DesertEagleXIX
05-04-2009, 12:35 AM
One year ago, Sega was just another third party-developer that released a steady stream of tawdry licensed games and half-hearted arcade recreations. After playing through Iron Man, The Golden Compass, the Alien Syndrome remake and the Xbox Arcade release of Golden Axe, I was about to lose hope with the once celebrated developer/publisher. Amazingly, the last few months have seen a number of brilliant releases- from the artful depravity of MadWorld and House of the Dead: Overkill, to the thoughtful tactics employed in Valkyria Chronicles. Not since the ephemeral glory days of the Dreamcast, have I been so excited by the company.
Recently, Sega released two titles for the Xbox Live Arcade- OutRun Online Arcade and Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram. Past remakes of our beloved Sega games have often left us bewildered, from the lackluster Golden Axe: Beast Rider to the superfluous enhancements in Sega Classics Collection. Fortunately, the restoration and enhancement of OutRun and Virtual On have been given the required amount of loving care that should please veterans of the originals titles, as well as earn some new fans.
Outrun Online Arcade for the Xbox 360. Developer: Sega/Sumo, Publisher: Sega
During the late 1980’s the original OutRun was an arcade staple. For a few years, it seemed that nearly every token-trafficking establishment had at least one of the coin-operated cabinets. Yu Suzuki’s racer incorporated a number of signature elements- players could choose the game’s driving route and soundtrack, while the steering wheel would vibrate violently when the player came into contact with the track’s fringes. Most notable was the game’s reliance on drifting; players would slide wildly though the game’s frequent curves.
Mastering this turning mechanic contributed to OutRun’s longevity. While vehicles teetered on the edge of control for novice players, soon gamers would careen around the track, narrowly missing traffic. Racing cost-prohibitive automobiles along coastal vista at breakneck speeds tapped into a primal desire, which would later be substantiated by the Burnout series, and a Gizmondo executive.
Continued: http://tech-gaming.com/2009/05/03/outrun-online-arcade-and-virtual-on-oratorio-tangram-reviewed.aspx
Recently, Sega released two titles for the Xbox Live Arcade- OutRun Online Arcade and Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram. Past remakes of our beloved Sega games have often left us bewildered, from the lackluster Golden Axe: Beast Rider to the superfluous enhancements in Sega Classics Collection. Fortunately, the restoration and enhancement of OutRun and Virtual On have been given the required amount of loving care that should please veterans of the originals titles, as well as earn some new fans.
Outrun Online Arcade for the Xbox 360. Developer: Sega/Sumo, Publisher: Sega
During the late 1980’s the original OutRun was an arcade staple. For a few years, it seemed that nearly every token-trafficking establishment had at least one of the coin-operated cabinets. Yu Suzuki’s racer incorporated a number of signature elements- players could choose the game’s driving route and soundtrack, while the steering wheel would vibrate violently when the player came into contact with the track’s fringes. Most notable was the game’s reliance on drifting; players would slide wildly though the game’s frequent curves.
Mastering this turning mechanic contributed to OutRun’s longevity. While vehicles teetered on the edge of control for novice players, soon gamers would careen around the track, narrowly missing traffic. Racing cost-prohibitive automobiles along coastal vista at breakneck speeds tapped into a primal desire, which would later be substantiated by the Burnout series, and a Gizmondo executive.
Continued: http://tech-gaming.com/2009/05/03/outrun-online-arcade-and-virtual-on-oratorio-tangram-reviewed.aspx