OutRun 2006 Coast 2 Coast review

For when you don't care how pimped your ride can get

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Jumping right in

  • +

    Beautiful courses

  • +

    Some really catchy tunes

Cons

  • -

    Takes a while to unlock stuff

  • -

    Some noticeable lag

  • -

    Vocal tunes are harsh

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Customization is the hottest thing happening in racing games right now. Buy new parts, slap on some 20s and proceed to tear ass through the city streets as the crowd gawks in awe. You won't find any of that in OutRun 2006 Coast 2 Coast. This is arcade racing at its finest, with no other emphasis besides roaring through course after branching, hairpin-littered course. In fact, the over-the-top nature of OutRun requires near-constant power-sliding and uncanny evasion skills, rather than grease monkey prowess.

Because there is no need to visit a garage, or tool around forever trying to build up a championship auto, the sense of speed and stomach-flipping turns begin right from the start. You'll be skidding tires through San Francisco, New York City and all the beautiful "flyover country" in between without ever paying attention to what's under the hood - just know that they're all licensed Ferrari models and you'll do fine.

We can't say enough how smooth this ride is. All the postcard-worthy tracks may be blasting by at impossible speeds, but you'll often find yourself trying to sneak your eyes away from the track in an effort to scope out an amazing floral village or misty, low-lying valley.

Most of the time, this is one smooth ride - but the PSP version is easily the choppiest. If you end up playing a console version and then slide over to the handheld, it's even more apparent. When you've got six cars onscreen, hugging a 180-degree turn with wide-open fields stretching out into the distance, it's even more noticeable. Not a deal breaker, but it can affect your racing.

More info

GenreRacing
DescriptionOne of the hottest arcade racers of the last year is about to hit home machines in near-perfect form.
Platform"PS2","PC","PSP","Xbox"
US censor rating"Everyone","Everyone","Everyone","Everyone"
UK censor rating"","","",""
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
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Brett Elston

A fomer Executive Editor at GamesRadar, Brett also contributed content to many other Future gaming publications including Nintendo Power, PC Gamer and Official Xbox Magazine. Brett has worked at Capcom in several senior roles, is an experienced podcaster, and now works as a Senior Manager of Content Communications at PlayStation SIE.