OutRun GB (2025)

Magical Sound Shower is one of the greatest songs crafted by human hands. Hiroshi Kawaguchi is a master of his craft. Sloopygoop’s arrangement for OutRun GB does full justice to his original on the humble Game Boy, and we’re all better off for having it.

4/5

…

Huh? What? What about the game? Oh shit, my bad – OutRun GB’s a pretty great fan port! The car handles super tightly, with less of a focus on drifting and more on threading needles you have no business threading. Crashes always feel deserved, and slowing down just a smidge will turn a potential catastrophe into no more than a fender bender, but that just means full-sending between two sedans with your foot on the floor feels even better. It’s earned. You earned looking cool as shit in your midlife crisis car.

It even looks the part! If Sega and Nintendo weren’t at each other’s throats when the Game Boy Color was at the height of its powers they would have been praised up and down for how pretty this is. Sega blue skies are in full effect, all of the split routes are visually distinct, and you’ll be excited to take new ones just to see all the pretty spots you can drive like a menace in. It’s just a wonderful tribute to OutRun up and down.

If we’d gotten a few of the other game modes, cars, or songs I’d be even happier, but it’s hard to complain about a fangame that’s so well crafted. Within the scope of what they were making? Damn! That’s some good OutRun! On the titular Gee Bee!

4/5 for real this time

Itch page here, as well as Sloopygoop’s bandcamp!