3D Out Run (Nintendo 3DS) Review

3D Out Run makes a very strong first impression with the 3D slider all the way up. Like in 3D After Burner II, the 3D effect gives the 2D sprites a tactile quality that gives them a somewhat cut-out feel. The scaling effects that Yu Suzuki's team worked so hard to achieve gave the illusion of 3D graphics for what was actually a 2D game. Now, thanks to the new 3DS hardware, players can truly feel the volume. The effect not only looks great but it also does impact the gameplay as well, granting gamers with a greater sense of spatial awareness. The hills have a very defined geometry to them now and it almost feels like it is possible to peek over the two-dimensional land formation. 3D Out Run is made even better than its original arcade version since the original only ran 30 frames per second, but this 3DS port boasts a magnificent and liquid-fluid 60fps, truly giving even greater control when hitting those hard turns, as the scaling effects make the 2D assets zoom by, stuttering less than in the original arcade version. The difference is very noticeable, especially since the 30fps version is an unlockable feature - great for those who wish to play the game as it was in the '80s (barring the moving chair, of course).

The gameplay is the same as it has always been, and it should be noted that Out Run was never a game about racing other drivers, merely racing the clock. Yu Suzuki has even stated on numerous occasions that it is a "driving" game, not a "racing" one. The objective is very simple - drive from the beach and make it all the way to one of the five finish lines, all while managing speed via the high and low gear shifts. The gear shifting mechanics in 3D Out Run are pretty precise and mastery is essential if intending to make it across checkpoints. Managing the gear shifting is a fairly basic concept to manage but it does go a long way since the multiple paths to the finishing lines have varied enough terrain and layouts to keep repeated play-throughs interesting. A feature that is sorely missing, however, is a stage select feature. 3D After Burner II had this, so it is slightly disappointing and kind of tedious to have to always start at the beginning every time when wanting to try a specific stage here.

As great as 3D Out Run does play, it is lacking somewhat in the variety stakes. The game is very simple and it can be a little boring at times due to the relaxing nature of its premise. The music does slightly alleviate some of the monotony of the driving, thankfully, but there also just aren't enough musical tracks either. There is only so much mileage that can be squeezed out of driving with no real challenges other than the arbitrary timer ticking down. This was a game originally designed around the fact it was meant to be played in very short bursts so players could drop coins into it, so it does have a very limited long-term appeal for extended play-time.

As per usual with the SEGA 3D Fukkoku Archives, 3D Out Run comes with a lot of extra features to make this classic title a bit more interesting. There are some added little flourishes that can be activated to make it emulate some of the qualities that the original arcade cabinet had, such as a tilting screen or cabinet sound effects. A replay mode is added so players can record their play-time, which is still a generally uninteresting feature. There are also a few different cars to unlock, which come with their own stats, but it is just too bad that every game has to be played in a certain way due to the lack of a stage selection option. The music is just as fabulous as ever, though, with a few new additions added and, thankfully, there is a sound test mode to enjoy the tracks individually.