Zzap
1st January 1990
Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: U. S. Gold
Machine: Amiga 500
Published in Zzap #57
Turbo OutRun
Last month the Commodore 64 saw a Ferrari F-40 burn its way across the States to reach the Gold Medal finishing post. Now, with a roar, the F-40 burns out of the garage with a 16-bit engine under the bonnet. Destination: the open road!
It's the Cannonball Run revisited as Turbo OutRun sees you participate in one loooonnnnng race across the States from New York to Los Angeles. You're in your flashy open top F-40 with a beautiful blonde for company when some upstart dude in a pathetic Porsche 959 (spit!) challenges you to a race just for the hell of it. It's time to show these inferior car owners what real horsepower is - after all that's what the F-40 is here for, isn't it?
Turbo comprises 16 stages, taking you and your lady through nearly every type of terrain you could imagine: snowy roads, sand-blasted tracks, car congested city freeways - in fact anything which is officially classed as tarmac!
There are barrels in the road, barricades to break through, sandstorms, snowstorms, Sunday drivers to burn up, and cops to outrun with the Turbo temporarily accelerating you to rocket speeds.
Every fourth stage you get to improve the car's internals with a better engine, up-rated Turbo, or hi-grip tyres ('tires' for this game). Beat the timer for each stage and you may well win the day, but more importantly beat that poncy Porsche and you may get to keep your fickle girlfriend (until Richard Noble roars past in Thrust II!).
Robin
Turbo OutRun on the Amiga is as fast as anyone could want, with some excellent and highly atmospheric graphics throughout. Cars mill around and bump you with a bit more leniency than the C64 game, but the police cars are much tougher, really ganging up on you. This, combined with stricter time limits makes for a much tougher game than the 8-bit version. To compensate there's some lovely sound FX, such as the wail of police sirens and the Porsche bleeping its horn as it overtakes.
While Amiga OutRun lacks the awesome "my computer can't do that" technical achievement of the C64 one, it's still a top-notch conversion and very close to the coin-op. Great to look at and play. Amiga Turbo is a first class racer.
Phil
This is nowhere near as technically impressive as the C64 version. The graphics aren't as appealling and the 3D scrolling a bit jerky.
Sound is good, with a nice tune and some nice effects, though not really amazing for the Amiga. Still, it is playability that counts, and this is where Turbo scores highest.
The game is a lot tougher than on the C64, sometimes frustratingly so, but all the compulsive racing action from the coin-op is well implemented and certainly fast enough. In short, Turbo is a neat conversion, but not quite a brilliant one.
Verdict
Presentation 81%
Attractive and humorous inter-level screens where you customise your car.
Graphics 85%
A very close conversion of the arcade.
Sound 73%
Some great FX, but the main tune is a bit muffled.
Hookability 80%
Immediately, and compulsively playable.
Lastability 78%
A tough game, which will take time to master.
Overall 80%
Another extremely playable US Gold coin-op conversion.
Other Reviews Of Turbo Out Run For The Amiga 500
Turbo OutRun (U. S. Gold)
A review by Mark Patterson (Commodore User)