Turbo Outrun for the Mega Drive...good or crap?...

[dave4shmups]

This game is pretty cheap on Ebay, but I've watched some stuff on Youtube to the effect that this is a really bad port of the arcade game.

[Strider77]

crap

[Smraedis]

Yeah it is pretty much a bad port.. I played it some before Outrunners got emulated.

[gameoverDude]

I didn't care for it either. CRI (who raped Galaxy Force II and Strike Fighter/After Burner III when porting to MD) did it, and it was not a 8 Meg cartridge like the MD port of original Out Run. What were they thinking going with only 4 Meg?

The FM Towns version is still a little choppy, but not like this.

[neorichieb1971]

I don't rate the MD for any racing game. Even Super hang on felt like it was going backwards.

[gameoverDude]

I don't rate the MD for any racing game. Even Super hang on felt like it was going backwards.

I thought MD Super Hang-on was slow and choppy. The arcade game does feel like you're going 278-324 Km/H, but the MD one doesn't quite capture that speed. That's inexcusable when After Burner II turned out so well - Dempa may well have had better programmers than Sega (and IMO, Sega should've given these guys the job). Sega concentrated a bit too much on graphics for this one. I'd rather have had smaller sprites and faster game play. It's slow even if you compare it to SMS/Mark III Hang-on.

Super Monaco GP on the MD lacks the challenge of the arcade as well. Pretty much all the roadside scenery got cut out, leaving it looking bland. There's a game that should probably have been saved for Mega-CD. I think Sega probably may have given up on even attempting a 16-bit Power Drift - I'm sure a MD version would still be far off from the arcade, but if the C64 can do a fast and playable version - why not?

[Ed Oscuro]

Let's go play some sprite scaling games on the Mega Drive. Surely that won't end in tears, disappointment, and heartbreak, now will it?

FM Towns might be able to pull this one off, not the MD.

[BrianC]

I thought MD Super Hang-on was slow and choppy. The arcade game does feel like you're going 278-324 Km/H, but the MD one doesn't quite capture that speed.

Despite the choppiness, I prefer it over the GBA version. It's not the same as the arcade, but it at least is challenging, keeps the tracks mostly intact, and has some nice extra stuff. The GBA one has more speed, but translated the tracks and high scores incorrectly. I hope a closer version comes along soon, though.

Are you in EU? Super Hang-on is slow and choppy even in NTSC, but I heard SEGA has been lousy with PAL conversions for early EU MD games (and even some SMS games, including a few first party games that didn't make it to the US) and I wouldn't be surprised if the slowness was especially bad in PAL mode.

Super Monaco GP on the MD lacks the challenge of the arcade as well. Pretty much all the roadside scenery got cut out, leaving it looking bland. There's a game that should probably have been saved for Mega-CD.

That one at least has some original features for the Genesis. Turbo Outrun, on the other hand, doesn't seem to have any merits at all. Was it really CRI that did the port? Tiertex's website suggests that they were involved with the port.

[Ed Oscuro]

Just to stir the pot, CRI did the FM Towns conversion of Galaxy Force II - seems pretty ugly to me, though I need to check it out again on real hardware. It's windowed and odd-looking though.

[BrianC]

Just to stir the pot, CRI did the FM Towns conversion of Galaxy Force II - seems pretty ugly to me, though I need to check it out again on real hardware. It's windowed and odd-looking though.

It seems CRI did the FM Towns Turbo Outrun, as well, telling from the video I saw of it. Looks better than the MD one, but it's also windowed and odd-looking.

[Ed Oscuro]

Now I wonder who did the port of Chase H.Q. (or Special Criminal Investigation - at least one is on that system). Logic would suggest the same developer did Volfied.

I suddenly had an epiphany and looked up CRI, and found this which seems to suggest that CRI wouldn't have been porting Taito games to the FM Towns. Namco, Data East, and Sammy (I think it is, folks behind Viewpoint) are at least a few original developers behind Ving- / Xing-ported games (not all on the FM Towns; Data East's Wolf Fang was on the PSX and maybe Saturn).

[dave4shmups]

Now I wonder who did the port of Chase H.Q. (or Special Criminal Investigation - at least one is on that system). Logic would suggest the same developer did Volfied.

I suddenly had an epiphany and looked up CRI, and found this which seems to suggest that CRI wouldn't have been porting Taito games to the FM Towns. Namco, Data East, and Sammy (I think it is, folks behind Viewpoint) are at least a few original developers behind Ving- / Xing-ported games (not all on the FM Towns; Data East's Wolf Fang was on the PSX and maybe Saturn).

Who the heck's CRI? For the record, I love Super Hang-On on the Genesis and Outrun. Speaking of Chase H.Q., the TG-16 port of that game is on the Virtual Console, but is it a good port? I've played Super Chase H.Q., but I don't like the cockpit view as much as the behind-the-car view that you get in other ports.

[RegalSin]

I am not going to question who made this game. But Turbo Outrun is more of a game for somebody who, wants to play more outrun, but does not want to play another clone of the original game. Basically you are soooo bored, that you could play anything, and slap the outrun tag on it.

What turns me off is the flashy colors. It is like a wanna be street illeagal racer. Yes there are many racing games that could top this, but if you an outrun fan, and did your homework, then buy this game. Also the game is "cheap" you said, and therefore give you the advantage, in your terms of cheapness.

However one thing, I am sure of, is the New downloadable Outrun is going to be another clone. Considering the massive amounts of 3d racer games out there to play. Again considering the majority of racer games in in 3d even on 2d systems.

[louisg]

Let's go play some sprite scaling games on the Mega Drive. Surely that won't end in tears, disappointment, and heartbreak, now will it?

I thought OutRun was pulled off very well, aside from being just too easy. It moved along at a good rate, and was pretty close to the arcade version. And unlike Super Hangon, it was actually responsive. Then there's Roadblasters, which is a mostly excellent port. Graphically, it's very close to the arcade version. Finally, Junkers High isn't a bad game, has a decent enough framerate, and does some interesting things like two roads at differing heights..

[Ed Oscuro]

Let's go play some sprite scaling games on the Mega Drive. Surely that won't end in tears, disappointment, and heartbreak, now will it?

I thought OutRun was pulled off very well, aside from being just too easy. It moved along at a good rate, and was pretty close to the arcade version. And unlike Super Hangon, it was actually responsive. Then there's Roadblasters, which is a mostly excellent port. Graphically, it's very close to the arcade version. Finally, Junkers High isn't a bad game, has a decent enough framerate, and does some interesting things like two roads at differing heights..

Thanks for those recommendations, I'll check all of them out. Mainly it's having seen how shameless Sega was at putting out various things named "GALAXY FORCE II" for every format they produced (including Master System) and the bad rap Space Harrier II gets for being slow. But on top of that, anyway, it's just not the most powerful console. Even with extra processing power, Night Striker on the Sega CD isn't much to write home about, compared with the arcade original.

[gameoverDude]

Turbo Outrun, on the other hand, doesn't seem to have any merits at all. Was it really CRI that did the port? Tiertex's website suggests that they were involved with the port.

I might be wrong about CRI on this one. If it was ported by Tiertex, then no wonder it stinks. Many of their other arcade ports got mangled in not only graphics but also the game play. Look them up on Lemon Amiga (lemonamiga.com) to find a lot of clusterfucks. Search for Strider and then click the Tiertex link in that game profile.

While Amiga, ST, and PC owners got a really ugly version of Strider ("Beuaarrrkk !!!!!!!" is how one of the lemonamiga readers puts it), Japan got an arcade-perfect one thanks to X68000. Unfortunately, an X68000 probably sold for more than a JAMMA cabinet kitted with a Strider PCB. Not until the PS release of Strider 1 & 2 would we have it this good.

Too bad there's no Sega Ages Out Run Complete Collection.

[BrianC]

While Amiga, ST, and PC owners got a really ugly version of Strider ("Beuaarrrkk !!!!!!!" is how one of the lemonamiga readers puts it), Japan got an arcade-perfect one thanks to X68000. Unfortunately, an X68000 probably sold for more than a JAMMA cabinet kitted with a Strider PCB. Not until the PS release of Strider 1 & 2 would we have it this good.

At least we got the MD/Genesis version, which is a nice port. Don't forget the SMS one. It was also done by Tiertex and turned out just as bad (or worse) as their other versions.

Too bad there's no Sega Ages Out Run Complete Collection.

yeah. That would be cool. It would be neat if it included Power Drift as a bonus, as well. There's a lot of ground to cover with console exclusives too, though I wouldn't mind if the third party designed and published Outrun Europa was excluded. A SEGA arcade driving collection with the arcade versions of Rad Mobile, Turbo, Monaco GP, Super Monaco GP, Hang On, Super Hang On, Power Drift, Virtua Racing, Outrun, Outrunners, Turbo Outrun, and GP Rider would also be cool.

I hope the M2 done SEGA Ages collections come to the west in some form. I'm getting tired of Digital Eclipse doing all of the western collections.

[dave4shmups]

While Amiga, ST, and PC owners got a really ugly version of Strider ("Beuaarrrkk !!!!!!!" is how one of the lemonamiga readers puts it), Japan got an arcade-perfect one thanks to X68000. Unfortunately, an X68000 probably sold for more than a JAMMA cabinet kitted with a Strider PCB. Not until the PS release of Strider 1 & 2 would we have it this good.

At least we got the MD/Genesis version, which is a nice port. Don't forget the SMS one. It was also done by Tiertex and turned out just as bad (or worse) as their other versions.

Too bad there's no Sega Ages Out Run Complete Collection.

yeah. That would be cool. It would be neat if it included Power Drift as a bonus, as well. There's a lot of ground to cover with console exclusives too, though I wouldn't mind if the third party designed and published Outrun Europa was excluded. A SEGA arcade driving collection with the arcade versions of Rad Mobile, Turbo, Monaco GP, Super Monaco GP, Hang On, Super Hang On, Power Drift, Virtua Racing, Outrun, Outrunners, Turbo Outrun, and GP Rider would also be cool.

I hope the M2 done SEGA Ages collections come to the west in some form. I'm getting tired of Digital Eclipse doing all of the western collections.

Agreed, that would be very cool. Turbo, in particular, only got a home port on the Colecovision-it didn't even get an SG-1000 release. Galaxy Force II is flat out amazing on the Master System. IMO, the problem with the Genesis port is that the ship is way too sluggish and slow-the same problem with Super Thunder Blade. (If you've ever seen Thunder Blade on the PC Engine it makes you wonder why the programmers of Super Thunder Blade didn't do a much better port.)

As far as sprite rotation is concerned, check out Batman Returns on the Sega CD. It's no F-Zero, but it is pretty sweet

[Domino]

Who the heck's CRI? For the record, I love Super Hang-On on the Genesis and Outrun. Speaking of Chase H.Q., the TG-16 port of that game is on the Virtual Console, but is it a good port? I've played Super Chase H.Q., but I don't like the cockpit view as much as the behind-the-car view that you get in other ports.

The former VG branch of CRK, the owners of Sega from 1984-2004.

And besides you got MAME, the hell you are still playing shitty ports? Get on the program man.

[gameoverDude]

At least we got the MD/Genesis version, which is a nice port. Don't forget the SMS one. It was also done by Tiertex and turned out just as bad (or worse) as their other versions.

Too bad there's no Sega Ages Out Run Complete Collection.

yeah. That would be cool. It would be neat if it included Power Drift as a bonus, as well. There's a lot of ground to cover with console exclusives too, though I wouldn't mind if the third party designed and published Outrun Europa was excluded. A SEGA arcade driving collection with the arcade versions of Rad Mobile, Turbo, Monaco GP, Super Monaco GP, Hang On, Super Hang On, Power Drift, Virtua Racing, Outrun, Outrunners, Turbo Outrun, and GP Rider would also be cool.

I hope the M2 done SEGA Ages collections come to the west in some form. I'm getting tired of Digital Eclipse doing all of the western collections.

Digital Eclipse is actually Backbone, just using the DE brand name for emulated titles. DE is not nearly as good as M2. Sega of Japan needs to start putting some collections of their own out on the 360/PS3. If they do, I'm buying them before any US made ones.

Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection doesn't have a JP release, oddly. It does have some arcade titles, but there's that lame unlocking bullshit to get them.

Out Run Europa doesn't really look so good.

The slow ship speeds in Genesis GFII & STB really hurt sometimes. Some life-saving moves you can pull off on the arcade are about impossible here.

[Ed Oscuro]

A note on Turbo - the hell, I got 10K+ my very first play, but could only touch 7K after that. Game is quite odd to play.

[BrianC]

Digital Eclipse is actually Backbone, just using the DE brand name for emulated titles.

Doh, I forgot that they have been pretty much rolled into Backbone now, but they used to just be Digital Eclipse, so I was used to calling them by that name. Anyway, I think they started getting more slipshod in the later PSX and GBC days. First few collections were really good, but then (I think after Jeff Frolein (sp?) joined) their stuff got more hit or miss with more and more collections that end up with botched ports/emulations of some games.

[gameoverDude]

A note on Turbo - the hell, I got 10K+ my very first play, but could only touch 7K after that. Game is quite odd to play.

I found a Turbo sitdown cab at an arcade at the Cedar Point amusement park. I did about 18-19K on it. For some reason, they have it set to take 2 quarters (you'd think a 25+ year old game would be set to 25c).

The squealing tires sound is rather annoying IMO- the snow stage would be my least favorite, because that's where you hear it a lot. One thing I like on it is the variety of environments- going over a bridge, through forests and cities, etc. Turbo's not bad at all for an earlier Sega racer. I wouldn't mind seeing a 3D remake of this as long as it is done well.

Doh, I forgot that they have been pretty much rolled into Backbone now, but they used to just be Digital Eclipse, so I was used to calling them by that name. Anyway, I think they started getting more slipshod in the later PSX and GBC days. First few collections were really good, but then (I think after Jeff Frolein (sp?) joined) their stuff got more hit or miss with more and more collections that end up with botched ports/emulations of some games.

It sucks how their 360 XBLA emulated games don't have a fake scanline/RGB option, or at least a mock 240p mode. On one of their PS1 compilations, I was playing Road Blasters and some Marble Madness music started playing during the game. Weird. BTW, PS1 Road Blasters is actually a port since PS1 isn't quite powerful enough to emulate it.

[BrianC]

On one of their PS1 compilations, I was playing Road Blasters and some Marble Madness music started playing during the game. Weird. BTW, PS1 Road Blasters is actually a port since PS1 isn't quite powerful enough to emulate it.

yeah. I have that one. I don't think I got that glitch, but I wasn't too impressed with the Roadblasters port (seemed a bit slow). I found the Genesis port to be excellent, though the lack of voices is disappointing.

[Ed Oscuro]

A note on Turbo - the hell, I got 10K+ my very first play, but could only touch 7K after that. Game is quite odd to play.

I found a Turbo sitdown cab at an arcade at the Cedar Point amusement park. I did about 18-19K on it. For some reason, they have it set to take 2 quarters (you'd think a 25+ year old game would be set to 25c).

The squealing tires sound is rather annoying IMO- the snow stage would be my least favorite, because that's where you hear it a lot. One thing I like on it is the variety of environments- going over a bridge, through forests and cities, etc. Turbo's not bad at all for an earlier Sega racer. I wouldn't mind seeing a 3D remake of this as long as it is done well.

Thanks for mentioning that again, I really wanted to discuss that game.

It seems to me that you have to go fullspeed the whole time to get the most points...but that leads to crashes. Repeatedly activating and deactivating the turbo doesn't seem to help the score though (or my positioning, really).

[dave4shmups]

Speaking of racing games, how's Apex for the XBOX? Worth picking up?

[FRO]

Outrun 2019 is worth a go, however. I suck at racing games (like, REALLY suck), but that one is actually pretty fun. Very basic, almost in a Rad Racers kinda way, but that's why I like it. No-frills basic driving, but in the future

[D]

I've got alot of love for sprite scaling games too.
What about Outrun online for the ps3. Were the bugs ever fixed?
THE HK version, does that have bugs fixed?
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... type=&aq=f
Or is that bug only on 360? In that case I can get it, yet I have outrun2sp which has more of everything but souped up graphics and online.

Another vote for new Sega Ages Collections. There are awesome!
PS2 Sega Ages Outrun however does not work with any steering wheel. May they burn in hell.

[louisg]

Another vote for new Sega Ages Collections. There are awesome!
Sega Ages Outrun however does not work with any steering wheel. May they burn in hell.

The Saturn one does, and it works great!

Oh, Ed, I remembered a couple Genesis racing games which pull off the effect nicely: F-1 by Domark has amazing graphics and a high, consistent framerate. It's a sequel/remake of Vroom from the Amiga/ST. It has what look like geometrically accurate hills, filled polygons (which don't change angle, but still), and some other cool effects. The US version of F-1 kind of sucks because you can't save though. Kawasaki also runs off that same engine I think, but I don't remember if the game is any good.

[dave4shmups]

Outrun 2019 is worth a go, however. I suck at racing games (like, REALLY suck), but that one is actually pretty fun. Very basic, almost in a Rad Racers kinda way, but that's why I like it. No-frills basic driving, but in the future

Ahh, I forgot about that one, it's great on the Genesis! I'm not that great at racing games, which is why I use all the assists, and is also why I get addicted to the driving line in games like Forza. About 2 years ago I was at Circuit City and I played Formula One Championship Edition on a PS3 retail interactive unit and I loved it! I found it to be very accessible. I also enjoyed Ridge Racer 7; I loved drifting to built up my nitrous-despite the fact that the game is really chatty.

FRO, have you played Outrun 2002? That is my favorite XBOX racer, and one of my favorite racers of all time.