by James Harvey
© 2009 James Harvey
Continuing their theme of bringing some old classics back to live with the existence of the Xbox Live Arcade, Sega have released an upgraded version of OutRun, this time taking the guise of OutRun Online Arcade.
OutRun Online Arcade (OOA) looks the business, and to be honest it’s a perfect example of Sega at their best. In HD, it looks beautiful. Extreme colours make this game what it is.
I have never played a game quite like OutRun. I am a BIG racing fan, and I normally stay well away from the arcady games. But there is just something about OutRun that make it very different from the others. It is total chilled-out, relaxed gameplay, which really never gets old.
OOA comes with a few game modes to get your teeth stuck into. OutRun mode is what you’d expect from the arcade version; simply chose your routes as and when you get to the junctions. There is also an option to race on every one of the 15 stages, one after the other. Heartbreaker sees you frantically trying to do what you can to win over the young lady sitting next to you, and Time Trial gives you the opportunity to get closer to that elusive 4 minutes, 30 seconds.
The achievements in OOA are challenging, but not frustrating. At first glance they seem simple enough, but some will take time and skill to unlock. And the only way to improve your skill is to play and play and play. Which is no chore, believe me. And even if you do get a bit tired of playing on your own, 6-player online racing is one button press away on Xbox Live.
Overall, OOA is a fantastic edition to the Xbox Live Arcade – and it’s amazing just how much they managed to cram into this bite-size title. It looks like a racing game that could easily of been released on a disc, and it plays a hell of a lot better than some of the full-priced trash out there.
Priced at 800 MS Points, OOA is simply a bargain that should not be missed by anyone. I urge you to go and download this game today. As with all Arcade titles, there is a trial version available if you want to try it out before you buy.
“9/10
© 2009 James Harvey
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Filed under: 3rd Party Games, Console gaming, Parental Gaming, XBLA News-Reviews, Xbox 360, Xbox 360 News, XboxLive Marketplace Tagged: | out run arcade review, out run reviews, outrun arcade, OutRun Online Arcade review, OutRun Online Arcade reviews, Sega, Sega games, xbox live, Xbox Live Arcade, xbox live arcade reviews
