OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast Review

By Tom Bramwell Published 28 March, 2006

Brilliant whatever the system.

Version tested:

The point's been made before on these pages, but OutRun2 draws it out again: SEGA is brilliant at five-minute racing games.

There are 15 stages, laid out like balls in a snooker triangle; as you get to the end of each one in your Ferrari, you adjust the difficulty by taking the left path for an easier ride or right for a tougher one. All you're up against is the clock, and your only obstacles are the indecently curvaceous undulations and turns in the track, often peppered with slow-moving traffic.

The structure hardly matters: you drive a Ferrari and try to avoid losing speed, doing incredibly cool power-slides when you really can't make it through a turn with the pedal floored. In fact, half the time you do it anyway because it's just fun. Snaking a sideways car through lorries and hatchbacks is what arcade racing should be. And as you get better, you pick up tricks like the s-bend shimmy and work out how best to employ your slide. There's also a Heart Attack mode, where you're ranked stage by stage on your ability to do silly things over short distances - drift as much as possible, break the tape connecting traffic cars, maintain a particular line.

That's the entire game. It's absolutely brilliant.

'OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast' Screenshot xbox

The Xbox version: prettier than most 360 games, really.

OutRun2 SP, released in the arcades once OutRun2 had had time to bed in, is 15 more tracks and a slipstream feature, which lets you suck some extra speed out of the cars in front by lurking in their wake. It's what other games call drafting. SP's also a bit gentler on crash punishment and running off the sides. The whole thing's pretty much as brilliant as OutRun2 is.

OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast is, on a very basic level, those two games thrown onto one disc - whether it's an Xbox or PS2 DVD, a PC CD-ROM or a PSP UMD - with a couple of mission modes and six-player online multiplayer, and SP's gameplay additions mapped to both games instead of just the SP stuff.

But that really doesn't do it justice, because every inch of Sumo Digital's programming is like the perfect answer to a question most people wouldn't even think to ask.

Okay, that's just going to wind people up.

Normally my brain checks me when I type things like that and spikes them, at least a bit. Thing is, if you're angry with OutRun it's because of something you did, not the game. And not "you know, except for the annoying bit when you want to reload it and you have to jump backwards through a flaming hoop reciting Charge of the Light Brigade in Hebrew". It hasn't actually done anything to piss me off. I don't even know humans who don't piss me off. So let me try and explain what I mean about Sumo Digital's programming.

'OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast' Screenshot ps2

The PS2 version: like the Xbox one, except... how?

Basically, it pre-empts you. Everywhere. Let's say you're playing Coast 2 Coast mode, which is OR2006's follow-up to the last Xbox game's mission mode. How do you want to be challenged? A broader range of Heart Attack-style short-sharp tasks spread evenly over the game? There are three layers of it, three 'girlfriends' to impress - and each asks you to do increasingly difficult things on increasingly nasty sections of track. You just select a stage and attempt its two or three tasks to try and get a top, AAA ranking. You've got to the end of a stage and you want to replay it? Branch left and it reloads it seamlessly, entirely in-game. Or go right to exit. Oh, you're failing way before the end? Hit pause, hit restart. You'd rather do the stages sequentially, like you're playing the arcade game? You can do that too. You'd rather challenge yourself at a particular discipline, like drifting, over the course of a whole stage, or just race against cars? There are four pretty sizable Flagman mission modes that offer that.

Or you can just play either arcade game, or either arcade game's Heart Attack mode. There's also an emulated version of the OutRun2 SP arcade machine available outside the main one-player mode. You can do all the OutRun2 and OutRun2 SP stuff in the one-player, but there's an arcade port in there too, with its Time Attack mode and all that. I don't know why Sumo did that. Oh, and you race 15-track continuous versions of each game. I want to kiss their mothers.

Sorry - I know raw, naked enthusiasm is unfashionable.

Unlockables. There's a shop, which has all sorts of cars, reversed versions of all the tracks and a few night-time ones, new music (Richard Jacques may not have done new stuff, but the game has pretty much everything by him you might want to hear), and new goals for the tracks you're playing and unlocking. In other words, it's a shop with stuff you actually want.

You unlock all this stuff by earning OutRun miles. "Oh no, a rubbish experience system." BEGONE, UNBELIEVER. You earn OutRun miles for every single thing you do. No qualification - no "every single thing you do right", none of that. Screw up and go left at the end of a girlfriend stage, and you'll bank those miles whenever you choose to exit, whether it's through the exit turn next time around or through the pause menu. When you pause and restart, it banks whatever miles you've done. This is what I'm talking about. Tangible recognition of a gamer's achievements is important (and important to the player, as Xbox 360's been demonstrating) but acknowledging a gamer's endeavours, no matter how mundane; no matter whether he's just spent 20 minutes perfecting a particular line for use somewhere else in the game to no real actual substantive avail, is the sort of thing jaded old sods like me love. Nothing you do is irrelevant, and even if was, everything you're doing is fun anyway.

'OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast' Screenshot psp

And I don't even understand how they got it on the PSP. Special hats all round.

Just playing OutRun2 is joyous. The power-sliding is a great system - you brake and turn and your end flips out ridiculously, and you coddle the analogue stick or PSP nub or d-pad to maintain the line you want through the turn. As you get better, you stop using it so much so you can build up more speed. Even here, the game wants you know how much it appreciates this. Between stages, stuff flies over the transition straight; the faster you've done the preceding stage, the cooler it is. Do it perfectly and it's a Panzer Dragoon flyby, and they don't show you that lightly. You always feel like you're achieving something, even if you've just turned on the PSP version and chosen its "Just Drive" mode and you're effectively playing for nothing.

Offering distinct types of mission mode is a masterstroke. Each is quite different - trying to drift as much as possible over the course of one stage can occupy you for hours in itself, while the pint-sized girlfriend bits are perfect for short bursts. The top rankings are very compelling, and the tasks are the sort of lunatic fun that plants a smile firmly on your face - dodge the falling meteors, dodge the UFOs, bounce the beachball.

What else? Well, there's the quality of the ports. The Xbox version is probably the king, but the Sony versions are surprisingly wonderful. Initially I couldn't get the Xbox copy SEGA sent me to work, so I played on the PS2. I was expecting a rubbish frame rate, jagged graphics and so on. I wasn't expecting 60Hz, widescreen and 480p progressive-scan from the PAL version, a frame-rate that only melts down ever so slightly (and mainly on the more complex of the SP sections), but there it is. Both the PSP and PS2 version analogue controls take a little adapting to, but you're soon deadly with them. Or you can just use the d-pad like a pro, and you can adjust its sensitivity if you want - how many racing games offer that? The PSP frame rate obviously can't quite keep up, but never reaches the point where you feel more like turning the game off than persisting, and the sense of speed and consistency of control across all the versions I've played (still waiting for PC) is tremendous.

'OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast' Screenshot excuse

I'm going to hand this review in an hour late using the old 'I needed to check some things in the game' excuse. Works every time.

The USB link-up between PS2 and PSP games has been a bit of a joke so far; here, you connect the consoles, set both games into link-up mode, and you can transfer your actual real actual profile between systems. They're the same exact game. This is the only occasion I've ever felt like advocating the purchase of a PSP port along with a PS2 game. Obviously you shouldn't do this because it's silly, but money-no-object people should consider it if they travel about a lot. Last week I went down to Brighton to see some friends. Before I left the house, where I'd been angrily failing at a particular bit of the Coast 2 Coast mode, I thought I'd quickly test the link-up - when I got on the train, I just fired up the PSP version and carried on hammering away it.

Criticism? Errrr. Oh yes, the menuing can be a bit confusing.

So, that's the menus then. Boo! Terrible! Confusing!

Who cares, honestly? Even the PSP load times aren't bad. The only thing that sucks a bit is that the Xbox version doesn't work on 360, and that's Microsoft's fault anyway, apparently.

After a week of listening to GDC dev folk talk about expanding the emotional range of games and encouraging each other to speak to the human condition, OutRun 2006 actually makes you laugh. Not at them, because in a lot of ways they're right; because by simply making sure that absolutely everything in the game is designed to remove the usual restrictions on fun, Sumo's created something that practically transcends rivals like PGR3 and Burnout before you've even done anything.

[Puts down superlatives.] Okay: playing this game is very entertaining, and Sumo's spent ages making sure that your fun is as unrestricted as it can be. Some people will say it's shallow, but it's not; it lasts countless hours.

Although obviously it does count them. Because it does everything it should do.

9 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (107) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • SeesThroughAll #1 6 years ago

    /shocked

    What? A constructive review??

  • Carlo #2 6 years ago

    Didn't I buy this ages ago on the XBox?

    EDIT: Oh it's the special edition with different tracks and slip-streaming... Gotca!

    Edited by 1 at 28/03/06 @ 14:42

  • Carlo #3 6 years ago

    @Frod

    See my correction: Just realised myself :D

  • Furbs #4 6 years ago

    3 minutes till this descends in to another 360 related flamefest.

  • easy_lee #5 6 years ago

    \o/

    a NINE !

    /dances

  • Furbs #6 6 years ago

    Will enough people care? :)

  • SonicBoom #7 6 years ago

    Judging by the state of the game charts, I think its pretty clear that as quality rarely sells, neither will OutRun 2006 unfortunately. Bearing this in mind, do you think the game will be reduced after a short period of time to say £19.99 or less, or do you reckon it'll simply disappear from the shops altogether like Symphony of the Night and take up residence on ebay at a ridiculously high price?

    I definitely want this game, I'm just not in a position to buy it at full price this Friday. Excellent review and excellent game though =)

  • Darkedge #8 6 years ago

    sequel???

    more like tweaked version..

  • Xerx3s #9 6 years ago

    a 9.0? 0_o

    Xbox magazine gave this a 6.0 and they usually give games a 7 when EG gives them a 5... *confused*

    Are you saying that this is in the same league as Oblivion?

  • Carlo #10 6 years ago

    I would buy this too (hell, I could do with an 'arcade-style' game for a change from all the story-based stuff I've been playing) but I bought 2 suits this month and going on holidays... So the wallet is pretty bare :S

    /may pick it up next month
    Edited by 1 at 28/03/06 @ 14:55

  • Furbs #11 6 years ago

    Xerx3s - of course its is. Check the reviewer ;)

  • Murbal #12 6 years ago

    Outrun on my PSP. On Friday.

    Excuse me one moment...



    ... \o/

  • Roamer #13 6 years ago

    This is why Backwards-compatability is important...

  • JonFE #14 6 years ago

    Having purchased the XBox original at full price, only to see it hit the bargain bins a couple of months later, I'm prepared to wait a bit for this one.

  • caligari #15 6 years ago


    "Are you saying that this is in the same league as Oblivion?"

    Oh...oh dear.

    The new 'as good as Halo' will now be 'not as good as Oblivion'. I can see it now. It will also be just as funny (ahem).

  • SeesThroughAll #16 6 years ago

    Expect SEGA to pull a OutRun360 by christmas time... that's probably why the 360 doesn't emulate this one...

  • Lukus #17 6 years ago

    I smell a purchase coming my way.

  • RedPanda #18 6 years ago

    Post deleted at 14:31:59 28-01-2012

  • Teeth #19 6 years ago

    Good old Sumo! You guys rule!

    /clenches jaw

  • S0L #20 6 years ago

    Blimey - a very nice review. I'm not sure about you coming round and kissing us mind :)

    Before the inevitable flood of 'Why doesn't this work on 360' can I just say that we'd have happily done whatever to make it happen, just it's out of our hands.

    Microsoft have stated that the 360 will eventually run all Xbox games, so once this happens, then you'll be able to play OutRun2006 and OutRun2 on Xbox360.

    Until then - there's nothing we can do sadly.

    Still not long till Friday - I hope everyone has as much fun with the game as we did making it :)

    ---
    S0L
    ---

  • gamingdave #21 6 years ago

    Gutted it doesnt work on the 360, looks like the PSP version for me then

  • IP #22 6 years ago

    Well done, Tom, for such a great review. As to all the nay-sayers, this is an arcade racer, but you might be surprised about its longevity. I and many others I know bought the original Xbox game not long after it came out, and everyone's still playing the thing, because it's so much fun and easy to pick up and play for short bursts. Everything I've heard suggests that C2C is even better than the first game, which makes it a no-brainer purchase for me.

    I suspect that this game won't sell terribly well, and I know full well that many magazines and gamers will dismiss it as too simple, comparing it to games that have cars in but that otherwise bear little or no relation to C2C. But, hey—so what? Those of us who adore pure arcade gaming now have two near-flawless games to keep us going for years. Those who ignore it simply don't know what they're missing.

  • brainbird #23 6 years ago

    I have to go back to OutRun2 on Xbox and see why I didn't enjoy it as much as apparently everybody else did.
    The review had me feel your love for it, though, very good.

  • PearOfAnguish #24 6 years ago

    Xbox magazine gave this a 6.0 and they usually give games a 7 when EG gives them a 5... *confused*

    What's confusing? OXM is staffed by monkeys. Unless their review copy was accompanied by a fat cheque and a bunch of bananas they won't give it a chance.

    Are you saying that this is in the same league as Oblivion?

    Hnnngghhh *eyeballs explode*

  • Furbs #25 6 years ago

    Tom, one question: Alot of your beef with the 360 seems to be that its not doing anything "nextgen". In the case of Outrun we basically have a PS1 style racer but with nicer graphics. Surely thats not reaching "current gen" levels?

  • S0L #26 6 years ago

    I might be missing something, but OXM gave it 9/10?

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    S0L
    ---

  • El_MUERkO #27 6 years ago

    shite shite shite shite shite

    i was really hoping this'd be an 'ok' game, but noooo it has to be uber and give me even more reasons to upgrade the PSPs bios :(

    /contemplates buying a second PSP

  • Carlo #28 6 years ago

    Furbs, stop being such a troll!

  • Furbs #29 6 years ago

    Hey I've got an Xbox (x3!) and PC so I'm actually curious about this, I just dont see what it offers over for instance RR in terms of gameplay. I'm not even actually wanting to compare the two, I just dont understand Tom's stance.

    Outrun 2 was meh to me precisely because it was the game as I played in the arcades 15 years ago, with some heart collecting subgame, but maybe I'm missing something.

    If thats trolling then forgive me, I'll get back under my bridge!
    Edited by 1 at 28/03/06 @ 15:34

  • tentonipete #30 6 years ago

    *laughs*

    i really enjoyed that review. i was undecided but now i'm going to buy it.

    thanks, tom.

  • peterfll #31 6 years ago

    Perhaps Tom can't help himself but view this through the rose-tinted haze of those retro spectacles. Perhaps you make allowances for games such as this, with their core structure and gameplay routed in in the past, tied to what is commonly regarded as a *classic* you don't bother making direct comparisons to RR6 (even though you could argue that RRs mechanics are also historic like Outrun).

    I guess he's only human Furbs.

  • Furbs #32 6 years ago

    @ Frod - So whats current gen about it other than the visuals? :p
    Edited by 1 at 28/03/06 @ 15:42

  • TripSkyway #33 6 years ago

    I really loved the first one on the xbox when I played it with my old wheel, I didn't really get on with the joy pad controls.

    Might have to get this and a new wheel. I might give RR6 a go as well if it's that good.

  • jmctavish #34 6 years ago

    Outrun 2 was great because it was like having an arcade machine in your bedroom. Games like this and F-Zero are what driving games should be for me. Project Gotham and Gran Turismo are just too damn dull.

  • Kay #35 6 years ago

    Tom - is it better than Ridge Racer PSP then?

    I'm definitely getting this, it's just a question of whether it's the PSP or PC version. PC will obviously look better, but I don't play much on the PC these days. It seems perfect for a handheld game, but the PSP version doesn't seem to be perfect, unfortunately. After spending hours on the ultra-smooth, and quite frankly brilliant Ridge Racer, I'd be interested to know how this compares in terms of smoothness and control.

    K

  • TripSkyway #36 6 years ago

    Sound like I'll have to give RR6 a try I was put off it by a demo I played. I saw it today for 15 quid second hand so I might give it a crack.

  • captain-future #37 6 years ago

    Now it's official: Eurogamer has just funny reviews when it comes to racing games.

    *LOL*

  • DB2k #38 6 years ago

    this looks the same as the first one basicaly.. which was a good 3/10 if that.

  • Kiigan #39 6 years ago

    I'm veering towards the PSP version... the thought of Outrun 2 on the go is hard to resist.

    I hate to be predictable but... is there any mention at all of a souped up 360 version of the game coming some day? I don't fancy buying games for consoles I'm probably going to be packing up pretty soon.

  • IP #40 6 years ago

    :: Outrun 2 was meh to me precisely because it was the game as I played
    :: in the arcades 15 years ago, with some heart collecting subgame, but
    :: maybe I'm missing something.

    I guess so, seeing as the games are only superficially similar, in the way the branching system works. The control method, which is the entire point behind OR2, is totally and utterly different (although it did amuse me to see all of the reviews referring to the slides and drifting in the original, as though OR2 was a mere graphical update). The mini-games in OR2 were fun as well, and weren't in the original.

  • Kay #41 6 years ago

    Outrun2 plays very differently to 1986 Outrun. There was no sliding and twisty turning tracks in the original.

    K

  • shirubagan #42 6 years ago

    I CAN'T WAIT.

    This is the _only_ thing that has mead me want to buy a PSP.

  • Rev.StuartCampbell #43 6 years ago

    "Outrun 2 was meh to me precisely because it was the game as I played in the arcades 15 years ago, with some heart collecting subgame, but maybe I'm missing something."

    OR2 and C2C resemble the original Outrun gameplay-wise in the same way that Ikaruga resembles Space Invaders. It would be hard to come up with two racing games with more fundamentally-dissimilar play mechanics. You great twonk.

  • Furbs #44 6 years ago

    Kay - fair enough, but thats hardly a huge progression in my eyes.

    I think disc is right - its the blue skies thing - I just cant buy in to it :(

    Cheers Rev. I guess thats karma as I've said the same about you so many times reading your reviews and articles :p
    Edited by 1 at 28/03/06 @ 16:32

  • Decoded #45 6 years ago

    Outrun 2 is my favourite Xbox game by a country mile, so it would be rude not to buy this.

    But PS2 for use with my steering wheel or Xbox for slightly prettier graphics? Hmm.

  • Decoded #46 6 years ago

    My PC could barely handle the orignal Outrun, so it's probably out of the running.

  • Kay #47 6 years ago

    UK Resistance have a nice alternative review of this...though it's not really a review, just a smattering of screenshots and some text.

    K

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #48 6 years ago

    Hi frod,

    "Tom: did you get to play the PC version?"

    It's the only one I haven't got, sadly.


    Hi whoever-asked-about-Ridge-Racer-PSP!

    "Tom - is it better than Ridge Racer PSP then?"

    I'd say so. Much tighter structure with tons of variation and immediately gratifying.


    Hi Furbs!

    "Tom, one question: Alot of your beef with the 360 seems to be that its not doing anything "nextgen". In the case of Outrun we basically have a PS1 style racer but with nicer graphics. Surely thats not reaching "current gen" levels?"

    Your question implies that I've marked down Xbox 360 games because they're not living up to some imaginary potential - that's not true. If a game's good, it's good. If I've complained about 360 developers not trying new things (e.g. PGR, Kameo), it's been in the context of the genre, not the platform.

    Now, speaking as somebody who's played all three for stupid lengths of time, I do prefer OR2006 to PGR3 and Ridge 6, but that's nothing to do with any of their platforms. As the review says, the mission modes here are fantastic - I really enjoy picking away at them - and the core game itself is brilliant to play whatever you're doing in it. The graphics are lovely, but they're a bonus more than anything.

    Also, while we're on the subject of platforms, I understand that there's a lot of loyalty to brands these days, but I've no particular allegiance, whatever you might think. I spent £300 on a PS2 once upon a time, I spent £280 on an Xbox 360 at the turn of the year, but that doesn't really mean anything to anyone except my credit card company - once they're in the lounge, they're in the lounge, right?

    If anyone had asked me, I wouldn't have advocated buying an Xbox 360 at launch, and I doubt I will for the PS3 either. In X360's case, there was so much coming out on current-gen that it seemed like a lot of money to spend for what I felt were only a couple of truly worthwhile games. The PS3 will arguably have it worse - why buy Sony's latest brick and spend six months waiting for it to mature if you can buy a 360 with Oblivion, PGR, etc. and skip the waiting period?

    But that's just one bloke speculating about something that's very personal to any gamer. These days I try not to editorialise on the subject of whether a console's worth buying, because I think it's better to trust people to decide about hardware on their own - I just try to give them an idea of whether the games are good. And I think OutRun is. Very. So hopefully that clears that up!

  • Furbs #49 6 years ago

    Thanks Tom. Fair points, thanks for replying, much appreciated :)

  • Kay #50 6 years ago

    It was me, Tom! Christ, I've been here long enough. :)

    Anyway - good to know it's better than RR, though it probably won't compare in terms of smoothness.

    K
    Edited by 1 at 28/03/06 @ 16:48

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #51 6 years ago

    Kay,

    Sorry! I was trying to see where I'd C&Ped the quote from and I thought it was page two, but I might have been confused. I hate the internet. Rubbish thing.

  • gelf #52 6 years ago

    Outrun 2 is probably my fave game on the Xbox so I'll definately be getting this.

    Its no Project gotham or Gran Turismo, and thank god for that as both games bore the pants off me.

  • Furbs #53 6 years ago

    Bored_Gamer, nice contribution to the thread there as usual!

    /claps

  • Rev.StuartCampbell #54 6 years ago

    I haven't been able to spot anything that's been lost in C2C compared to OR2. If anything it's smoother and prettier, as well as faster.

  • seregrail7 #55 6 years ago

    I just noticed that you're sliding in every screenshot. :D

  • IMO #56 6 years ago

    Any know the System requirements of the PC version?

  • S0L #57 6 years ago

    PC Specs not bolted down yet - but if you can play Doom3 or Half-Life 2, you should be OK.

    Next Gen versions - you have to ask Sega about that one. We don't have any in the works right now though. I'm sure if the demand was there then it would be considered. I guess we'll see how well this one does first :)

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    S0L
    ---

  • gypsumfantastic #58 6 years ago

    Only a 9?

    For a game that does *nothing* wrong and is w00t yay fun in the process?

    Tsk.

  • seregrail7 #59 6 years ago

    When is the PC Version due?

  • quantumsheep #60 6 years ago

    I'll be buying this on Friday for my PSP, mainly because I need something new on it as I never seem to use it these days.

    Have to upgrade firmware to 2.6 though?

    Oh well. I think Tom and I see eye to eye on arcade racers so this review really sold it to me.

    Then I had a go on the actual game myself for 5 minutes and was grinning from ear to ear the whole time :)

    And Friday's pay day! YAY!!!

  • BBIAJ #61 6 years ago

    For those that care, GAME have this listed in-store as being BC on the 360...

  • Lukus #62 6 years ago

    Can I just ask SOL who he is exactly and what role he played in making the game? (Congratulations on making an awesome game that I'm looking forward to getting by the way)

  • Helios #63 6 years ago

    Better than GTMs screenshots...

    http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/2006/03/fao-games- tm-magazine.html

  • Agent_Llama #64 6 years ago

    I swore Oblivion would be the last game I bought in ages... Looks like maybe not...

  • jamiscool #65 6 years ago

    I want this...
    Is the PSP version online with 6 players aswell??
    hmm...If so I need one of those router thingys

  • Yazoo #66 6 years ago

    I hope this is 360 compatible.

  • morriss #67 6 years ago

    Nice 360 dig in there. You really don't like it do you?

    EDIT: Just read Mugwum's comments...
    Edited by 1 at 28/03/06 @ 18:56

  • morriss #68 6 years ago

    it's not that I care if Tom has anything against the 360, it's just his lack of admittance about it. I'm sorry, but his explanation given just doesn't wash. I read almost every article on this site, whether it be Nintedo, Sony or XBox, and never have I seen any negative reference to another formats capabilities as often as MS and the 360 has been afforded in last few months.

    Fine, he doesn't like it. Just admit and not hide behind some consumer loyalty mantra. Because the irony is, we (360 owners) are loving it, so we're being ill advised. As Mugwum says, it's all about opinions, I just don't want his shoved down my throat (almost) every time I read a non-360 related article written by him.

    In other words, we get the message. You don't like it. Fine. Great. Well done.

  • tengu #69 6 years ago

    Is no thread safe from this?

  • morriss #70 6 years ago

    Exactly what I think. Is nothing written by Mugwum safe from a little 360 put down?

    I don't see why those complaining are the problem here. It's an XBox review, nothing to do with the 360 whatsoever - why even mention it?

  • rauper Verified Managing Director, Eurogamer Network #71 6 years ago

    morriss: Where's the dig? The screenshot caption is about the fact that this current gen game looks fantastic, not that X360 games don't.

    There's two other mentions of 360 in the article - "Tangible recognition of a gamer's achievements is important (and important to the player, as Xbox 360's been demonstrating)" and "The only thing that sucks a bit is that the Xbox version doesn't work on 360". Hardly negative.

    Give it up. His comments above are what he thinks. You say we've been putting you wrong because you like 360 and we don't, but if you actually look at the scores that isn't the case anyway: Oblivion 10/10, PGR 8/10, Fight Night 8/10...

    I wouldn't normally feed the trolls but I do think you are wrong to keep going over this.

  • Calgon #72 6 years ago

    I have PGR2, RSC2 and OR2 for the Xbox and all of them have their place in my collection. Perhaps because of the order I played them in, PGR2 got way more playtime(more than any racer I had played previously, I felt I just had to get all those medals) it was seriously addictive once you got the hang of it.

    For PGR2, most of my initial impressions of it changed the more I played it, the progression system seemed so slow but it felt that much more rewarding once I had the Mercedes GTR(*silver on my first play through \0/*... although it did take me ages) . I also found that I used far more cars than usual because of this, testing a couple from each class out. The racing itself felt slow at first(untill I got to the faster cars lol I was impatient :/) but the 2xAA, the fact that it was so smooth regardless of that(it's not often the frame rate drops at all, unless there's a massive pile up and it still looks great to this day to me in some ways) made up for that, which many bitched about and turned away because "30fps suxors". That along the Live experience(not sure they would have managed 60fps online, with voice chat and 8 players)I'd say it was probably for the best because it did work really well online, infact every now and then, I find myself going back to it for a few races.

    RSC2 I nearly didnt pick it up after not liking the first game, for me this was far more enjoyable and one of if not the best looking racers on Xbox or any console(prefer the look of this to Forza or GT4 personally and it was certainly no sloutch based on its technical merrits either). It was full of neat effects which werent overdone, a healthy polygon budget too, Dice really knew how to push the Xbox. The audio was the same with 5.1 on and an in car view you could hear the suspension squeek and the gravel beneath your tires(the engine and exaust noises werent bad either), soundtrack support was better than RSC1 but still not as good as PGR2. The tracks were great to rally around in... what more can you ask? there's good choice of locations too. The handling was much better than the first for me, even if it was easier it just felt more responsive when all was said and done. Online was ok but I didn't find myself going back to it as much as PGR2 but based on single player alone it was worth the £15 I spent on it, great game... I wonder how good this would look on 360 bc Im guessing the same as Crimson Skies(pretty damn impressive by the sounds of things)

    Outrun2 I nearly passed on too, but I'm glad I picked it up eventually, it's just good fun, doesnt take it's self too seriously but still presents some sort of a challenge to those who look for it. Its a fast, pick up and play, pure arcade game in my eyes(exactly what I was expecting thanks to the EG review*I think*, although I was thinking that before I read the review), the camera is great(although I would have prefered to have full control of it with the right analogue to look at the cars and environment every now and then, for those "ooh look at that!" moments) and the tracks are great too, they definately make me miss Sega games a bit.

    I for one want Sega to do well next-gen and Gates to realise(invest) there are many waiting for Shenmue 3... heck they could remake the first two aswell for the 360, they'd sell better with the right marketing. They seem to be making better decisions in the publishing department so far, lets see how their new inhouse games fair next gen.

    Dont ask me why I took the time to write all that, I just felt like it, slightly off topic or not :p As for this game I might just pick it up at a reduced price, atleast it does offer a few changes, tweeks and additions to OR2 Xbox.
    Edited by 1 at 28/03/06 @ 20:15

  • Trowel #73 6 years ago

    I read almost every article on this site, whether it be Nintedo, Sony or XBox, and never have I seen any negative reference to another formats capabilities as often as MS and the 360 has been afforded in last few months.

    From memory the XBox 360 was released only 4 months ago, while the PS2 and GameCube were released what 4 years ago? So would it not be fair to assume that many criticisms are aimed at the 360 now because it's new on the block and so is useful information for prospective buyers, while we all know what the problems are with the other machines? In 6-12 months time no doubt every negative point of the Rev and the PS3 will be well covered in every new review.

    But while we wait for the new machines to come along, nothing quite says "I love you... video gaming!" like OutRun 2006 on a 42" plasma...

  • thegamesthething #74 6 years ago

    @ Rauper - In the specific, I think BC is one of Microsofts biggest cockups with the 360 (the other being the HD being optional), but theres no doubt to me that the overall tone on here, especially in Tom and Ellies writing, is anti-360. I've largely stopped commenting on this, because why bother, its no biggy, would be nice if there was a bit more honesty about it though.

    Regardless of some decent review scores, can you honestly say that the tone of most of the reviews, and particularly Ellies new articles, doesnt come across as very different to the far more deferential approach in articles about Ninty/Sony? The 'big fat loss' springs to mind - given Sonys recent woes the possiblities for sarky headlines have been a hundred times greater, few if any have appeared though.

    And dismissing an honest opinion you dont like as trolling should be below you, unless you think you in turn are trolling for posting a contrary response.
    Edited by 3 at 28/03/06 @ 20:24

  • morriss #75 6 years ago

    @rauper: You've read the forums, this is not the only isolated incident, and I'm not going to go over them all again. If you think I'm trolling then fine. I'm interpreting what I see/read. I'd like to think of myself as an intelligent chap, I'm usually pretty sharp anyway and I refuse to accept what I (and others) see as clear as day that you (EG) refuse to accept. If you take healthy, and I would say, constuctive criticism as trolling that's up to you. I have no ill feeling toward Tom, you or anyone else and not once have I resorted to insults.

    Oblivion was reviewed by Kristian as was FN3, so that's a moot point for starters. Tom has consistently mentioned the 360 negatively since it came out. If you can't/won't see/admit that, then cool, but as long as he continues to do it, I'll keep bringing it up.

    Sorry, mate.
    Edited by 1 at 28/03/06 @ 20:29

  • thegamesthething #76 6 years ago

    The next step in these threads in now usually a load of 'omfg ms fanboiz' etc. Perhaps we can avoid that this time (buying a Lite, Rev and PS3 myself, once they all appear)

  • Lukus #77 6 years ago

    ^^ Agreed. I don't think I can read anymore discussions about people being fan boys. It's too depressing. Can't we all just get along..

  • morriss #78 6 years ago

    What I don't like is someone coming into a discussion, throwing accusations around. Then not hanging around to engage in a debate. Isn't 'that' trolling?

  • Calgon #79 6 years ago

    In 6-12 months time no doubt every negative point of the Rev and the PS3 will be well covered in every new review.

    Thats the main point some people are trying to make... will they treat them the same? Or make allowances because they make better excuses and better e3 hype fests?

    Sony basically raised expectations too high and too early for the gullable with their pre-renderd goodness and hype, and why? because they want people to wait, they want people to foolishly think the games will look like that at PS3 launch and look at 360 games and say: "hey that snazy Killzone video looks better than this!"(and to a few that OLD Sony trick has worked :/, thankfully many have now caught on and even PS3 fanboys are taking a more realistic approach). There's a good possibility that PS3 games will lag behind 360 games throughout the whole generation in the technical aspects because PS3 development will have a steeper learning curve. Multi-processor is similar to multi-threaded but some beleive more challanging in some ways, the PS3 devkits we will have to wait on(sony arent renown for a good reputation for this so far or support for that matter) but the 360 devkits/tools and XNA are being recieved really well by devs(I wont quote them but there have been quite a few good ones which suggests its one of the best some have worked on).

    All Im saying is if they come out with that "untapped pontential" lark again after the first 2 years I will be laughing , all we have so far is raw specs of the PS3 which are only marginally ahead of the 360... so pretty much even there then?, even if we foolishly ignore the architectual differences, the fact that we know how specs can change come release of new hardware and how missleading they can be or meaningless to in-game performance(Sony seem to be proud of its pre-rendering and streaming abilities though), the 360 IS more advanced though in alot of respects especially regarding the GPU, that along with the efficiency may win out in the end (who knows, lets wait and see as these machines are tested), no this isnt simply about the Unified shader architecture either, Xenos is pretty much DX10 spec(even some stuff beyond that and things you might not see in the PC space), geometry shading is possible through the use of the unique MEMEXPORT and one of the cores (geometry shaders will be in DX10 GPUs once Vista is released).

    Like I said no fanboy wars here for me, lets just wait and see, I think it could come back and bite Sony this time if they dont deliver(ok no it wont no matter what they put out there the Sony Zombies will buy it *sigh*). The only critisism I have is the 360 seems alot better than some here in particular give it credit for(count me in once I get the cash).
    Edited by 2 at 29/03/06 @ 15:14

  • morriss #80 6 years ago

    For the record, and I want this remembered. I do not think there exists any anti-360 bias at EG. I believe they have no agenda, there is no spoon etc. Tom is the only one at EG I have a problem with. No-one else what-so-ever.

    There. Just so that's clear.

  • lemonfist #81 6 years ago

    Yessss, Out Run 2 was amazing, and this is even better!

  • #82 6 years ago

    SET FOR STUN

  • morriss #83 6 years ago

    @frod. It's an XBox game. It's not out for the 360, so why bring it up?

    Anyway, fine. Whatever. He's done it since the console was released NOT just here and it's getting boring.

    Yes, yes, before you say it. I'm the boring one.

    /yawns

    Edited by 1 at 28/03/06 @ 22:03

  • #84 6 years ago

    There is no 360 version of this game.

  • morriss #85 6 years ago

    CAn you read frod? Anyway, fine. Whatever. He's done it since the console was released NOT just here and it's getting boring.

    OK I'm sorry I'll stop.

    I'll jack in my 5 year English degree as well as I obviously have no grasp of it whatsoever.
    Edited by 2 at 28/03/06 @ 22:10

  • morriss #86 6 years ago

    I don't remember going apeshit. I don't remember losing my rag. I never read IGN. I think you're just lumping me in with everyone else over and haven't really read what I've said in the past.

    I know how some of you feel about EG though, and I know I shouldn't criticise it. It seems that's the only thing you can't criticise around here - which is strange. I criticise because I want it to be better than it is now: which is pretty damn good. I have no agenda.

    Anyway, your mind is made up and you've already made your generalisations, so I doubt you even being affected by a word I'm saying is beyond the realms of possibility.

  • vane101 #87 6 years ago

    9/10 - ridiculous really considering EG complains about the lack of originality but 80s games are ok.

  • chronom4n #88 6 years ago

    anyone notice how violent the 'girlfriends' were if you failed a mission. man if my girlfriend hit me the way those girls do, i'd fling the woman out of my car!

  • MrGrumpy.au #89 6 years ago

    Can't wait! (It's released here on the 6th April)

    I really hope this time around it sells better because the original Xbox version IMO was one of the best arcade racers I've ever played (it's a case of SUMO/SEGA just got it right). The disc never leaves my Xbox DVD drive.

    Well SEGA & SUMO this gentleman is buying two copies one for the PSP and the other on the PS2, Outrun 2 on the go is just going to be fan-bloody-tastic.

    Heart attack mode ftw!!!!

    EDIT:
    The USB link-up between PS2 and PSP games has been a bit of a joke so far; here, you connect the consoles, set both games into link-up mode, and you can transfer your actual real actual profile between systems. They're the same exact game.

    Pure genious!
    Edited by 1 at 29/03/06 @ 00:38

  • Bates #90 6 years ago

    I've said it before and sadly I'll probably be saying it again before long, but I find Calgon the most tedious twat on this forum. An Xbox fanboy bore who pounces on the most minor of excuses to launch into his latest anti-PS3 diatribe.

    "There's a good possibility that PS3 games will lag behind 360 games throughout the whole generation in the technical aspects because PS3 development will have a steeper learning curve."

    You mean you HOPE it'll lag behind your precious 360 don't you? A few developers have already said that the PS3 is easier to develop for than the PS2, and some of the stuff they've managed to get out of the PS2(Which was supposedly a nightmare to develop for at the start) in recent times people simply wouldn't have believed possible in the early stages of it's life. No reason the same thing couldn't happen with the PS3. We'll see.

    "Like I said no fanboy wars here for me, lets just wait and see, I think it could come back and bite Sony this time if they dont deliver(ok no it wont no matter what they put out there the Sony Zombies will buy it *sigh*)."

    "I'm not going to get into any fanboy mudslinging, oh, but here's a completely uncalled for snipe at people who enjoy Playstation". Way to contradict yourself.

    "The only critisism I have is the 360 seems alot better than some here in particular give it credit for(count me in once I get the cash)."

    Right, so you don't actually HAVE a 360, yet you sound off like a complete fanboy knob about it every other day on here? Jesus Christ...

    Sorry to the rest of you having to read this, but this guy gets on my fucking nerves. No doubt I'm now going to be labelled a 'Sony fanboy' for DARING to call him on this incessant crap(Despite me preferring Nintendo consoles, but there you go).

  • rauper Verified Managing Director, Eurogamer Network #91 6 years ago

    morriss: I wasn't trolling, I was just out for the evening. Anyway, I didn't really mean to say you were a troll... I have seen my fair share of them over the years - but I am not one either (I was here before Xbox even existed and have seen it all before so sometimes my patience is limited!).

    But it's the dragging of threads into X360/PS3 arguments that is extremely tedious for most to watch and whatever you may think about previous reviews this one really has no need to go there. Also I find it slightly offensive to say that Tom (or anyone at EG) is being "dishonest" about what they are writing. Tom's views were clearly stated above and if you don't believe them that is down to you - you have made your point and it is our job to convince you otherwise, but it is time to move on...

  • SeesThroughAll #92 6 years ago

    my,my,my...

    /is impressed with Calgon's crusade against Sony.

    Oh well...

  • AtomicBanana #93 6 years ago

    'The Xbox version: prettier than most 360 games, really.'

    Haha! what a good joke! I *love* outrun, but to say it looks as pretty as some of the 360 games... pfft.

  • Wobble #94 6 years ago

    "Haha! what a good joke! I *love* outrun, but to say it looks as pretty as some of the 360 games... pfft."

    It's more pretty than joust.

    I've had a 360 since launch, it's the only console I've actually used in over a year... I _really_ like live arcade, and stream music through it every day. However I still don't see why every time it's even mentioned in passing in an article people go on this mad crusade on its behalf. If anything, the 360 was complimented in this by the mention of XBL getting it so right.

    It is shit that this is not BC, it's a sad state of affairs when any Xbox game isn't. People, like me, who sold their xbox when the 360 launched want to know if a xbox game is BC in the review, so if it's not then of course it's mentioned.

    *gah*

  • Yeevle #95 6 years ago

    Seeing as my 360 is broken (as usual) this game might make me buy a PSP...... ahhahahahaha yeah right.

  • morriss #96 6 years ago

    @rauper: Ok mate. I'll drop it. I never really meant to cause any offense, and if I had, for that I'm sorry. I will say I do find the amount of jibes in his non-360 realted work rather strange, but if you insist he's on the level, I guess I'll have to take yours and his word(s) for it.

    I've never had an issue with the PS3, however! ;)

    Anyway, the day awaits. Have a good one :)
    Edited by 1 at 29/03/06 @ 10:28

  • FUG #97 6 years ago

    So what version of PSP firmware does this require?

  • firesuite #98 6 years ago

    OXM US may have given the game 6 - but over here it got 9.0 in the latest issue.

    Think it needs 2.6 for firmware.

  • Darren #99 6 years ago

    Got my Xbox copy this morning and have been playing it for a couple of hours... absolutely brilliant, better than the original OutRun 2 for sure. Shame it isn't backward compatible with the 360 and it's a bigger shame that I'm still totally hooked on Oblivion. I WILL play it, it's just a case of me dragging myself off Bethesda's classic first... which I'm off to play... now...

  • FUG #100 6 years ago

    "Think it needs 2.6 for firmware."

    Oh bollocks, I wish I'd thought to check this before ordering it :-(

  • MrGrumpy.au #101 6 years ago

    I'd say it would definately be the 2.6 firmare and therefore the Wifi part of the game will refuse to work across different firmware revisions (from what I've read around the net this happens with all games no matter their age as long as their firmware revision differ from one to another).

    Maybe the poorer US scores are due to the Inital D syndrome, it's not based off Japanese Anime and doesn't involve Toyotas, Hondas, Nissans, Mazdas etc running at a Touge (point-to-point hill climb/decent race between 2 cars). (ie. illegal street racing)

    It's Just a theory.

    I couldn't care what people really think about this game, all I know is by next Thursday I'll have both my pre-orders at home ready to get back into the best version of outrun ever made.
    Edited by 1 at 29/03/06 @ 12:33

  • Calgon #102 6 years ago

    Bates + SeesThrough: That was just a few thoughts on the hardware(and a few points about games development), Im basically saying lets wait and see, its more of a crusade against Sony Fanboy missinformation and Marketing hype. If its the games they are waiting for, fair enough but personally I've yet to see them announce anything that has me excited about the release of the PS3(which is why it confuses me to see them complain about the 360 line-up which is great so far released and in developement, but thats IMO and Im entitled to say that since its brought up so many times in 360 threads and comments).

    Darren: So it's worth owning both on the Xbox then? Good to hear! I was only concered about having the feeling of buying the same game twice aslong as theres alot of new stuff in it then thats enough for me(not going to pay full price though).
    Edited by 2 at 29/03/06 @ 15:11

  • TheJanitor #103 6 years ago

    this game sucks.

  • Calgon #104 6 years ago

    Frod it wasn't me that brought the subject up of bias here, besides my first post was on topic... kinda. I have noticed what morris was saying but we can atleast wait until the PS3 arrives and see if any little shortcomings are exagerated for the good of "next gen" and any lack of innovation is pointed out to the same degree by the same people who have done this for the 360 games.

    One thing is for sure though, some of the articles topics chosen and headlines given show some sort of a pattern *random figures from MS come in* "MS suffer Big Fat loss", *Sony Loses court case, odered to pay 90M and discontinue sales of the Dual Shock controler*... Um where is it? I didnt see that here if it was posted and if it was it wasnt up for half as long.

    I guess it doesnt matter if some do show a bias to one console because that happens but then why dont they just fess up and review games for their favourite only because people arent going to get the best advice from them otherwise.
    Edited by 1 at 29/03/06 @ 17:44

  • smelly #105 6 years ago

    Is it brilliant on the gamecube?

  • SeesThroughAll #106 6 years ago

    Just bought the PSP version... Terrific fun. Two of the best PSP games are from SEGA & SUMO. Carry on gentlemen, that's all I can say.

    /Goes play another twenty quick-five-minutes-games in a row...

  • Rowley #107 6 years ago

    I'd just like to add that I haven't purchased an xbox game since halo2, and i've not enjoyed a driving-themed game quite so much since crazy taxi on the DC. Spot on.

  • Luckz #108 6 years ago

    Calgon: "which is why it confuses me to see them complain about the 360 line-up which is great so far released and in developement"
    Great? It mainly consists of bad X-Men/Pac-Man rehashes and sequels and ports of PC games. I can play Prey/Hitman/Oblivion on the PC, and they're all better there. I dunno about you, but I haven't heard of one 360 game that's actually out that looks like it's a must-have of any kind.

  • LeSpank #109 5 years ago

    Now backwards compatible! YEAH! OK!