You know that expression about not appreciating what you have until it's gone? How about a new expression, to express how nice it is to play a racing game that isn't futuristic or set against gritty, gray city backdrops? Outrun 2006 Coast 2 Coast would be a great Racer in any setting, but I really like the bright daylight tracks. The tracks, as you might imagine from the title, are spiced with various pieces of Americana. Redwood forests, glittering Las Vegas, and Indian cities are just a few of the creative tracks that make for great roadside attractions. If the eye candy on the curb isn't enough to thrill you, try out the 13 Ferrari models, in signature red or almost any other color you'd like. The cars are excellent, and even though this isn't a simulator by any means, the visuals are realistic enough to be compelling.

A staple of the series has always been music, back to the arcade days. In Outrun 2006 Coast 2 Coast we get some of that original arcade music available for purchase with OR (Outrun) points, and plenty of new mixes based on the original themes. There is enough variety in the music to keep everyone happy, and you are given the choice to customize your song selection at the beginning of each race stage. Along with the music, some memorable audio comes from the whine of a Ferrari engine and your girlfriend's comments in some stages. This is the kind of game that will make people look over your shoulder and gawk. My only beef is that the H.U.D. is sometimes crowded, too busy for my taste, but this is nitpicking.

A trend I see lately, which I like, is that cheap storage and powerful consoles allow developers to pack games with every special feature known to man. If this shows up as clutter in the actual game, I'm not pleased. In the case of Outrun 2006 Coast 2 Coast there are so many great modes and options available that it almost feels like two or three games sometimes. Just the option to play two completely different versions of the game is huge. The entire arcade version is included here, and more than a few tracks can be purchased as you rack up points in the main modes. Jumping in and racing is easy, with a Just Drive mode. As you get a feel for the game, Single Player will provide hours of fun. The theme here is a race across country, with branching paths that ultimately cover about 30 unique tracks. Rather than break up the action and throw load times at us, Outrun 2006 Coast 2 Coast uses a fork in the road to let the driver control his progress. Each segment of the game is broken up by a simple left/right choice, so that in a stage you have five "levels" that correspond to whether you choose to turn left or right. This system holds true for competitive modes such as Heart Attack and Coast 2 Coast, where there may be different objectives such as passing competitors or impressing your girlfriend with your driving ability. A timed mode is also available, which coupled with Just Drive, feels like a way to practice for main events.

Up to six players can get in on the action through a wireless connection, and Outrun 2006 Coast 2 Coast includes true online racing. I was never able to find players online, which seemed odd, but hopefully over time the fan base will grow. Being able to race online is an awesome option, but hosting up to six players for a wireless ad hoc road battle could be even better if you happen to know a slew of people who own the game. Possibly the coolest feature - if you really consider yourself a racing fanatic - is that Outrun 2006 Coast 2 Coast for PSP interacts with the PS2 version! A USB connection will allow you to send a driver's license you create in the PSP version to the PS2 and unlock unique content. This is a great idea, but I hope if companies start doing this they will offer discount game bundles for people who want to buy the PSP and PS2 version together. Depending on how much great content is unlocked, it might be a selling point. In this case, linking to PS2 opens up a fair amount of new options, including new tracks and the ability to exchange points.

Arcade racer. Don't come expecting perfect or even realistic handling. The controls are nice enough for the type of action here, but the cars are not in any way destructible since Ferrari probably wouldn't like seeing the Testarossa reduced to a heap of smoking rubble. If you can forgive some very over-the-top physics and a catch-up feature that makes it impossible to get any useful lead on the CPU cars, Outrun 2006 Coast 2 Coast is a treat. The A.I. is way too difficult, but "lather, rinse and repeat until you win the day" still works here, as in most racing games. Luckily, the catch-up can be turned off in multiplayer so you can really humiliate your buddies. Nice. If you aren't really into drifting, you're going to be very frustrated with this game...more on that, next.

Outrun 2006 Coast 2 Coast should be called "Drift to Drift" since there is hardly a corner you can make without sliding sideways. At first, this struck me as very strange, but I really began to like it after a while. Unlike some games that require very precise powersliding technique, Outrun 2006 Coast 2 Coast is forgiving. Stamping on the brake and twisting the wheel produces a perfect powerslide about 80% of the time. Since you can adjust the angle of slide with your steering wheel, it is possible to push things too far. Just letting the car correct itself and get back on track is usually the best method, and unless you really embrace drift, it isn't possible to get very far in the game.

Other than drifting, the mechanics for controlling the Ferrari of your choice are simple. Manual or auto transmission is chosen at the beginning of the race, along with track and music selection. The Showroom mode is a place to trade in miles you have driven in events, in exchange for locked music, cars, paint jobs or stretches of road. The replay value is improved with this feature, and the ability to exchange miles between PSP and PS2 means that you can use your PSP to pump up your profile on PS2. The instructions for this exchange, as well as the rules for establishing a multiplayer game, are very clear. Outrun 2006 Coast 2 Coast is a quality production with more options than you'll probably tap into. Arcade racing it most certainly is, but fans of the series or gamers looking for a title that strays from the "metro racing" trend will enjoy themselves immensely. Comparisons to Burnout are fair, but the style of racing here is actually more laid back and forgiving. Hitting the open road is fun, and if you thought pleasing your girlfriend in the real world was difficult, wait until you get a load of this gal. For the record, if you think your real-world girl might be impressed with you displaying your new drifting skills on a neighborhood street, think again. Keep it on your PSP, pal...