What’s the matter, dateless wonder? Life got you down because you’re spending your teenage years without a car or a significant other? Lucky for you, Out Run was a video game that came complete with a set of wheels and a girlfriend. The popular arcade attraction was available as a stand-up console or a sit-down cabinet for that total immersion feel.

The car the player drove bore a striking resemblance to a Ferrari Testarossa convertible and the girl in the passenger seat was a blonde, perfect accompaniment to the sandy, palm tree-festooned scenery. The objective was to drive the car through four checkpoints on the road within a time limit.

The controls enhanced the driving experience: a steering wheel, a gear shift with a high and a low setting, a gas pedal and a brake pedal. The car could achieve fantastic speeds and the advanced 3-D graphics realistically conveyed the level of acceleration. When the player flipped his car or got into a spectacular crash, he could feel the jarring vibrations through the steering wheel. In the full cabinet version, the seat tilted and shook on a hydraulic set-up that really let you feel the effects of your crazy driving.

Other cars populated the various stretches of road in Out Run but of course none were cooler than your Ferrari facsimile. Through the changing scenery, the player could enjoy three different types of upbeat music, choosing the soundtrack as he would pick between radio stations.

The game was popular enough to spawn Turbo Out Run, which featured new courses, cars and music and a “turbo” button that propelled your car even faster down the road.