Outrun 2006 - Great driving game or GREATEST driving game?

[edmonddantes]

So recently, I pulled out my PS2 and got back into the world of arcade-to-console ports, which eventually led me to the awesomeness of Outrun 2006: Coast to Coast.

I don't know if I could call it a "racing" game, because you don't really race anything except the timer--you just drive, sometimes into ghosts or around meteors or repeatedly into giant beach balls, but you drive.  What makes Outrun 2006 a favorite of mine is it feels like a game where both you and the in-game characters are doing it for no other reason than because they want to.  They live in a crazy world and have such a "Oh god this is awesome!" reaction to everything (seriously, your girl sees freaking ghosts and says "hey, try to run them over!") that it makes it the ultimate relaxation game.  You don't play Outrun 2006 to master it, you play it to remember life is worth living.

So now I have a question.

Like I said, I have the Playstation 2 port.  But I recently got a Windows XP PC which seems to mostly meet the requirements for the PC version of Outrun 2006.

Like, what are the most notable improvements the PC version offers over the PS2 one?

I'm mostly looking for answers that don't involve fan-made mods, however I am wondering if there are any must-play mods that make major changes to the game (like custom tracks or new game modes or something)?

Thanks in advance.

[vnisanian2001]

It's got a gorgeous rendition of Splash Wave.

[cj iwakura]

Maximum Tune(Wangan Midnight) also has a very similar vibe, with an equally ridiculous story mode, but it being arcade only has doomed it to a very specific niche(who mostly just care about ghost times and tricking out their rides).

Also has one of the best OSTs ever made, too(Yuzo Koshiro, you've probably heard of him).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9jQCrrU1JI

[toei]

Nov 22, 2018 11:13:10 GMT -5 cj iwakura said:

Maximum Tune(Wangan Midnight) also has a very similar vibe, with an equally ridiculous story mode, but it being arcade only has doomed it to a very specific niche(who mostly just care about ghost times and tricking out their rides).

Also has one of the best OSTs ever made, too(Yuzo Koshiro, you've probably heard of him).

www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9jQCrrU1JI

This is hard, thanks for sharing. Somehow I had missed out on this entire period of Koshiro's career (honestly I don't know anything about arcade racers after Sega Rally or so).

This is nice too.

[Bumpyroad]

Sorry Yuzo, i like Fluke's bit a bit better.


   

[ZenithianHero]

I wish they get remasters but because of licensing Sega may not want to bother with it. At least the original is still getting rereleases. Maybe editing the cars again will future-proof the series some more.
I think Sega makes the best racing games period. Sega Rally, Daytona USA, Outrun, Crazy Taxi, F-Zero GX. I even like the more cult ones like Sonic Riders.

[Murphy]

The original PC version is missing some graphical effects because the developer put a file in wrong folder. This can be easily fixed by following this instruction.

I also recommend installing OutRun 2 FXT mod which adds many good features.

[jorpho]

How's this 80's Overdrive thing for 3DS?

I see there's also an engine rewrite of the original Outrun.

[zaphie]

Another peculiar thing is that the Japanese version of the Xbox port has more levels than the EU/US release, the chihiro arcade version will probably be playable in Cxbx in a near future also www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp27Mwq1rjY

[edmonddantes]

Was there ever an arcade-perfect home port of Outrunners? I feel like most of the rest of the Outrun franchise has been well served on home media (I don't really care much about Turbo Outrun) but Outrunners as far as I know only got a crappy Genesis port which doesn't do the game justice.

I'm debating which version of the original Outrun to get... leaning towards Saturn (note: I do not have a 3DS), but older Outruns are games you have to get good at.. Outrun 2006 is something you can play just for kicks.

Just unlocked the most expensive car in Outrun 2006, the Enzo Ferrari ("Outrun" Class), which... seems like it totally breaks the game whenever you have to race rivals. So far though, I've found it makes some Heart Attack requests a lot harder ("Don't Crash" and "Cut the Line" keep giving me issues, as well as any where you have to dodge something).

... also, my favorite songs are the ones which have vocals, which I've been told is an uncommon opinion.

[Bumpyroad]

Nice picks cj and toei, i'll go with this.

(Sorry edmond, i'm taking a side turn, i should be right back on track)