View source for Turbo Outrun

{{more citations needed|date=February 2010}}
{{Short description|1989 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Turbo OutRun
|image = Turbo Outrun cover.jpg
|alt = Turbo OutRun
|caption = Japanese arcade flyer
|developer = [[Sega AM2]]
|publisher = [[Sega]]{{vgrelease|EU|[[U.S. Gold]] (computers)}}
|designer = Satoshi Mifune
|composer = '''Arcade'''<br />[[Hiroshi Kawaguchi (composer)|Hiroshi Kawaguchi]]<br />Yasuhiro Takagi<br />'''Commodore 64'''<br />[[Jeroen Tel]]
|released = '''Arcade'''{{vgrelease|JP|February 1989|NA|1989|EU/UK|1989}}<br/>'''Amstrad CPC'''{{vgrelease|EU|1989}}<br/>'''Commodore 64'''{{vgrelease|EU|November 1989}}<br/>'''ZX Spectrum'''{{vgrelease|EU|1990}}<br/>'''Mega Drive'''{{vgrelease|JP|March 27, 1992}}{{vgrelease|EU|1992}}
|genre = [[Racing video game|Racing]]
|modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
|series = ''Out Run''
|platforms = [[Arcade game|Arcade]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Amiga]], [[ZX Spectrum]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[MS-DOS]], [[FM Towns]], [[Mega Drive]]
|arcade system = ''[[Out Run]]'' hardware
}}
'''''Turbo OutRun''''' ({{lang|ja|ターボアウトラン}}) is a 1989 [[arcade game|arcade]] [[racing game]] released by [[Sega]]. A follow-up to 1986's ''[[Out Run]]'', it was released as a dedicated game, as well as an upgrade kit for the original ''Out Run'' [[printed circuit board|board]].

Like its predecessor, ''Turbo OutRun'' has players driving a Ferrari, this time a [[Ferrari F40]]. Players traverse a set route across the continental United States from New York City to Los Angeles. In addition to a time limit, ''Turbo OutRun'' also adds a computer-controlled opponent driving a [[Porsche 959]]. The "Turbo" in the title plays a factor as players can press a button to receive a brief turbo boost of speed. Various [[power-up]]s which increase the vehicle's attributes can be chosen at various stages of the game.

[[Porting|Ports]] of ''Turbo OutRun'' were released for home computers as well as Sega's own [[Mega Drive]].

==Gameplay==
In ''Turbo OutRun'' the player controls a male driver sitting alongside his girlfriend in a [[Ferrari F40]], racing against the clock and a computer-controlled opponent in a silver [[Porsche 959]] in a race across the United States. The goal is to reach Los Angeles from the starting point of New York City. Unlike the original ''Out Run'', there are no branch roads to choose from. Instead, there is only one path that can be taken to reach the goal.

The player can increase speed by using [[Turbocharger|turbo]] boost by pressing a button on the side of the console-mounted shifter; the engine temperature will increase in kind on the on-screen [[Dashboard#Dashboard items|gauge]]. When the gauge reaches "OVERHEAT!" turbo boost cannot be used until the temperature decreases.

Police cars occasionally appear that try to stop the player. They have to either be outrun by using the turbo boost or destroyed by the player by ramming them off-road and into an object on the side of the road.

''Turbo OutRun'' offers the player a choice between [[automatic transmission]] or two-speed [[manual transmission]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lemon64.com/review/turbo-out-run/756 |title=C64 Review: ''Turbo Out Run'' (1989, US Gold) |work=Lemon64 |access-date=24 April 2025 <!-- ref revisited and fixed 24 April 2025; origin access date listed as 16 January 2016 -->}}</ref>

At every sub-goal (reached after passing through about four cities), an upgrade can be chosen, the three being: Hi-Power Engine, Special Turbo, and Super Grip Tires. If the CPU opponent reaches the sub-goal before the player, at the next race, the driver's girlfriend will move to the opponent's car. He can still win the girl back if he beats the CPU opponent to the next sub-goal. If the player beats the opponent with the girl in hand, a 1,000,000 point bonus is given. Also, the girl kisses the driver in front of his CPU opponent. If the player reaches the final checkpoint, in the process, the player will pass the CPU opponent and the ending scene is played.

It was available in a stand-up cabinet, and a sit-down cabinet with decals giving it an appearance of a [[Ferrari F40]], the car featured in the game. There were also conversion kits available to convert original ''Out Run'' machines to ''Turbo OutRun''.

Computer ports of the game were received with varying degrees of enthusiasm. While the [[Commodore 64]] version was widely seen as a good game, the 16-bit conversions got very negative reviews.

==Music==
The game's background music plays in a predetermined order, depending on region.

In the 1993 [[arcade game]] ''[[Daytona USA (arcade game)|Daytona USA]]'', a song from ''Turbo OutRun'' can be played on the name entry screen by entering the initials TOR. The result is the opening couple of bars of "Rush A Difficulty".

=== Commodore 64 soundtrack ===
The Commodore 64 home version soundtrack, composed and arranged by [[Jeroen Tel]], was well received. The soundtrack won the "Best music on 8-bit computer 1989" award on [[European Computer Trade Show]]. The title track is a remix of "Magical Sound Shower" from ''Out Run'', featuring sound samples from Jeroen Tel himself; due to sampling quality, he was actually saying "One, two, ''tree''... hit it, Out Run" while recording, instead of "three", to avoid it sounding like "free".<ref>{{cite web|last=Brock-Nannestad|first=Laust|title=SID Tune Information List v44|date=2006-01-18|url=http://www.stil.c64.org/|accessdate=2006-07-31|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012074655/http://www.stil.c64.org/|archive-date=2008-10-12}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| CRASH = 79% (Spectrum)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wos.meulie.net/pub/sinclair/magazines/Crash/Issue73/Pages/Crash7300040.jpg |title=Archive – Magazine viewer |publisher=World of Spectrum |accessdate=2012-08-06}}</ref>
| CVG = 93% (C64)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/cvg-magazine-097/CVG_097_Dec_1989#page/n55/mode/2up|title=CVG Magazine Issue 097|date=December 1989}}</ref>
| SUser = 78% (Spectrum)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wos.meulie.net/pub/sinclair/magazines/SinclairUser/Issue094/Pages/SinclairUser09400009.jpg |title=Archive – Magazine viewer |publisher=World of Spectrum |accessdate=2012-08-06}}</ref>
| YSinclair = 70% (Spectrum)<ref name="ysrnry1">{{cite web |url=http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/turbooutrun.htm |title=Turbo OutRun |publisher=Ysrnry.co.uk |accessdate=2012-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427115339/http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/turbooutrun.htm |archive-date=2012-04-27}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[Commodore User]]''
| rev1Score = 8/10 (Arcade)<ref name=cu-arcade>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/commodore-user-magazine-68/Commodore_User_Issue_68_1989_May#page/n95/mode/2up|title = Commodore User Magazine Issue 68|date = May 1989}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Zzap!64]]''
| rev2Score = 97% (C64)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/zzap100/100thspec5.html |title=Zzap!64 100th Issue Pull-Out Special Page 5 |publisher=Zzap64.co.uk |accessdate=2012-08-06}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Mega (magazine)|Mega]]''
| rev3Score = 53% (Mega&nbsp;Drive)<ref>Mega rating, issue 9, page 23, [[Future Publishing]], June 1993</ref>
| rev4 = ''Mean Machines''
| rev4Score = 42% (Mega&nbsp;Drive)<ref name="Mean Machines 1992, pp. 78-9">''Mean Machines'', Issue 18, March 1992, pp. 78-9</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[MegaTech]]''
| rev5Score = 41% (Mega&nbsp;Drive)<ref>MegaTech rating, [[EMAP]], issue 5, page 79, May 1992</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[ACE (games magazine)|ACE]]''
| rev6Score = 601/1000 (Amiga/ST)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wos.meulie.net/pub/sinclair/magazines/ACE/Issue28/Pages/ACE2800065.jpg |title=Archive – Magazine viewer |publisher=World of Spectrum |accessdate=2012-08-06}}</ref>
| award1Pub = ''Zzap!64''
| award1 = Gold Medal
}}

In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed ''Turbo OutRun'' on their March 15, 1989 issue as being the third most-successful upright/cockpit arcade unit of the month.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - アップライト, コックピット型TVゲーム機 (Upright/Cockpit Videos)|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=352|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=15 March 1989|page=21|lang=ja}}</ref> In North America, by August 1989, the arcade game had reached number two on the ''[[Play Meter]]'' video game charts and number six on the ''RePlay'' upright cabinet charts.<ref name="VT">{{cite magazine |title=Pedal To The Metal: Sega Set To Speed, Swing, Sidekick Into The 1990s With New Fall Line |magazine=[[Vending Times]] |date=August 1989 |volume=29 |issue=10 |pages=52–5 |url=https://archive.org/details/VendingTimesVOL29NO10August1989Clearscan/page/n47}}</ref>

''Turbo OutRun'' received positive to mixed reviews, depending on the version. The arcade and Commodore 64 versions were well received. ''[[Commodore User]]'' reviewed the arcade version and scored it 8 out of 10.<ref name=cu-arcade/> The C64 version was awarded 93% from ''[[C+VG]]'' and 97% in ''[[Zzap!64]]''.<ref>See box art for the C64 conversion.</ref> The Spectrum version of the game received 70% from ''[[Your Sinclair]]'', 78% from ''[[Sinclair User]]'' and 79% from ''[[Crash (magazine)|Crash]]''.<ref name="ysrnry1"/>

''Mean Machines'' dismissed the Mega Drive version with an overall rating of 42%. The only aspect of the game to receive genuine praise was the high-scores screen design. The review pointed to "hopeless, mega-jerky 3-D graphics, juddery scrolling, dreadful tunes, naff sound effects, and badly drawn sprites", and concluded it to be a "clapped out [[Reliant Robin|Robin Reliant]] of a race game".<ref name="Mean Machines 1992, pp. 78-9">''Mean Machines'', Issue 18, March 1992, pp. 78-9</ref>  ''[[Mega (magazine)|Mega]]'' placed the Mega Drive version at #3 in their list of the 10 Worst Mega Drive Games of All Time.<ref>Mega magazine issue 1, page 85, [[Future Publishing]], Oct 1992</ref>
{{clear}}

==See also==
* ''[[Rad Mobile]]''

==References==

<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/review/288/turbo-outrun.php ''Turbo OutRun'' review at Mean Machines Mag] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519184646/http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/review/288/turbo-outrun.php|date=2019-05-19}}

{{OutRun series}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Turbo Outrun}}
[[Category:1989 video games]]
[[Category:Amiga games]]
[[Category:Amstrad CPC games]]
[[Category:Arcade video games]]
[[Category:Atari ST games]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:FM Towns games]]
[[Category:ICE Software games]]
[[Category:OutRun]]
[[Category:Racing video games]]
[[Category:Sega arcade games]]
[[Category:Sega Genesis games]]
[[Category:Sega-AM2 games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:U.S. Gold games]]
[[Category:Video games designed by Yu Suzuki]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Hiroshi Kawaguchi]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Jeroen Tel]]
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