I see people asking for sega to regain the Ferrari license to re-release Outrun 2 pretty consistently, and it seems like it's not widely known to people that the PC version of Outrun 2006: Coast to Coast got a physical release in Europe. And it's the best kind of physical release -- the type that doesn't require online activation. It's the older type of PC releases where the security method for the game is merely checking to see if the game disc is in a CD-ROM drive upon starting the game.
Now, originally, this port of Outrun 2006 was pretty poor. It missed all the bloom and lighting effects from the console versions of Outrun 2006 and was stuck in arbitrary resolutions, but for the past 6 or so years, a mod called Outrun 2 FXT has dramatically improved the game, to the point where it's arguably the single best way to play the game. For one, the FXT mod changes the presentation of the game to restore all the original arcade menus:
No more references to "press enter" or any of that, you now have the original Outrun 2 SP artwork and button textures. Outrun 2 FXT is actually primarily designed so that people can install Outrun 2 on arcade cabinets using windows PCs as a much cheaper alternative to hunting down a Chihiro or Lindberg.
Additionally, Outrun 2 FXT allows for any resolution or FOV one can imagine. For example -
This is a single 16:9 monitor turned vertically. Outrun 2 FXT actually includes new camera modes that can take advantage of a vertically oriented monitor. This particular screenshot isn't using it, but there is a new overhead cam called "Spy Hunter Cam" that pulls way back and up and makes the game play like Spy Hunter, where a vertically oriented monitor is pretty much necessary to be able to react to the road:
This is a triple 16:9 monitor setup:
THis is a septuple 16:9 setup intended for 180 degree projection domes:
Now, early on, there was a problem that textures would stretch on screen as you played, which you can see in these screenshots. However, the later versions of FXT actually included different aspect ratio textures for HUD elements that can be swapped out. This lets you now play the game in crazy widescreen resolutions without stretching the HUD.
It's not just the FOV that can change. Want to play Outrun 2 in 4K? Totally viable with FXT.
Additionally, it's been discovered that the shaders for bloom and lighting have always existed in the PC version of Outrun 2006, they are merely in the wrong folder which prevents the game executable from finding them (and thus not loading them). By merely copying a couple of files from one folder of the game's install to another folder, all the console lighting and bloom effects are returned.
Finally, while the online portion of the game is still turned off, FXT includes a LAN option where two windows PCs can be connected on a network for 2-player play. This is mainly intended, again, for people with arcade cabinets to allow for link mode:
This method of play is even preferable to the Steam Outrun Online Arcade release, as that release only includes the 15 Outrun 2 SP courses, while the physical release of Outrun 2006 Coast to Coast contains the 15 Outrun 2 SP courses PLUS the original 15 Outrun 2 tracks for a total of 30 courses. And, the physical release of Outrun 2006 Coast to Coast has the original Outrun as an unlockable.
FXT also patches the game to include rumble support for controllers, both gamepads and racing wheels.
Now, you might be saying "I don't live in europe and it's not 2006," but the game itself is super available on ebay for about $20-$30. Looking it up right now, I see multiple buy-it-now auctions around that price. PC Games don't have region lockout, a disc from europe will work just as fine in the US as anywhere else. Also, for purists, there is a crack that'll remove the need to have the disc inserted at launch so you can merely install the game, add it to Steam as a non-steam shortcut, and be none the wiser that it's a physical copy of the game. If you lack an optical drive on your PC, a $20 USB drive from newegg will do the job.
Just a general heads up because the game is actually pretty awesome on PC now.
Now, originally, this port of Outrun 2006 was pretty poor. It missed all the bloom and lighting effects from the console versions of Outrun 2006 and was stuck in arbitrary resolutions, but for the past 6 or so years, a mod called Outrun 2 FXT has dramatically improved the game, to the point where it's arguably the single best way to play the game. For one, the FXT mod changes the presentation of the game to restore all the original arcade menus:
No more references to "press enter" or any of that, you now have the original Outrun 2 SP artwork and button textures. Outrun 2 FXT is actually primarily designed so that people can install Outrun 2 on arcade cabinets using windows PCs as a much cheaper alternative to hunting down a Chihiro or Lindberg.
Additionally, Outrun 2 FXT allows for any resolution or FOV one can imagine. For example -
This is a single 16:9 monitor turned vertically. Outrun 2 FXT actually includes new camera modes that can take advantage of a vertically oriented monitor. This particular screenshot isn't using it, but there is a new overhead cam called "Spy Hunter Cam" that pulls way back and up and makes the game play like Spy Hunter, where a vertically oriented monitor is pretty much necessary to be able to react to the road:
This is a triple 16:9 monitor setup:
THis is a septuple 16:9 setup intended for 180 degree projection domes:
Now, early on, there was a problem that textures would stretch on screen as you played, which you can see in these screenshots. However, the later versions of FXT actually included different aspect ratio textures for HUD elements that can be swapped out. This lets you now play the game in crazy widescreen resolutions without stretching the HUD.
It's not just the FOV that can change. Want to play Outrun 2 in 4K? Totally viable with FXT.
Additionally, it's been discovered that the shaders for bloom and lighting have always existed in the PC version of Outrun 2006, they are merely in the wrong folder which prevents the game executable from finding them (and thus not loading them). By merely copying a couple of files from one folder of the game's install to another folder, all the console lighting and bloom effects are returned.
Finally, while the online portion of the game is still turned off, FXT includes a LAN option where two windows PCs can be connected on a network for 2-player play. This is mainly intended, again, for people with arcade cabinets to allow for link mode:
This method of play is even preferable to the Steam Outrun Online Arcade release, as that release only includes the 15 Outrun 2 SP courses, while the physical release of Outrun 2006 Coast to Coast contains the 15 Outrun 2 SP courses PLUS the original 15 Outrun 2 tracks for a total of 30 courses. And, the physical release of Outrun 2006 Coast to Coast has the original Outrun as an unlockable.
FXT also patches the game to include rumble support for controllers, both gamepads and racing wheels.
Now, you might be saying "I don't live in europe and it's not 2006," but the game itself is super available on ebay for about $20-$30. Looking it up right now, I see multiple buy-it-now auctions around that price. PC Games don't have region lockout, a disc from europe will work just as fine in the US as anywhere else. Also, for purists, there is a crack that'll remove the need to have the disc inserted at launch so you can merely install the game, add it to Steam as a non-steam shortcut, and be none the wiser that it's a physical copy of the game. If you lack an optical drive on your PC, a $20 USB drive from newegg will do the job.
Just a general heads up because the game is actually pretty awesome on PC now.
