30 Years of Outrun: A Retrospective | Nostalgia Nerd

30 Years since Outrun first appeared in our arcades. Can you believe that? Well, this video might help you wade through that timeline, and if your youth was anything similar to mine, you may have played quite a few home ports of this sensational game. In this video I take a look at the brilliant arcade version and look at the various Outrun home ports & conversions which I encountered throughout the '80s, '90s and '00s. Included in this video are the following formats;
Outrun arcade
Outrun Sinclair Spectrum
Outrun Master System
Outrun C64
Outrun Megadrive/Genesis
Outrun DOS
Outrun Online Arcade
Outrun Grandstand Dashboard
So, sit back and enjoy Outrun from 1986 until 2016, from my personal perspective.
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♜Resources♜
Threaded BG Music is Banjo Guy Ollie's brilliant rendition of Passing Wave, you can watch it at • Out Run music cover - ... or purchase his music at banjoguyollie.bandcamp.com/
If you believe I have forgotten to attribute anything in this video, please let me know, so I can add the source in. It takes time to make these videos and therefore it can be easy to forget things or make a mistake.

[@MEGAMIGA]

One of my favourite arcade games ever. What a shock when I saw it for the very first time!

[@MudSluggerBP]

Magical Sound Shower is the greatest video game audio track of all time.

[@DavidB-rx3km]

I saw Outrun motion cabinet in Blackpool in 1986, and it blew me away. I was 10 and knew then I wanted to get into making games which I was lucky enough to do as a job 10 years later and still am! Thank you Sega!

[@Hellwyck]

The FM on the reg plate was for Probe Software's (now sadly deceased) programmer Fergus McGovern - Not for the STFM.

[@mr.2cents.846]

THIS was the game that got me hooked on video games. When I saw it walking by the arcade, I couldn't resist. I had to try it. It was love at first coin.

[@deathbringer2000]

the ending track gave me an eargasm. jesus that was beautiful

[@izzieb]

I love the originals, but I loved the arcade 3D version. Many happy memories of playing with my friends.

[@robbierupac9442]

Just simply incredible amount of nostalgia and kick ass for SEGA Master System fanboys here in the States👌💯🎮🎮🎮🎮🎮

[@CkVega]

I've just played outrun 2 in the arcade again, I've a real hankering to buy some steering wheels etc to recreate the experience, damn I love the drifting in that game!

[@Scarflix]

Great video, Nostalgia Nerd! Love meeting other OutRun fans on KZbin!

[@ThisNewThing]

Streching a 4:3 image is punishable by law!

[@robertmcmillan3638]

Not if you stretch it to 16.9 then select wide zoom if available 😀.

[@thehumbleone1983]

I first played OutRun at the arcades in Australia loved it and later on my dad got me a Sega master system console with OutRun as one of the games oh the great memories growing up back in the good old days 👍👍👍👍 video

[@paulolameiras861]

Just realised we are just 2 years away from the futuristic Outrun 2019! Great video btw. Played the original alot on arcades and my Megadrive!

[@toshineon]

Outrun... Saw it first time in the late 90's in an arcade in the mall where I lived. Loved the game ever since.

[@KegRaider]

"Unless we're all dead by then, which is looking very likely" - Covid19 predictions from 2016!

[@white-dragon4424]

Yes, as soon as he said that I thought, "If you only knew!"

[@3dmaster205]

Covid19 is barely killing anyone.

[@diederick76]

Oh, I was thinks geopolitics or climate crises, my you might be right.

[@jms3music]

30 years!?! I now REALLY feel old...

[@Domarius64]

Those 2 arcade endings are adorable, I never knew about them!

[@losalfajoresok]

The best racing game of the 80s and maybe the best from the arcades. Played a lot the C64, and in those days it gave me a lot of enjoyment even if was far from the arcade quality. Great video man!

[@armaste]

Thanks for this, enjoyed it !!

[@soundshower4889]

Enjoyed the video, well done.

[@maximuscesar]

The Saturn version is a perfect arcade port. But that was much much later.

[@eupher2]

Yeah the Sega Version is the closest to the arcade. Sucks that version only came out in Japan, so I didn't get to play it until 2006.

[@SionynJones]

3DS version is the definitive version now. M2 did a hell of job.

[@jasonlee7816]

if Out Run was released on 32X in 1994 or 1995 it would’ve been the 1st perfect port before the Saturn version

[@jasonlee7816]

+eupher2 the Sega Saturn Out Run port didn’t only come out in Japan it was included in a collection (compilation) Sega Ages outside Japan with After Burner ll + Space Harrier late 1990’s (1997 or 1998)

[@urzu117]

It's actually better than the arcade version cause it runs at 60fps vs the arcades 30fps. Plus dat kickass CD quality instrumental OST was a sweet bonus.

[@laatmaarzien]

OutRun the ultimate classic!

[@MuhammadAdeelbutt]

What a great review... thank you!

[@bartosx]

the c64 version apart from the obvious lack of route choices was a really quite a marvel that really captured the fast arcade feel imo.

[@segamdhill916]

Ace video. Outrun is in the post to me. Looking forward to it. This video was just the ticket old chap. :)

[@vidtuby]

Out Run defined and set the standards for racing games. 30 years later I'm still impressed with the graphics and soundtrack of Out Run. I've always considered Sega being the Master of Arcades.

[@waynemarsh8732]

I love how Peter Griffin is driving the car in the Atari ST version.

[@MM0SDK]

I always enjoyed the music to Outrun back then.

[@hrnekbezucha]

Another win for Megadrive. Thank you

[@jasonlee7816]

Out Run on the Sega Genesis/Mega-Drive could’ve been better in some areas graphics, music, sound, visuals

[@psychopoison]

I Love this game!

[@SuperballsSupervidsOnYT]

That spectrum version looks so much like an 80s Tiger handheld game. At least it has the music, that is my favorite Outrun tune.

[@jamdonut7692]

Loved this game back in the 80s

[@lepterfirefall]

Loved outrun.....fave racer ever.

[@Horzuhammer]

Curiously, this videeo made me want to play a game of Outrun, and then another game when you reminded me of my (and everyone else's) impending doom. So I did! Considered emulating the cabinet, but went with the PC-Engine port instead. It's a good one.

[@Shundi12]

From a self confessed arcade nut, more arcade games please! Although I like the original Outrun now, it didn't amaze me when I was younger. My favourite Sega racer nostalgia wise was Virtua Racing. Playing that game in an arcade in 1992 when I was 10 years old blew me away. The graphics were unreal. Somehow, I still think they look futuristic now!

[@AnthonyFlack]

It's curious that this video omits the best versions, the Saturn port of Outrun and Outrun 2006 on the original Xbox.

[@GregzVR]

At least you had music! On my Amstrad version I had feck all. Just the tape. Fortunately, being 13 in 1987, I did play the arcade version first, so all home versions(excluding the Megadrive) that I had(including the Atari ST version), were pants, until much later.

[@Trialwolf]

I have a number of versions of this game including the PC-Engine version which I quite enjoy.

[@DannyNilsson]

for the 8bit era i always had my hopes high each time a arcade conversion came out, and i was always sold by the coverart of the cames, but always ended with a disappointment, though i think the Rainbow Island was one of the best conversions

[@andrewbutler9533]

Outrun or death! What a combination 👍

[@banjoguyollie]

man, is this my dream cab or what. planning on getting one hopefully next year

[@tayloralmond]

@4:15, to the right of the Out Run cabinet. Is that IT Crowd pinball? If that's not Moss and Roy, it sure looks like them.

[@ColinMcX]

I still have the Amstrad version, it came with the ost on a cassete. I made my dad play it in the car a lot!

[@darreng1052]

Became obsessed with this on the arcades and pier in Hastings when it first came out. There were 2 motion sitdowns and 1 fixed, these were always busy, so if unlucky had to use the standup, especially in the hols!

[@Tudodesk]

I also played this in the arcade in Hastings and also in Folkestone, I used to spend my Tuesday nights in Saturdays nightclub listening to john digweed play, Later I ripped off Hang on and made my own C64 game called Max Torque. I then changed the bike into a Porsche and made an Outrun style demo, I showed that to Geoff Brown at US Gold and the rest is History, I lived in Appledore and had the machine in my parents garage, nearly 40 years later I ended up being the 17 year old that made the c64 version of Outrun. Who would of thought!

[@truecauseofchaos]

Outrun Online Arcade on XBLA and PSN is one of the greatest projects I've had the pleasure to work on :)

[@AnthonyFlack]

Too bad it didn't have all the content of Outrun 2006: Coast 2 Coast. Even more too bad that it never got a physical release and it has been delisted for many years. :(

[@Daz555Daz]

Arcade version is without question an all time top 10 game for me and I'm going back to my first gaming experiences as a kid with TV Pong.

[@Retro2futuregaming]

One of the best driving games ever.

[@Riz2336]

I'd wish I could say my first experience with Outrun was on the actual arcade machine but luckily it was on the Sega Saturn port of it I got shortly after getting my system and I guess it's one of the best ports of the game ever made (nearly arcade perfect). Very fun addictive simple game play with amazing music to go along with the ride. Classic Sega arcade action.

[@SharifSourour]

I love Final Freeway 2 on iOS. It's a great Outrun clone!

[@MrSegAsh]

Thats one way to end a video, predict the deaths of all your viewers. lol. Nice Video BTW :-)

[@WhatALoadOfTosca]

It made me chuckle. I only think a handful of viewers possibly this side of the water understand the comment :)

[@alexramos2568]

best racing ever, still play the xbox and PSP version today

[@soulagent79]

Out Run on C-64 Datasette was the first game I ever owned.

[@robertdaone]

I think the best next to the arcade was the Sega Saturn version. Loved Turbo Outrun also.

[@RetroUnlim]

It's a crime that outrun wasn't made on the sega 32x alongside afterburner and space harrier, which were superb versions.

[@sjake333]

Yeah, it's bizzare they never made a 32X version. The 32X versions of Space Harrier and After Burner II were the first almost-arcade perfect ports.

[@jasonlee7816]

i think 32X version of Out Run was in development then cancelled (scrapped) because of hardware limits and/or a Ferrari license fee disagreement (issue)

[@Retrocidal]

Super out run is awesome good old days

[@ohyeah2389-samd]

Outrun 2006 - best version. Like the ps arcade port he featured in the video, but for PC, and with tons of new cars, features, songs, and modes.

[@talideon]

C64: can't choose your route, but got a playable game with decent graphics and music. :-D

[@Pinman1973]

I have a original Outrun upright arcade game myself, still my nr 1 driving game !

[@TeamEmperor1]

You were lucky I had the 48k version & had to play the arcade music in cassette player while i played it hahah. Love this games so much from the first time in the sit down arcade machine to the 3DS version

[@MrDaveP75]

I bought the Spectrum version with my earned pocket money thanks to the generous 'sponsored' magazine reviews and ended up playing the music cassette more than the game. It's then that I learned to treat reviews with more caution!

[@legionofdoom2009]

Um, what about Outrunners?

[@DarthXBlade]

The Saturn version is a perfect arcade port agreed

[@soulblazerz]

I'm kind of impressed with the ZX Spectrum's version of Outrun. But then, I love seeing really deconstructed versions of classic games.

[@rodmunch69]

I LOVED the arcade version of this game, all the local arcades had the sit down moving version of the game back then and it's the first place I'd always go as a kid. For home consoles I had the C64 version and I remember loving it - in particular how good the music was on it. As you said it didn't have branching, which was terrible, but until the Genesis version came out, it was the best out there (well assuming there wasn't an Amiga version, but if there was I never saw it).

[@paulanderson79]

The music tracks are superb, Magical Sound Shower being my favourite. Up tempo samba with attitude. The MIDI tracks are realised by Yamaha derived FM synth chips.

[@IgnacioGuerendiain]

Allow me a critisism on this awesome video. It's a shame you scaled the game footage breaking the aspect ratio instead of centering it with a background or just black at the sides. You also lost the opportunity of mentioning the open source Cannonball that can run the original ROM in widescreen, 60fps and other improvements.

[@RetroMMA]

+ignacio More info if you don't mind.

[@IgnacioGuerendiain]

+The Mass Debator Here is all the info you need for running it github.com/djyt/cannonball/wiki

[@RetroMMA]

***** Thanks!

[@MrThunderwing]

... Masturbator?

[@DannyNilsson]

yeah i also missed the mention of Cannonball. this was for the first time i really got into Outrun, playing it everyday on my PS Vita when going to work. i must say it took some time to complete all the stages

[@bwc1976]

It really is amazing (and sad at the same time) how the 8-bit Master System port was so much better than those for the (16-bit) Atari, Amiga, and PC. The PC one doesn't look too bad, but supporting AdLib would have made it so much better.

[@thefurthestmanfromhome1148]

That's what you get when US Gold get the conversion rights and give the conversion to Probe Software to handle 😭

[@MrThunderwing]

Nice retrospective look back at one of my favourite game series ever. Like yourself I started off with the Speccy 128k version before moving on the Sega Master System version. The next version of Outrun I owned after that though was the Saturn version and it finally felt like I was really playing an arcade perfect port albeit with a joypad. You should check out Cannonball, the enhanced Outrun Engine. It's the original game re-written to include lots of enhancements, like widescreen a 60 fps mode and best of all working force feedback for racing wheels.

[@andrewdupuis1151]

first time i play outrun it was on c64. great racing game back then I do have outrun coast 2 coast on pc

[@Eddies_Bra-att-ha-grejer]

I love the Saturn port of this game.

[@mundomakina1980]

Excelent commentary and video,,,,,Saludos Mundo Makina......Great GAME,Fenomenal and Marvelous Game,,,,Sega Saturn Excellent Version......

[@billschlafly4107]

I played OutRun for many hours on the Turbografx 16. Never could beat the damn thing.

[@EpicLebaneseNerd]

my first ever sega interaction was OUTRUN in the arcades.....i was a pure nintendo boy but this game amazed me, years later, OUTRUNNERS blew me away....and i started to think that sega might be awesome, unlike nintendo, sega arcades were easyto find, so i compensated my nintendo games at home with sega games at the arcades, shinobi, golden axe and so much more....today i play these old games in 3D on my nintendo new 3ds and they still hold up...

[@lekanraposte6732]

Played the Sega Master version to death back in the days. Made it to all the endings.

[@CommodoreFan64]

This has to be one of my favorite racing games of all time, and I wish you had mentioned OutRunners arcade, and the Genesis/Mega Drive home port as it's really good as well, and even though you can no longer download it from STEAM(unless you already own it, and are reinstalling the game on a new machine) OutRun Coast 2 Coast 2006 outside of the original OutRun deluxe arcade cab has to be my favorite of all the OutRun games. I truly hope SEGA brings it back at some point with a quality sequel.

[@robwebster7406]

True, the xbox version is great, I have Outrun 2 and coast 2 coast and worked well on the 360 before the update, but still have my old xbox and will be playing it again soon, great work keep it up ;)

[@musicmaniacsgamingandmovies]

Great video about my most favorite oldschool arcade racer. It still is my favorite racer from the good old times. I never knew the Atari ST version did not had forks in the road, as the Amiga version was based on this game, but did had the forks in the road, but it did not matter, as the game was much less fun to play than the Commodore 64 version! Graphics does not matter when a racing game feels slow and cumbersome. The MegaDrive version on the other hand did surprise me how good it was, except for the sprite design and collor, but it still resambles the game good enough, and i just loved how much better it played than on the Amiga. It was faster, more responsive, and much more fun, and the extra tune did grew on me. Do you have a Nintendo 3DS (or NEW 3DS)? the OutRun port from M2 is the best i've played, even better than the Japanese Saturn version. I do realize the Saturn version has the proper Testarossa in it, and the 3DS version has a close aproximation of that car, but the 3D effect, and the 60 fps frame rate combined with all those unlockable extras makes me come back to the 3DS version even more so than playing it on my Saturn (Japanese version, also with 60 fps, but you have to unlock it) Thanks for sharing, thumbs up!

[@crodo123]

can't wait for next year when we get those 2019 spaceship looking cars

[@TheGreatestPlayerInTheWorld]

My favourite arcade game of all time😍😍😍 🚘

[@doranselwyn8608]

The DOS version sounded a lot better on the Tandy 1000 because of the Tandy sound card.

[@andrewbutler9533]

I guess that spectrum screen shot with the big trucks was in Your Sinclair? I definitely remember that - what a con! Riddle me this Batman, if they could make a superb, fast arcade port of the quality of Chase HQ, then why couldn't they pull-off Out Run? Regrets of my childhood...

[@gallimead]

I had the C64 version, and even came with an audio casette, that had all 3 tracks, as the developers must of admitted the audio, may be sub par. On a different note, funland arcade in Southport had the huge cockpit original Outrun, for about a decade. Eventually, the mechanism for the side shifting, broke down, then the springs for the steering wheel. Quite a let down, for 30p a go!!. However, they made their money on that machine. Really liked the review, think I'll press that subscribe button. I might be dead in 30 years, that would make me 77.

[@Wagoo]

I found an Outrun 2 cab in Birmingham airport last week, awww yeah!

[@Hellwyck]

There's one in Bury @ Arcade Club, Eli Mill. £10 in, all games free play.

[@listerofsmeg884]

one of the first Arcade games i played. had the C64 version which wasn't bad and quite playable, with great rendition of two of the three music tracks. Another was 'Thunderblade', would love to see a retrospective on that sometime. I play Outrun occasionally now via the mini game available on Yakuza 0 (along with Space Harrier and a few others)

[@maxleon61702]

Dang, it's one of my Childhood Games.

[@augustwest5356]

great video as usual! I love showing my nephew's your videos. They are 19 and 17 years old and thoroughly convinced that an OLD game is COD Modern Warfare 2, and that each and every COD is the next greatest game of all time. I don't know why this bothers me, but it really does. I'm 34 and started my gaming life on a 2600. They are in their teens and started out with a super Nintendo, and have absolutely no respect for their roots. They don't even get nostalgic playing old SNES games. They consider those games to be nothing more than a time killer until COD arrived. I tried to explain Doom and its significance to the world of FPSs but again they don't care who invented what. They said it doesn't matter who came up with FPSs, COD would have done it eventually, and done it better. These kids have the nerve to wear shirts proclaiming things like "Uber Gamer" "Die Hard (back off filthy casuals)", and yes, they are that kind of nerds. Anyway, I got sick of trying to explain that the world doesn't revolve around COD, and just reccomended they watch some of your videos if they don't want to be called out as liars while wearing those dumb shirts. As it turns out, the older one did watch a few of your videos. He liked them and that led to a few other videos which led him to ask me about The Elder Scrolls games. After a short explanation I gave him a copy of Skyrim and what do you know? he liked it! It's his first non COD game in years and hopefully his new found curiosity will propel him and his brother out of the shit gutter that is rabid COD fanboy-ism. It's all thanks to your videos too! You sparked just enough interest to make him curious, and as far as I'm concerned, that's all it takes. Finally, now every family gathering or holiday party won't be spent playing COD. With any luck maybe, just maybe we can play something different. Anything at all... Thanks again man!

[@wildcard13294]

Only 12, started with a GameCube. Yet I get nostalgia from Genesis and Super Nintendo games. How the hell do I get nostalgia from playing them but your nephews who literally started with the SNES don't?

[@GraveUypo]

well i'm 32 and my 5 yo nephew appreciate the classics just as much as new games. i hope he stays this way when he grows up because i want to play age of empires, starcraft and diablo with him and those games are a bit too difficult for a 5 year old. and i want to be able to play games with him without boring my self to death from holding back too. ugh i hate it.

[@AaronShenghao]

9:14 This is my childhood, Outrun 2 SP arcade game (the version shown is the Xbox port of the same game)

[@outtheredude]

First saw it in the arcade, next to Salamander and Roadblasters. The graphics and sound of those machines were absolutely awesome next to what my 8-bit Amstrad CPC 464 could do. Later played the Game Gear and Game Boy Advance versions. Still like to play the Mame version every now and again on my XP machine (great for emulators). Still, 30 years?!? Wut? When did we get so old?

[@IronsWorks1990]

Outrun 2 on the original xbox is a masterpiece one of my all time favourites also had the online version on PS3 but got rid of that when I got my PS4. :(

[@adrianhowland4705]

I would've liked this three times if I could.

[@noiselabproject9659]

Outrun 2 in all it`s guises : Outrun 2 Arcade, Outrun 2006 Coast to Coast, Outrun 2 SE etc ................. one of, if not, the greatest, Arcade style Racer ever methinks

[@ThePCPitChannel]

My first experience was an arcade cabinet on the ferry to France!

[@retrogamer33]

My first memory of Outrun was on Commodore 64

[@retrogamer33]

Also I notice you have something to nit pick about with every version

[@WhatHoSnorkers]

Outrun 2019? Where's MY rocket-boosted red Italian sports car, eh? I've got a Red FIAT Panda, but it's not got a rocket on the back... Great vid as always!

[@jameskosusnik1102]

Aw FIAT or as we mechanics call them, Fix it again tony

[@SquareWaveHeaven]

5:40 schrodinger's junction - just a fuzzy probability wave until you pick a path :)

[@megachris1112]

I had a gba game that had this space harrier and after burner on it, it also had a sound test for the games as well.

[@EpicEmberOriginal]

"Unless, of course, we're all dead by then. Which is looking increasingly likely!" Well, this video aged well.

[@SodaGumX]

the more i see of the zx spectrum the more happy i am we did not get those slow computers over here. my dads work had a sega turbo and outrun arcade and at night he would set it in free play and leave me alone with them all night long.

[@thefurthestmanfromhome1148]

It was actually faster for 3D titles (wire frame 3D and Isometric 3D) than say the C64, but yeah, awful AY soundchip, colour clash, dead flesh keyboards 🤣

[@ratius1979]

My first experience of Outrun was a sit down cabinet in Courtown aracde in Co Wexford, Ireland around 1988. Used to go down there every single night to play it along with Sega Turbo (and later years Splatterhouse and Aliens). Think Outrun used to cost 50p a play!

[@yostoyou]

I had a blast playing Outrun 2 in an arcade last summer. I finished the entire run and got the top high-score... probably because no one ever plays it :S