Earlier today we took delivery of a preview build of OutRun2 for the Xbox and, although we've not had a great deal of time to play the game just yet, we couldn't resist bringing you our first impressions of the game in time for the weekend. So far we've checked out portions of the arcade and challenge modes, which, though they're set on the exact same stretches of road, look to offer some reasonably varied gameplay objectives.

　　Within the arcade mode we've been playing both the OutRun mode, which is basically a straight race against the clock, and the new heartbreak mode, which is much the same except that you have to concern yourself with impressing your girlfriend in the passenger seat at the same time. As you're racing, she'll communicate her wishes to you via speech bubbles that say things like "Pass more cars," "Drift more," or "Don't crash."

　　Shortly after you're told what your objective is, you'll see a translucent red start line appear on the road ahead of you, and when you arrive at the translucent blue finish line, you'll be awarded a grade based on your performance. The highest grade we've attained so far is AAA, while the lowest appears to be an E. At the end of each stage, when you pass through a checkpoint and take the left fork for the easiest next route or the right for the most difficult, each of your two or three grades from that stage will be displayed, and you'll be awarded an overall grade.

　　The challenge mode comprises a number of different gameplay options, including cone challenges, one-on-one races, and one that we've spent a little time with in which certain areas of the road ahead are colored red, blue, or green, and you have to stay within certain colors--as instructed by your passenger. As in the aforementioned heartbreak mode, when you're doing things right you'll be rewarded with kissy-kissy noises and love hearts floating over your car. Get things wrong, though, and you'll hear sobs, you'll see teardrops, and at the finish line there's a good chance you'll get throttled.

　　The graphics, sounds effects, and car handling in OutRun2 all do a good job of improving upon but remaining faithful to those in the original 1986 arcade game. It's unlikely that the game will compare well with other modern racing games when all is said and done, but OutRun2 really doesn't feel like a game that's trying to compete with the likes of Gran Turismo 4, Burnout 3, Need for Speed Underground 2, and suchlike. OutRun2 doesn't even care what those games are up to. It just promises you an enjoyable, easy-to-pick-up arcade racing experience with plenty of different gameplay options, and, from what little we've seen of the game to date, there's no reason why it shouldn't deliver.

　　OutRun2 is currently scheduled for release toward the end of October. Expect more on the game in the near future.