This is probably my 200th or more time playing this game.

I love this game. I love it it so much, it's my username. I love it so much, I go back to it all the time when I feel like garbage and I need a pick me up.

I know the ins and outs of how this game ticks. You can glitch out the other drivers if you hit your turbo right as you pass them, making them go as fast as you permanently.

There are many secret routes on tracks I never see anyone bring up. For example, on stage 2, a route will take you to the pyramids. If you pay attention, right at the start, the red lines on the left disappear briefly and if you turn into it, it will take you on a secret route that's faster and it's a tunnel through a pyramid.

Something that blew my mind back then was they had your car reflect the lighting of the tunnels. An example is when you enter a tunnel and the lights are purple, your car now is tinted purple and darkened a bit as well as all the other cars inside said tunnel. I had never seen a Genesis game do that before.

The music has been stuck in my head for years and I find myself listening to it while I do work or chores. It's one of the better Genesis soundtracks and I wish more people loved it.

The game takes place in the future far off year of 2019 and things aren't bleak, but hints of things being messed up are apparent in some of the stages. Forests completely burned down, a city covered in rising ocean water and destroyed, water that is oddly colored, and newly built cities look like something you would expect from cyberpunk. Not every stage has the futuristic details but I have always thought it was an artistic choice.

This is the best OutRun spin off in my humble opinion, and it didn't even start development as one.

Is it the nostalgia talking? Absolutely yes that's part of it. I've owned this game on a cartridge since I was 5 years old. It has been part of my life for over 25 years. Yes, my bias is heavily showing.

But I honestly think this is one of the best racing games on the Genesis and I will never forget it.

Play Outrun 2019.

Otoko Cross is my Call of Duty, except I've yet to be disappointed.

If by some chance you've gotten this far without knowing what this series' deal is, think Punch-Out!! but instead of punching burly men you woo twinks with your incredible gaming skills until they show you their shaboingboing, much like one would in real life.

Unlike its predecessors, this third entry opts for a more arcade-style game similar to Breakout and Touhou 1, and anyone familiar with either knows their biggest issues was lack of twink danglebits, which are in no short supply here. Honestly, the closest thing I could liken it to would be DSiWare, which I would consider a high compliment. It's a short, simple game with a couple different modes and things to do, without wasting your time with insane padding, which I find refreshing.

Aside from the new boys, the biggest thing that sets this entry apart from its predecessors is how outfits are unlocked. Rather than each outfit being a reward for a specific level, you're instead granted points upon each level completion that you can use to unlock each boy's individual outfit, with the sluttier ones requiring more that the more modest, as one would reasonably expect. While I definitely think this change is a good one, I do have a couple issues with the system as it's currently implemented. While you'd assume the points for spending on outfits are tied to your performance in a level, they're actually fixed on a per-level basis, and the new Eternal Challenge (Endless) mode awards no points at all. Furthermore, your total spending points are only visible within the shop interface itself, which means needing to constantly swap between the actual game menu and dressing room when grinding for all the outfits (and lack thereof). Not a huge inconvenience by any means, but definitely an area that could be improved.

While its progression may leave a bit to be desired and hopefully improved upon in later releases, we both know why we're here. We like seeing frail men whimper with a simple-but-engaging gameplay loop. With that being said, enjoy, and I'll see you when Otoko Cross 4 drops.