I feel bad for Sega and its timing of the release of the new OutRun games. In 2004, the company released OutRun 2 for the Xbox. It was the long overdue sequel to Sega's 1986 arcade hit. About a month and a half prior, EA had released its acclaimed Burnout 3: Takedown. Given the proximity of the release dates, OutRun 2 got a lot of unfair comparisons to Takedown, despite the fact they they're rather different types of racing games.

Now, here we are almost two years later, and Sega has released OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast, coincidentally enough, about a month and a half after EA released its latest entry in the Burnout series, an Xbox 360 port of Burnout Revenge. So it would seem that OutRun is again fated to be held up against EA's smashtacular franchise.Just keep in mind that in OutRun, you're (usually) trying to avoid ramming into your opponents.

It's also not about ungodly speeds through claustrophobic, looped courses. Instead, OutRun is, as it's always been, about fast, yet manageable, treks through wide open spaces where you're simply trying to get from point A to point B (or point C)… and then from there, to point D, E, F, or G, depending.


Yeah, if it weren't for the shiny new graphics Coast 2 Coast's gameplay could easily be mistaken for the original OutRun. This isn't a bad thing. OutRun's gameplay was simple, but it worked. It was a pure arcade racer. Same thing here. If you're looking for a racing game with a decidedly mellow tone, you've found it. Just sit back, crank up the music (a mixture of quirky new tunes and classic arcade remixes), and drive.

Passing Breeze

Although Coast 2 Coast features the full arcade version of OutRun 2SP, the update to the original arcade sequel, Sega has also added a few new modes to keep things more interesting. OutRun mode plays, well, pretty much like the arcade version, except you can choose more cars to drive in, and you have the option to race through the OutRun 2 or the OutRun 2SP tracks. Time Attack mode lets you race against ghost cars to earn the best time.

Things get a little more involved in Heart Attack mode. Here, you're racing with your girlfriend in the car. She'll shout out commands during the race, like asking you to pass several cars, drift as much as you can, or drive in a specific lane. Performing these feats well earns you hearts, and in turn a better grade at the end of the race.

The meat of the game in is the Coast 2 Coast mode, which takes elements from the other modes and winds them around a mission-based structure. In this mode, you're racing to please either the Flagman or a girl. The Flagman courses are typically standard races where you just have to beat your opponents to the goal. Occasionally, though, you'll have to perform for specialized races that test your drift or force you to constantly stay ahead of a rival racer. With the girls, you have to complete more tasks a la Heart Attack mode. In addition to the normal demands, you'll also have to tackle a few goofier requests like dodging UFO tractor beams, dribbling a giant beach ball down the road, and avoiding incoming meteors. When you complete a course in Coast 2 Coast mode, you can go back to it at any time and try to earn a higher grade.