Out Zone

About

Out Zone is a classic top-down shooter game set in a post-apocalyptic world. Players control mercenaries fighting through hordes of mutants to reach the heart of a secret research facility. With a wide range of weapons, power-ups, and cooperative gameplay, Out Zone offers a challenging and action-packed experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 52 reviews

graphics6 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

Out Zone is a thrilling run-and-gun experience with fast-paced gameplay and a variety of weapons and bombs that keep the action engaging.
The game features excellent graphics and sound design, showcasing a high level of artistry and attention to detail.
The Steam port has received multiple updates to improve its performance and includes a plethora of quality-of-life features, making it accessible for newcomers.

The control scheme can be awkward and difficult to master, leading to frustration, especially with the limited aiming mechanics.
Some players have reported issues with the emulation, including missing content from the original arcade version and audio problems.
The game's difficulty may be overwhelming for casual players, making it less approachable for those unfamiliar with the genre.

graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The graphics are praised for their beautiful pixel art and cyberpunk aesthetic, featuring large, metallic enemies that enhance the visual experience. Players appreciate the extensive customization options available for adjusting graphics settings, making it accessible for both newcomers and veterans. Overall, the graphics are considered impressive for their time, aligning with the high standards expected from Toaplan titles.
- “The graphics are good, reminding of a cyberpunk world with beautiful pixel art where enemies are big and metallic.”
- “Graphics and audio are also amazing for their time, but this is Toaplan, so it's to be expected.”
- “Has plenty of options to tailor the game and its visuals to your taste, great for newcomers as well as those who want the default difficulty with a good scanline filter.”
- “I guess the game runs on an emulator that is pretty versatile for giving you the options to adjust the difficulty, render aesthetic, number of lives, choice between 3 different game versions which had a version I preferred to play in and etc. Worth the money, I say.”
- “Was always fascinated by this game for its gameplay and aesthetics.”
- “Bitwave's Toaplan releases have so many options that I only ever expect that M2 STG would do, graphics options, borders, etc. The input lag is imperceptible.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The music in the game is highly praised, receiving a perfect score of 10/10 for its quality. However, the normal ROM version is criticized for being a prototype that lacks several music tracks and features, resulting in an incomplete soundtrack and various gameplay inaccuracies compared to the arcade versions.
- “The music is great.”
- “Art + music: 10/10”
- “First off, normal is some kind of prototype/early release, so you get an incomplete OST song and several other cut down content.”
- “This version does not emulate the released arcade versions; it has a lot of missing enemy layouts, secrets, and only 3 out of 6 music tracks.”
- “First off, the normal version is some kind of prototype/early release, so you get an incomplete OST song and several other cut down content.”
- “The normal ROM version is the oldest available and a prototype: missing music, enemy placement is incorrect, and there’s inaccurate enemy behavior, specifically spawning, attack patterns, and shooting/firing compared to arcade/ROMs.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The gameplay of Out Zone is praised for its engaging mechanics, featuring a gun and limited bombs, alongside appealing aesthetics. However, the game runs approximately 10% faster than the original arcade version, which disrupts enemy spawning and behavior, impacting the overall experience.
- “The game mechanics of Out Zone involve using a gun and limited screen-clearing bombs.”
- “I was always fascinated by this game for its gameplay and aesthetics.”
- “Gameplay: 8/10”
- “Runs too fast — 10% or so faster than the original arcade speed, and this breaks a lot of gameplay elements related to enemy spawning and behavior.”
- “The game mechanics of Out Zone are limited to having a gun and screen-clearing bombs.”
- “The game mechanics of Out Zone are limited to having a gun and screen-clearing bombs.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the emulation is criticized for feeling outdated, reminiscent of technology from 1998, and the additional features are reported to be buggy, detracting from the overall experience rather than enhancing it.
- “The emulation still feels like something that would've been more acceptable in '98 when the shark emulator was made, and the extra features are still buggy enough to distract more than they help.”