Out Run - WikiHQ

(also stylized as OutRun) is a 1986 racing video game developed and published by Sega for arcades. It is known for its pioneering hardware and graphics, nonlinear gameplay, a selectable soundtrack with music composed by Hiroshi Kawaguchi, and the hydraulic motion simulator deluxe arcade cabinet. The goal is to avoid traffic and reach one of five destinations before time runs out.

The game was designed by Yu Suzuki, who traveled to Europe to gain inspiration for the game's stages. Suzuki's original concept was to base the game on the 1981 American film The Cannonball Run, which increases the challenge by obscuring upcoming obstacles such as traffic that the player must avoid. The object of the game is to reach the finish line against a timer. Near the end of each stage, the track forks to give the player a choice of routes leading to five final destinations.

Development

During the mid-1980s, Sega experienced success in the arcades with games developed by Yu Suzuki. Hang-On (1985) was a good seller and Enduro Racer (1986) had been successful enough for Sega to consider a second production run. Both are motorcycle racing games, and Out Run was Suzuki's chance to develop a car racing game. His original concept was to base the game on the 1981 American film The Cannonball Run, He disliked racing games where cars exploded on impact, and wanted gamers to enjoy the experience of driving and to feel "superior". While in Monaco, Suzuki was inspired to use the Ferrari Testarossa as the playable car in the game, so when he returned to Japan he arranged for his team to find and photograph one. The arcade system board made specifically for the game is the Sega OutRun, based on the Sega System 16. Suzuki said that he was often unable to make games based on existing hardware and that Sega would have to create a new board. He said that his "designs were always 3D from the beginning. All the calculations in the system were 3D, even from Hang-On. I calculated the position, scale, and zoom rate in 3D and converted it backwards to 2D. So I was always thinking in 3D". The game achieves its 3D effects using a sprite-scaling technique called Super Scaler technology, as used one year earlier in Hang-On. Three selectable tracks are featured: "Passing Breeze", "Splash Wave", and "Magical Sound Shower". An additional track, "Last Wave", plays at the final score screen. Cassette tapes of the arcade soundtrack were distributed in the United Kingdom during December 1987, both with the home computer conversions and with Computer and Video Games magazine. The Mega Drive port has the music tracks from the arcade, along with one exclusive new track titled "Step On Beat" composed by Masayoshi Ishi.

Ports and re-releases

Out Run was released for the Master System in 1987, and the Genesis in 1991. Out Run was ported to the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum home computers for the European market. A 32X version was also reportedly under development by Sega, but was never released.

Ports of the arcade game were released for Game Boy Advance in the Sega Arcade Gallery, for Nintendo 3DS through the 3D Classics series, and for Saturn and Nintendo Switch as part of the Sega Ages series.

Reception