When comparing Xevious vs OutRun, the Slant community recommends OutRun for most people. In the question“What are the best and the most revolutionary games of all time?” OutRun is ranked 36th while Xevious is ranked 97th. The most important reason people chose OutRun is:
Unlike other racing games of the time, you aren't necessarily racing at all. OutRun was more about beating the clock than any opponents. At the end of each stages, the player could either turn left for an easier stage or turn right for a more difficult stage which gave the user some choices as if they were driving instead of racing on a set track.
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Pros
Pro First TV ad in North America
It wasn't the very first vertically scrolling shooter, but to differentiate itself it was the first game that was featured in a TV ad in North America. This really helped increase its public interest, and was revolutionary at the time setting precedent for the game ads we see on TV today
Pro Very detailed landscapes for the time
As your ship is flying over the landscape, the landscapes can eventually change from one scene to another. Some of the landscapes are heavily forested areas, and others are airbase themed. This helps give each of the 16 areas a different and unique feel.
Pro Unique driving gameplay instead of racing
Unlike other racing games of the time, you aren't necessarily racing at all. OutRun was more about beating the clock than any opponents. At the end of each stages, the player could either turn left for an easier stage or turn right for a more difficult stage which gave the user some choices as if they were driving instead of racing on a set track.
Pro First game to offer a choice of music
Before OutRun, players couldn't choose what music they listened to. In OutRun, players could choose one of three 'radio stations' which would play different music.