Out Run

I bought it at the time and frankly I enjoyed it, I still think it's a good racer; the sense of speed and the car dynamics are among the best on the C64 and some of the key elements of the arcade are there, even if it misses a lot of levels and it's quite short. Graphics are pretty good and I have no particular issues with the striped road, though the colors of it get weirdly psychedelic at times. Cool music, while the game is a bit too silent when using sound fx only; the engine roar sound would have made it better (they included it in the US version).

Out Run was one of the defining arcade games of the 80's, and it was always going to be difficult to do justice to Sega's monumental driving coin-op on a home computer. Things did look hopeful when the Master System version was released in 87 and while not perfect it was a decent-ish attempt at bringing the arcade game home. Sure the C64 didn't have the colour palate that the Master System but it showed that a good home computer version was possible. Shame that the finished game from U.S. Gold, while not that bad, is not really that great either, mainly due to it feeling under developed. With a little more polish and even the addition of colours at the roadside it would have elevated the game. It is playable though and the motion/speed of the road is very good. Despite its flaws it does still feel like you are playing a home version of Out Run, though not a brilliant one. Ironically the C64 version comes out as the best of all the ports U.S. Gold released - with the Amiga, Atari ST and Amstrad versions being totally unplayable.

I've recently learnt a bit more about the history of the C64 version and of the personal problems Martin Webb faced while developing this for U.S. Gold, which is so sad to read about. Under those circumstances he faced I am truely amazed the game turned out as well as it did!!!

In my view, this conversion is better than it seems to get credit for. There's a decent sense of speed, the car never feels out of your control and music is good despite missing one track, which admittedly is a little annoying. Graphically, it's good without being great, although the stripy road effect on some levels can be a little off-putting until you're used to it (and stop focusing on it) and just concentrate on your driving.

Just another licensed arcade title cash grab
that the 64 couldn't hope to simulate.

Controversial, but the C64 version of Magical Sound Shower is the definitive version for me! Still to this day my favourite game that I've ever owned, and one I've revisted many times over the years. Now with the help of modded consoles, I play this very often.

I still suck, but the good feelings never die!

Very interesting Eurogamer article - search for "The boy behind the biggest coin-op conversion of the 80s"

It's ok- moves well despite the unpleasant stripey road effect. The car looks good and it definitely has a sense of speed to it. Music is great and adds to the arcade atmosphere. I was disappointed with this when I first saw it, but in retrospect is it a pretty decent conversion- even if the pre-set courses need to be loaded in and there's no split road choices to make.

The graphics are quite good and the racing was average. I was hugely disappointed when I got this game as a kid though. As with other arcade conversions I set my expectations way too high.

Gameplay Video Link:
youtube.com/watch?v=qPpc-vnlL2I

While ugly-looking at first, this is a decent port of the arcade original.

Don't miss the Out Run NUFLI title pic released 2018, based on the Amiga artwork!
csdb.dk/release/?id=162501

Still pictures of it look awful because it had the ugliest graphics of any version, but actually it's a pretty good game because it has a feeling of speed. The Amstrad version is pathetically slow. The Amiga version isn't very good either.

It could not match the arcade version of course, but we still played it a lot.
The game itself wasn't so bad and the music was OK as well.

Early conversion. The programmers made a great effort with what the C64 had to offer. Still it's a tough job and the concept is perhaps a bit out of the C64's league so to speak.

I just had a go on the US version, which improves in some details on the European version but is essentially the same. I don't understand why the C64 conversion gets so much criticism. The speed, the music and the race feel have been well coverted. The programmers had to compromise somewhere, and they did so with respect to the beautiful graphics of the arcade version. But it remains a playable game, and this is quite an achievement; 7/10.

Failed conversion. When the tyres "screeched" it sounded like a kids ray gun.

Came for the game, stayed for the music.

Not a great conversion of the classic arcade racer. Too much had to be sacrificed for the ol' C64 to cope. Music was well simulated though, MSS was one of my fave tunes on the C64

LeC64win
unless you've got £1000s and £1000s of pounds nobody will be able to have the Original Outrun Arcade Machine in their living room doh, what a Stupid thing to say

For a C64 conversion of a graphically complex arcade racer, this is totally worth it! Missing here are the branching routes (but all the scenes are present via multiload) and Passing Breeze. But it's very playable and great fun.

Looks like Dennis Webb added his initials to registration plate.

Best Outrun of the series. It feels like driving rather than floating.

And there is no horrid multiload either if you discount the separate track loads which are a full game in their own right.

It's a fun racer

I honestly don't get all the hate on this game. Loved playing this when I was a kid, I should get back into it again. The Sega Master System version "looked" better, but the C64 was faster.

I loved the arcade original a lot, the sit-down version we had at our fave arcade sucked my pockets dry of coins and the great sound of the speakers left and right to your head made my spine tickle with delight. Just when I thought I would never see a conversion of it on my beloved C64, US Gold came along with one, so I went and bought it on release. I was mildly disappointed at first but after a few days of on and off playing, it finally clicked on me and I started to like it. I still consider it a below-average conversion that is not a bad game per se but inevitably lacks many elements of what made the arcade game so great.

By the way, in my opinion, the best version of Out Run for home consoles or computers is the Game Works No. 1 release on Dreamcast. It's a book by Yu Suzuki, creator of Out Run, Space Harrier and other zooming pseudo-3D arcade hits that comes with a GD-ROM with arcade-perfect versions of Out Run, Space Harrier, After Burner II, Power Drift and Hang-On, bought it on release from the now-defunct Lik Sang webshop. What's more, you can unlock an arcade-perfect (?) port of the original Out Run in OutRun2 on the old Xbox.

My little cat just dragged this game into her litter tray

I remember at the time I played this back in about 1989, thinking it wasn't too bad a crack at converting Outrun. I think it has the atmosphere of the arcade game down quite well, it's just that it maybe lacks a decent road design (bloody stripey road syndrome!) and the full range routes. Still, when I were a kid, I had a hard time making it out of the 2nd stage, so it kept me plugging away.

I like Out Run on the C=64! It has great speed and somehow reproduces the feeling that I also got when I played the real game. To bad the programmers didn't pay more attention in refining the graphics. Many traffic on the road also reminds me of the arcade. only.

And the soundtrack is nice. (7)

The OutRun Arcade Car Mod: Cabinet On Wheels ís the only real Arcade version imho, you don't get that with your precious Saturn console.. Hehe.

LeC64win im just saying that OutRun for the Saturn is the Arcade version and is the best version you can get on a home computer, and being able to have it Arcade perfect in your home is definatly something to Bragg about, and I also have it on MAME

Great arcadeyahoo, but what has that to do with the Commodere 64-version of Out Run? You make your comment almost sound like a COMMERCIAL! (or are you just bragging a little bit?)

I agree with the others about the C=64-version; not the best but it's not the worst either on C=64. But I liked the high speed and music is nice. Graphics could be done better, but they do the job. Later game-developers proved that this kind of game can be done much better on the Commodore 64, ofcourse.. So I won't be needing expensive game-consoles, like the one you mention.
(emulator maybe? Haha)

I kind of like this game, it not really that bad for a racing game on the 64.
basically the speed was nearly right and the car moved well, this was a lot better than the speccy and Amstrad versions, this version is playable for a start!
7/10

I loved this in the ARCADE'S in the 80's, it is one of the best racers of all time, I bought SEGA AGES for the SEGA SATURN in 1997 which includes the ARCADE version of this, it made my day.

Its not a good arcade port but I liked it very much. Average graphics, average sound effects, even average gameplay but it did have very good music. Anyway this is one of the first games I load when I havent used my C64 in for a while. Way better than the crappy Amstrad CPC and zx spectrum version.

It's not as bad as some people said it was, but it could have been so much better: If the Sega Master conversion manages to be almost as good as in the arcades, why can't the Commie be half as good?!? That's what the trouble was.

This is one of those games that I keep coming back to just for fun. I know it's not a completely faithful conversion and that it lacks important stuff like the route selections, but I still find it very enjoyable. And, of course, I just love the music.

Cracking music to this now if I could only transfer to my mobile

Not terrible, but not brilliant either really. Pretty average looking graphics, pretty average sound effects, even pretty average gameplay, but it did have some good music! The extra cassette featuring nothing but music, to be played in your Hi-Fi while you played the game was a lovely touch too!

It wasn't that bad. Remember, they only had a 64 to make the conversion with. IMHO this was way better than the shitty Amiga version! The tunes man, THE TUNES!!!

Brilliant arcade game. At the time, I thought the C64 conversion was fantastic too! I still think it's pretty good - good graphics, brilliant sound. Go for the US version though, that's slightly better. The game is still good fun, I remember playing it for hours when I was young, though I completed it easily at my second attempt this week!

Out Run yea always gonna be a classic not bad for the 64 tho

My heart sank when I eventually got my hands on this.
Its not a complete failure but it definately didn't capture the feel of the coin-op version. Turbo Outrun is a big improvement.

Fantastic Music

I loved this in the arcade and I got this version on Crimbo morning! I remember playing it about 4 o clock Crimbo morn with my bro and thinking it was just ok. It looked a bit standard and the silly fixed routes were annoying, although it's probably they only way they could that without multiloading between levels! Music was pretty competent too.

Much better than A500 version... Not a great hit but funny pastime. 7/10

If... You could accept it WASN'T all you had hoped it would be ... Then the 64 version of Outrun was good enough... Average to Great graphics.. Good Playability... 65/100 For Mine.. (Which includes an extra 10 pts because of the awesome tunes!)

Nothing beats the arcade version, but this is a great conversion. Very entertaining and a catchy tune!

I voted a seven...
Due to music and beeing able to play it on C64 at all...
Remember how disapointed I was at first of this...
Later it was ok...

The best racing game I played on the C64. Arcade that is.

I loved this game. If even it was only for the music

Pretty good and fast arcade-racer, which could have been slightly better graphically. Still not a bad effort.

Graphics: 6/10
Sound: 7/10
Playability: 7/10

Overall: 7/10

Told my brothers friend to buy this game, he almost killed me after he played it!
Taught him not to listen to a 8 year old kid, who had only played the coin-op!!!

Another unforgettable arcade game! The C= conversion is a good product with the original arcade classic's feeling(but where is the song"passing breeze"?That was my favourite tune!). Pretty graphic, good scroll, great handling... Problems?The traffic! Like in Rio! OUT RUN C64-version:Shiny car and beauty scene... The american dream in 8-bit... 9/10

Did you know guys that exists also a US version with sligthly improved graphics details as better landscapes, traffics (there are also truks), improved raster lines for a better 3D effect and girl's blonde hair?
Check it out.
I wonder if there's something similar even for the Amiga version...

Not a bad game

Damn. This arcade conversion could have been so much better with little more work. The base is already there. Playability is good, music is great and the feel of speed is there.

But graphics is just, at the best, average. What a shame. Coin-op version is a legend. Unfortunatelly C64 version failed to raise the same level. Nevertheless, this is not a bad game at all. It's still great fun! Maybe expectations were just way too high after seeing the mindblowing coin-op version.

A very good 8-bit conversion of the original. It appears that the driver found a new girlfriend though, as the original Out Run arcade conversion had a blonde. CBM version, a brunette

Ah the whoosh of the waves eh? I loved this game coz it reminded me of the puggies. Have a couple games on this before you chanked aw yer money into each-way-nudger!

When this game came out on the 8 bits it got a lot of critisism, which l felt was justified. Outruns problem is the arcade machine was well ahead of its time and even now if you manage to find one you will be hooked. On the c64, 464 and speccy this game was just not good enough, it didn't run smoothly and the backdrops were poor, its a shame that all the great memories of the arcade machine were trampled because of the poor conversions on the home platforms. Could do better.

I loved this game, played hours and hours the arcade version.

This conversion is still bad. Very good music, but unbeliveable bad graphics and handling.

If domeone has the chance to get this game for GPEngine: do it! This is a really good conversion!

Good fun game The only down fall graphics can be improved. 8 /10

Andy, you weren't dreaming it. You did get an audio tape with the game. I just wish I could find it... Fantastic soundtrack, average game though.

This a scary conversion - the lines of people at the side of the road was wierd. Where this game won over other 8-bit conversions at the time was the method of loading the entire route in before hand. I remember an Amstrad version that loaded the next stage at the checkpoints which totally ruined the effect. The Master System version was the best 8-bit offering...

Quite a reasonable port from the arcade. The game play was not as good and the graphics a little blocky but the sound was good and it was fun to play.

Excellent arcade conversion on the C64 with an awesome soundtrack. I actually thoughjt the graphx were pretty good at the time. My only other console was an atarti 2600! Still, today I think it holds up OK as an 8-bit conversion

Out Run in the arcades was lifestyle. You could impress the people while you are playing the coin-op. And I was pretty good in that game! I was pretty good in the C64-version, but thats nothing special, because it was really easy. The graphics are blocky and the scrolling is smooth like hell. Otherwise I have to admit that I liked the C64-Out Run for some reasons. The Out Run-Feeling was here, thanx to the music from Jason C. Brooke. Overall Rating from me: 7/10

When compared to the Coin-Op, the C64 version did quite well. I came very close to compleating route A.

I enjoyed the game. Also after playing Out Run on the Saturns "Sega Ages" pack, thought that the simplified C64 music has far more bass and punch than its weedy arcade counter-part!

I am sure I got a free (audio) tape with this that had the original arcade music on it.

I was just so impressed by the coin-op at the time, that this conversion couldn't be anything other than a huge disappointment. The music was still OK, but the graphics were rather ugly and slow (especially the horizontal road stripes were horrible). This is a game that is all about driving a fast car through some great looking environments, so the C-64 version just doesn't make it. For a good arcade racing conversion, check out Buggy Boy...

Outrun the coin-op (and arcade perfect Saturn version in Sega Ages collection) is still highly playable, enjoyable and entertaining. Same can't be said about sad C64 version. This has nothing to do with the thrills of the original but the name. Dire graphics, bad arrangements of coin-op's classic tunes and clumsy controls. C64 had some very good driving
games so there are no excuses for this being so bad.

Graphically it's a bit crude. There's too much black blocky outlining in the cars and some of the roadside scenery is cringeworthy, particularly those buildings that look like wendy houses on level 1. The playability is not bad at all though. It kept me playing for a while anyway.

This is a very playable fast moving game with good music, it's just a shame that the graphics are so bloody awful. The C64's capabilities may be puny but they could've got the graphics at least half way decent.

Shitty game from the authors of Max Torque (which was better)

Of course it doesn't compare to the Arcade, but compared to other C64 Classics, this rates as one of my favorites. It is very fun to play.

NOTE! The 64 original contained of 5 routes of 5 level each, in other words 25 levels of maniac racing. The only fully crack I've seen of this game (5 different parts) is the one from THE SLAYERS 2061. If you want it, mail [email protected]

The game was a disappointment in comparison to the arcade but I would have to say that this conversion was far better than what Atari ST version. At least the game moved fast and the music was cool

Needless to say, the arcade version rates as one of the best games ever made. Then there is this conversion. The loading screen is awful! There is a choice of 2 tunes (not 3 as in the arcade version) The radio is in there, but not the hand that changes the stations (why not?) The big red car could have been drawn better & why isn't the girls hair colour yellow? (it could have been, that's for sure). Anyway, for all these negative views on a conversion that could nver hope to compete with it's bigger brother, this conversion dose have one thing going for it. It's FAST!!! ... And that some how makes the game sort of playable

The arcade was very good and extremly popular, so there for the 64 conversion was natural. The 64 version is good. The graphics are great and the "speed" feeling is OK. The music is of highest class, the well known outrun tunes is done with share excellence. Game-play is amusing and addictive. A superb game no one should miss.

I like this game. Well, the graphics aren't terribly great, and Turbo Outrun is definetely better, but the soundtrack sounds good and gameplay works well. The game is as fast as it should be, considering that the car is a Ferrari... Yess I think it's worth trying.

Its quite fast and of course you couldn't of expected anything looking like the Arcade. But its a smooth racing game and I thought it was ok.

I actually thought this was an OK conversion. The graphics might have been messy, but they were quick. And bends and hills were depicted realistically enough. The high framerate meant that the controls were really responsive, which is quite rare in C64 racers. I guess the C64 version got slated because it showed just how shallow (or, if you prefer, crap) the arcade machine was - it really was just a glorified graphics demo. Without the sexy visuals, the dodgy gameplay is exposed for all to see. But compared to a lot of C64 racers, this is still quite fun.
6/10.

Strange graphics but awesome soundtrack. We used to play the arcade in a pub around here and were really into Outrun.

Used to play this game a lot, though it wasn't actually that good.. Then again its music is awesome!

A particularly weak example of a typical 80s racing game. C64 Outrun is a conversion of the vintage 'style over substance' Sega coin-op.

There is very little skill involved in outrun. You have to dodge cars, make sure you don't fall off the track and adhere to the time limit, or you lose.

Presentation wise, C64 Outrun is diabolical. The graphics, at best, look as though they were drawn by a half witted child and at worst a drunk piscasso.

Great renditions of the classic outrun tunes help redeem the situation a little.

If you want to see how Outrun should be converted, check out Turbo Outrun. It is a far better game in every way shape and form.

One of the WORST racing games on the C64. 4/10 would be rather generous.

I love this game music..

The graphics are bad compared to the arcade version, but the gameplay itself is just like in the real one, just harder... In my oppinion the SEGA Master System version had better grafics but a very bad gameplay. The C64 version is better...

I must be one of the few people that prefer Outrun to Turbo Outrun on the C64. Although the graphics were terrible, the actual playability I thought was spot on! The car is responsive and it takes skill to finish it. I find the sequel Turbo Outrun has far better graphics and music but the gameplay relies on luck - and the multiload is a pain.

After I played Out Run on the arcade I couldt wait for the release of out run for the C64. And I must say I was disappointed about the game. Music was good but the graphics and the gameplay sucks. Could much better!

The best version of the game on any format. Superb graphics, sound and playability. A true classic.

I'll always remember when this game first came out, I rushed to the store to buy it, loaded it up and was utterly disappointed at the result. It really was an opportunity missed.

Had to download just for the cheesy music!