OutRun (ZXS)

OutRun

Platform: ZX Spectrum Year: 1987 Developer: Sega Enterprises, Ltd., Probe Software Ltd.

For other games in the series, see OutRun.

OutRun is a third-person driving game where you drive a Ferrari Testarossa down various roads in a race against time. As you reach the end of a road, you come to a fork where you can merge left for an easier road or right for a harder road. You must avoid other cars on the road and the numerous buildings and structures on the sides of the road. Crashing slows you down and wastes precious time. You can adjust the car's speed by moving between high and low gear.

Like with all ZX Spectrum conversions, OutRun suffered greatly in the graphics department, and most of what made the arcade game so revolutionary was lost. Still, the game is quite playable.

Screenshots

The title graphic. Setting up the game. Driving along the road. Made it to the first checkpoint. Don't smash into trucks! The high score list.

Music

VGMPF Album Art

The game's music was originally composed by Hiroshi Kawaguchi, and arranged for the Spectrum possibly by Jason Brooke, though this has yet to be confirmed. The arcade version of OutRun allows you to choose your radio station music among three tracks, but the Spectrum 128K only has two tracks, and they alternate as you pass checkpoints. On the Spectrum 48K, only one track plays over the main menu.

In the original game, Last Wave is heard during the high score list and a jazzy tune plays along with the roar of waves, but the Spectrum removed the tune and plays only the waves. Since it's just white noise, the "song" is not included.

The game sold on cassette and diskette; the cassette version featured an analog recording of the original arcade songs Magical Sound Shower, Splash Wave, and Passing Breeze. After the game finished loading into memory, you could play the cassette like an ordinary audio tape and listen to the arcade music instead of the game's digital soundtrack.

If you have a Spectrum 128, you'll hear music through the AY-3-8912, but if you have an earlier Spectrum, the music will be played on the PC Speaker. Currently, only the higher quality audio has been recorded.

Recording

This recording is incomplete.

#	Title	Composer	Arranger	Length	Listen	Download
101	Magical Sound Shower	Hiroshi Kawaguchi	Unknown	6:34		Download
102	Splash Wave	Hiroshi Kawaguchi	Unknown	4:03		Download

#	Title	Composer	Arranger	Length	Listen	Download
201	Magical Sound Shower	Hiroshi Kawaguchi	Unknown	0:00	-	Download

(Source: OutRun (ARC))

Credits

• Ripper: Unknown
• Recorder: TheAlmightyGuru
• Game Credits:
  • Not Credited Composer: Hiroshi Kawaguchi
  • Not Credited Arranger: Unknown
  • Not Credited Foley Artist: Unknown
  • Not Credited Programmer: Jason Brooke

(Source: OutRun (ARC), game lacks credits.)

Game Rip

Format	Download
	Download (Info)

Ripping Spectrum music is a complicated process that it beyond the scope of this site. The music was recorded with Game Emu Player v1.79.

Audio Devices

OutRun checks for an AY-3-8912 chip or compatible (using I/O port B) at ports FFFD_hex and BFFD_hex. On the ZX Spectrum 128, it accordingly uses the built-in AY-3-8912 (and redundant Fuller Box and 3-Channel Sound Unit if plugged into the edge connector). Other Spectrum computers use the built-in loudspeaker. The cassette release included an analog audio recording of the actual arcade music that could be played during the game instead of its built-in music.

Releases

UK Title: OutRun Platform: ZX Spectrum Released: 1987-??-?? Publisher: U.S. Gold Ltd.     France Title: OutRun Platform: ZX Spectrum Released: 1987-??-?? Publisher: U.S. Gold Ltd.     Spain Title: OutRun Platform: ZX Spectrum Released: 19??-??-?? Publisher: U.S. Gold Ltd., Erbe Software, S.A.

Links

• mobygames.com/game/zx-spectrum/outrun - MobyGames.
• spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3563/ZX-Spectrum/Out_Run - Spectrum Computing.
• gamefaqs.com/sinclair/947748-outrun - GameFAQs.
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out_Run - Wikipedia.

View OutRun
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OutRun 2019
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SEGA AGES 2500 Vol.13: OutRun
OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast	•  •  •
OutRun Online Arcade	•
Notable Songs	Magical Sound Shower • Passing Breeze • Splash Wave • Last Wave
Notable Personnel	Hiroshi Kawaguchi
Notable Companies	Sega