Out Zone
Cyborg mercenaries battle alien invaders in a scrolling run and gun.
Out Zone is a run and gun arcade video game developed by Toaplan and published in Japan by Tecmo, North America by Romstar and Europe in August 1990. Set in a future where an alien race from the fictional planet Owagira threatens humanity, players control cyborg mercenaries recruited by the United Nations. The game received positive reception for its visuals, sound design, gameplay, and challenge, though some lamented the lack of a console release.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Toaplan
- Publisher
- Tecmo (JP)
- Romstar (NA)
- Toaplan (EU)
- Designer
- Naoki Ogiwara
- Composer
- Tatsuya Uemura
- Platforms
- Arcade
- Released
- August 1990 (WW)
- Genre
- Run and gun
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Out Zone is a science fiction-themed vertically scrolling run and gun game reminiscent of Commando and Ikari Warriors. Players assume the role of two cyborg mercenaries hired by the United Nations through seven increasingly difficult levels, each ending with a boss. The main objective is to overthrow an alien race from the planet Owagira. Players fight enemies on foot, moving upward through the level, and start with a number of bombs that obliterate enemies in their blast radius, though player characters are not invincible after using a bomb. A unique feature is the weapon system: players begin with two main weapons that can be upgraded by picking up two "P" icons in a row, and switched between by picking up a "C" icon. The semi-automatic forward gun shoots forward regardless of movement direction, firing three bullets in a slight spread, while the all-direction laser fires in the direction of movement, creating a sweep of bullets as the character changes direction. The laser shoots rapidly when tapping the fire button. Other weapons appear as different colored "SP" icons, such as a flamethrower and a rotating energy ball that pierces walls. An energy bar constantly depletes and can be refilled by collecting "E" icons; the bar does not act as health, as a single enemy shot kills the player. Other items include 1UPs, a speed increaser, a shield, and an energy extender.
Synopsis
In an advanced space era, humanity encountered, traded, and formed alliances with many alien races to ensure security. Earth had been subject to past invasions but the alliances granted victories. In 2095, Earth faced a new invasion by the alien military force of planet Owagira, with overwhelmingly powerful weaponry. The United Nations received a message about an ultra-elite mercenary unit named "Out Zone" in a remote region of the Milky Way. Known as "Space Entrepreneurs," Out Zone takes no sides and fights for the proper price. As a last-ditch effort, the UN requested Out Zone's service, guaranteeing the UN member nations' entire annual budget as payment. Two powerful cyborg mercenaries from Out Zone volunteered, having ties to Earth and realizing their homeworld was in peril, and rose to destroy the Owagira Forces.
Development and release
Out Zone's soundtrack was composed by Tatsuya Uemura, who also created the sound effects, while Naoki Ogiwara served as designer. Uemura recounted that the development was difficult because he could not apply his experience from vertical-scrolling shooters with flying ships, as players controlled the game on-foot and could move or stop freely. The intro was written during creation of the demonstration sequence. The team integrated puzzle elements not found in ship-based shooters, which took time to plan, and the schedule for sound production was constantly reduced. For the first stage's music, the main melody was originally composed based on Taiyō ni Hoero!. For the last stage, Uemura wanted to convey a sense of a "decisive battle." He regarded the project as "the most difficult product he worked on." Out Zone was released in arcades worldwide in August 1990 by Tecmo, Romstar, and Toaplan. On October 21 of the same year, an album containing music from the title and Snow Bros. was co-published in Japan by Scitron and Pony Canyon. The title remained exclusive to arcades with no official home console port. By 2020, a new version by M2 was announced as part of their M2 ShotTriggers label for the Nintendo Switch. In December 2020, the game appeared on the iiRcade arcade console, its first appearance outside arcades. It was included in 2022 as part of the Sega Astro City Mini V.
Reception and legacy
Out Zone was well received from the start and has since become a respected title in Toaplan's library. In Japan, Game Machine ranked it the fifth most popular arcade game in its August 15, 1990 issue. That same September, Australia's Leisure Line called it the fifth most popular Japanese coin-op game. Micom BASIC Magazine placed it fifteenth in November 1990, while RePlay reported it as the fourteenth most popular arcade game in North America. In May 1991, UK magazine Zero gave it the ninth spot. Sinclair User praised its fast pace and frantic action, calling it a real challenge that gets the heart racing. David Wilson of Your Sinclair also liked the frenetic gameplay but compared it to Mercs. Retro Gamer's Mike Bevan appreciated the presentation but wished for a console release. Computer and Video Games' Julian Rignall gave it an 80% score. Nick Zverloff of Hardcore Gaming 101 offered a mixed retrospective, while Malcolm Laurie from SHMUPS! praised the visuals, sound, gameplay, and multiplayer, though he too lamented the lack of a console port. The game appears in the 2010 book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die. A spiritual sequel, FixEight, hit arcades in July 1992. Today, the rights to Out Zone, its sequel, and many other Toaplan properties belong to Tatsujin, a company founded in 2017 by former Toaplan employee Masahiro Yuge, which has been part of Embracer Group since 2022.
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