OutRun 2019

n/a

NTSC-U/PAL NTSC-J
OutRun 2019
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Sega (US, Europe), SIMS (Japan)
Developer: Hertz
Sound driver: SMPS Z80 (banked)
Genre: Racing
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code JP 1993-03-26 ¥8,800 (9,064)8,800e T-44033 US 1993-03 $49.9949.99 1118 EU 1993-04 1118-50 UK 1993-06 £39.9939.99 1118-50 AU 199x AS 199x

OutRun 2019 (アウトラン 2019) is a Sega Mega Drive driving game developed by Hertz. A futuristic entry in the OutRun series featuring science-fiction elements and courses, it was first published in Japan by SIMS in March 1993, and was brought to the United States and Europe the following month by Sega. A notable departure from previous games in the series in both tone and gameplay, OutRun 2019 received lukewarm reception by contemporary critics, but has since seen a slight critical re-evaluation as an experimental and passionate take on Sega's popular driving franchise.

Gameplay

OutRun 2019 is a driving game that plays similarly to the original OutRun but with a futuristic setting and various additions such as jumps, bridges, and tunnels. The game is a race against a time limit in a rocket-boosted car across four different stages around the world. The player gains more time at each checkpoint. Like the original OutRun, there is a fork in the road before each checkpoint. The player can choose between two different routes, each in a different exotic locale. There can also be multiple paths within a single route. Most routes split into two routes at their ends, but a few routes instead end with either a goal or a convergence with another route. Some routes contain elevated roads that can be accessed by jumping off a ramp.

The car is steered with and , accelerates with , and brakes with . If the player chooses the manual transmission option, the car shifts between low and high gear with . The car starts in low gear at the beginning of the race or after crashing. The game uses a boosting mechanic similar to Turbo OutRun. A power gauge in the car's HUD increases as the car gains speed. When the rainbow-colored band is full, a white band begins to fill over it. When the white band is full, the car's rocket engages and the car launches into a high-speed boost. The car's booster rocket is useful for accelerating through straightaways but cannot negotiate narrower turns. The white band does not fill when the car is in low gear when using the manual transmission. Tapping the brake or letting off the accelerator clears the white band and ends the boost if engaged.

Other cars appear on the road but are merely obstacles and not competitors. Hitting an obstacle at high speed or flying into water or a pit crashes the car, but it reappears on the road after a moment, costing the player only time. Off-road terrain causes the car to decelerate. The player is retired from the race if time runs out.

Stages

All four stages are available to select from the start of the game. The ending unlocks after completing the fourth stage, regardless of which other stages have been completed.

Metropolis

Metropolis

Map	City Dam   New York   Tokyo   Crossroads   Goal   Factory   Street Lights

Temples and Ruins

Temples and Ruins

Map	Western Dunes   Pyramids   Oasis   Temple of Poseidon   Goal   Forest Zone   Angkor Wat

Around the World

Around the World

Map	Mountains         Stockholm   Donaw River     Sicily   Matterhorn   Hong Kong Goal   Acid Rainforest   Mediterranean Sea         South Pole

Into the Sunset

Into the Sunset

Map	Submerged City       Factory   Future Buildings   Night View   Yugoslavia   Crossroads   Horizon City   Goal   Great Wall   Sunset City   Dome City           Sunset

History

Development

OutRun 2019 was initially just an OutRun-like game for the Mega-CD under the working title of Cyber Road. It was soon moved to the Mega Drive and renamed Junker's High (also known as Junker Spy), until SIMS were granted the rights to use the OutRun brand. The change of name came quite late - advertising for Junker's High was already being printed in Japan prior to the switch.

A near-final prototype ROM of Junker's High has since leaked on the internet, showing that Hertz/SIMS had planned on including save memory in the game to store replays and high scores over time. Saving was removed in the final version of OutRun 2019, perhaps for budgeting purposes.

Legacy

Radica Games re-released the game as Play TV Legends OutRun 2019, part of the Play TV Legends series in 2005. This version is notable for its steering wheel controller.

Versions

The maximum speed of the car varies depending on the version of the game. The maximum speed is 341 km/h (211.89 mph) in the Japanese version of the game, 682 km/h (423.77 mph) in the European version, and 682 mph (1097.57 km/h) on the US version.

Production credits

• Car Stunts: Y.Koba
• Location Supervisor: K.Kato, K.Maz
• Course Director: K.Naka
• Special Visual Effects Director: Y.Koba
• Based on Characters Created by: K.Maz
• Visual Director: B.T.S
• Designed by: Wasio, M.Taisi, M.Toma
• Animation Supervisor: K.Maz
• Opening Design: M.Taisi
• Ending Design: M.Toma
• Title Script: Wasio
• Sound Effects by: K.Kato
• Music by: Sako

• "Hot Fire"
  • Composed and Performed by: Techno Network
  • Produced by: Katsu Yamashita
• "Feel the Beat"
  • Composed and Performed by: Dual Noise
  • Produced by: Hilltop Glory
• "Running Pleasure"
  • Composed and Performed by: Hyper Sonic Gang
  • Produced by: Sungreen Hytes
• "Steal into the Night"
  • Composed and Performed by: Systematic of Rhythm
  • Produced by: Poncho Koganei
• "Relight My Fire"
  • Composed and Performed by: Hi-NRG
  • Produced by: Tb.Lib
• "Victorious"
  • Composed and Performed by: Mainstream
  • Produced by: Twinkle Star

• Graphic Designer: M.Nagashima
• Publicity Manager: CBX1000
• Public Relations by: Sinop
• Director of Photography: B.T.S
• Directed by: K.Maz
• Executive Producer: Machida
• Unit Planner and Coordinator: K.Maz
• Programmed by: Y.Koba
• Printed by: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.

1993 SIMS Co., Ltd.

Source:

In-game credits

Digital manuals

• 

  Mega Drive Mini JP manual

Magazine articles

Main article: OutRun 2019/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

JP flyer

FI advert (1993)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1992-03: "March 1992" (1992-02-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1992-06: "June 1992" (1992-05-08)
also published in:

• Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1992-07: "July 1992" (1992-06-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1992-08: "August 1992" (1992-07-08)
also published in:

• Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1992-09: "September 1992" (1992-08-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1992-10: "October 1992" (1992-09-08)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1993-03: "March 1993" (1993-02-08)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 50 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 58 Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 50 Consoles + (FR) 47 Cool Gamer (RU) 50 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 58 Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 50 GameFan (US) 74 Game Mania (UK) 68 Game Players (US) NTSC-U 40 Game Power (IT) NTSC 59 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 48 GamesMaster (UK) PAL 30 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 75 Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J 50 Joypad (FR) PAL 67 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL 65 Mega (UK) PAL 45 Mega Force (FR) 74 Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U 33 MegaTech (UK) PAL 59 Marukatsu Mega Drive (JP) NTSC-J 71 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 66 Power Up! (UK) 58 Sega Power (UK) PAL 36 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 84 Sega Zone (UK) PAL 29 Sega Force (UK) PAL 52 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 67 Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL 70 Supergame (BR) 73 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 73

	57
Based on 32 reviews

OutRun 2019

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Mega Drive, AU
Cover

Mega Drive, Asia
Cover

Technical information

Main article: OutRun 2019/Technical information.