Out Run

STORY / GAMEPLAY
You drive your convertible sports car (that looks like a Ferrari Testarossa) with your blond girlfriend on the passenger's seat. Note: This game did not have an official Ferrari license (unlike its sequel Out Run 2 that was released many years later). Starting the race at a coastal highway, you must pass through four checkpoints completing five laps within a set time limit. Before every checkpoint, there is a "fork" allowing you to enter one of the two different race routes. The game is notable for its innovative arcade hardware of the time (including a mechanically moving cabinet), the fantastic graphics and music, the option to select the soundtrack of your choice as well as the opportunity to change routes. The aim is to race as fast as you can and change level before the time runs out. If you do this, your time will be extended and you'll continue racing towards the next track. Failing to do so, the hot blond will start to shout and complain!

GRAPHICS / SOUND
For a home console conversion, the PC Engine Out Run is pretty faithful to the original arcade game. The NEC's console offers fast animation, a great choice of colors and arcade-style graphics. The game's sound is almost identical to the coin operated system, including the original selection of music tracks plus some nicely sampled sound effects like the car's engine and some additional ambient sounds.