review (no fat)

by Sega Platform: Xbox Genre: Racing	ESRB Rating: Everyone Release: 2006-25-04	OutRun 2006: Coast to Coast Features: Un-lockable content 30 tracks to compete on Multiplayer capabilities Fast paced racing action
	Egamer's Rating: 8 / 10. Reviewed on: 2006-11-27

Game Description

It has been almost twenty years since the first edition of Outrun hit the shelves, and yet the series is still packing a punch. But how much of a punch is actually being thrown? OutRun 2006: Coast to Coast features some great racing action, but in an all too familiar package. While the game claims to be original, there are far more similarities than differences to the previous title in the series.

OutRun 2006: Coast to Coast Gameplay

Gameplay incorporates classic arcade gaming with updated graphics and fast paced action. The controls in the game are easy to handle, and are very simple to say the least. However, mastering the controls is another story, and it will take the gamer many hours to fully master every control in the game. If the controls really do get too simple, you have an option of choosing a manual, apart from the automatic, transmission to thrown in added control functions.

Bumps and taps during gameplay are easy to recover from, and don’t waste much time unless you happen to get involved in a huge crash. If that should happen, which sometimes is inevitable during gameplay, the car will be thrown into the air, hitting the ground before you are able to recover. New features of this title include being able to draft behind cars, so players will be able to trail behind their opponents, and increase their speed without using more power. The drafting space behind cars is rather large and unrealistic. At least gamers will be able to use this feature without too much effort.

Another feature is the ability to drift around opponents. While drifting around their opponents, players will have little control over their cars, besides whether to drift in or out of traffic. Players who try to exert too much control while drifting will spin out their cars, and that’s never good. Drifting also gives the ability to turn corners without losing speed, which should mean getting the upper hand during races.

There are about thirty tracks to race on, which would seem like an alright amount of content. However, the race tracks look too much like the tracks in the previous title in the series, OutRun 2. There isn’t a lot of new content here if you have played the previous title. However, there are multiplayer capabilities via Xbox Live or the system link. Beware though, there aren’t a lot of players online, so this feature may not be of much use. The game does feature tons of modes to play through however, including Coast to Coast, Arcade, a Heart Attack Mode and Time Attack challenges. The story mode and the arcade mode are a given, and Heart Attack mode allows gamers to race through challenges that their girlfriends, who happen to be in the car as well, call out. Some of these challenges are easy, pass a few cars or try not to crash. But there are a few weird ones as well, like trying not to be abducted by aliens and dribbling a huge beach ball down the road.

OutRun 2006: Coast to Coast Graphics

The graphics in the game are presented extremely well, and are detailed perfectly. When gamers race online they will encounter no lag time, which is a good thing. Having no one to play with online can be bad. All of the cars in the game look excellent, and gameplay presents a nice sense of speed. While the game looks and feels like the previous title, it does do a good job in the graphics department.

OutRun 2006: Coast to Coast Audio

The audio in the game sounds nice, and there are a few original tracks incorporated into game play. However, the tracks from the original version of the game can be unlocked, which is a nice added feature. The sound effects in the game sound realistic as cars smash together and engines roar. Turn the volume up on this one folks.

OutRun 2006: Coast to Coast 2cent

While the game does feature a lot of content that includes multiple modes of play and un-lockable content, gamers who have already played OutRun 2 will not experience anything new here and should spend their $29.99 on something worthwhile. Those who haven’t played the previous title will love all the content and action that this game has to offer.