Editing Out Zone (section)

== Reception and legacy ==
{{Video game reviews
|CVG = 80%<ref name="CVGoz">{{cite magazine|last=Rignall|first=Julian|author-link=Julian Rignall|url=https://archive.org/details/c-vg-111-1991-02_202203/page/n91/mode/1up|title=Arcade Action - Out Zone|magazine=[[Computer and Video Games]]|issue=111|publisher=[[EMAP]]|date=February 1991|page=92}}</ref>
|SUser = 85%<ref name="SUoz">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-105/SinclairUser_105_Nov_1990#page/n53/mode/2up|title=Coin Ops - Out Zone - Toaplan|magazine=[[Sinclair User]]|issue=105|publisher=[[EMAP]]|date=November 1990|pages=54–55}}</ref>
|YSinclair = 84° / 100°<ref name="YSoz">{{cite magazine|last=Wilson|first=David|url=https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-60/YourSinclair_60_Dec_1990#page/n69/mode/1up|title=Slots Of Fun - Out Zone (Taito)|magazine=[[Your Sinclair]]|issue=60|publisher=[[Future Publishing]]|date=December 1990|page=70|access-date=2019-10-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610135431/http://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-60/YourSinclair_60_Dec_1990#page/n69/mode/1up|archive-date=2016-06-10|url-status=live}}</ref>
|Zero = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Zoz">{{cite magazine|last=Wilson|first=David|url=https://archive.org/stream/zero-magazine-14#page/n85/mode/1up|title=Dosh Eaters: Out Zone (Taito/50p a go)|magazine=[[Zero (video game magazine)|Zero]]|issue=14|publisher=[[Dennis Publishing]]|date=December 1990|page=86}}</ref>
}}

''Out Zone'' received positive reception since its release, becoming a well regarded title from Toaplan in recent years.<ref name="OZPostback">{{cite web|author=Recapitulador|url=http://postback.geedorah.com/revisiones/arc_out_zone_01.htm|title=Out Zone (ARC)|website=Postback|access-date=2019-09-06|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119060552/http://postback.geedorah.com/revisiones/arc_out_zone_01.htm|archive-date=2018-01-19|url-status=live}}</ref> In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed it on their August 15, 1990 issue as being the fifth most-popular arcade game at the time.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=386|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=15 August 1990|page=25|lang=ja}}</ref> In Australia, ''Leisure Line'' magazine reported the game to be the fifth most-popular Japanese coin-op game in their September 1990 issue.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/Leisure_Line_1990-09_Leisure_Allied_Industries_AU#page/n37/mode/1up|title=Test Reports: Japanese Game Machines - Table Videos|magazine=Leisure Line|publisher=Leisure & Allied Industries|date=September 1990|page=38}}</ref> In the November 1990 issue of Japanese publication ''Micom BASIC Magazine'', the game was ranked on the number fifteenth spot in popularity.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Yamashita|first=Nobuyuki|url=https://archive.org/stream/micomBASIC_1990-11#page/n227/mode/1up|title=Super Soft Hot Information: Video Game! (ビデオゲーム) - Hot 20|magazine=[[:ja:マイコンBASICマガジン|Micom BASIC Magazine]]|issue=101|publisher=[[:ja:電波新聞社|The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation]]|date=November 1990|page=238|lang=ja}}</ref> Likewise, ''RePlay'' reported ''Out Zone'' to be the fourteenth most-popular arcade game at the time in North America.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Player's Choice - Top Games Now in Operation, Based on Earnings-Opinion Poll of Operators: Best Software|magazine=RePlay|volume=16|issue=2|publisher=RePlay Publishing, Inc.|date=November 1990|page=4}}</ref> In May 1991, UK magazine ''[[Zero (video game magazine)|Zero]]'' ranked it on their number nine spot in popularity.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Wilson|first=David|url=https://archive.org/stream/zero-magazine-19#page/n39/mode/1up|title=Dosh Eaters: Slotties Chart|magazine=[[Zero (video game magazine)|Zero]]|issue=19|publisher=[[Dennis Publishing]]|date=May 1991|page=40}}</ref>

''[[Sinclair User]]'' praised the fast-paced gameplay and frenetic action, stating that "''Outzone'' is one hell of a challenge, particularly past the initial stages, but is sure to set the pulse racing if you've got the reactions to match it!".<ref name="SUoz"/> Likewise, David Wilson of ''[[Your Sinclair]]'' praised the frenetic gameplay, although he drew comparison with ''[[Mercs]]''.<ref name="YSoz"/> ''[[Retro Gamer]]''{{'}}s Mike Bevan gave positive remarks to the presentation but lamented the lack of a console release.<ref name="OZdamRG"/><ref name="RGoz">{{cite web|last=Bevan|first=Mike|url=https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games90/outzone/|title=Outzone|publisher=[[Retro Gamer]]|date=October 1, 2008|access-date=2019-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150803042247/http://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games90/outzone/|archive-date=August 3, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Computer and Video Games]]''{{'}}s [[Julian Rignall]] scored the game with an overall 80% rating.<ref name="CVGoz"/> Nick Zverloff of ''[[Hardcore Gaming 101]]'' gave it an overall mixed retrospective.<ref name="OZhg101"/> Similarly, Malcolm Laurie from ''SHMUPS!'' lamented the lack of a console port but praised the visuals, sound design, gameplay and multiplayer.<ref name="OZshmups!">{{cite web|last=Laurie|first=Malcolm|url=http://www.shmups.com/reviews/outzone/index.html|title=Out Zone|website=www.shmups.com|publisher=SHMUPS!|access-date=2019-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709161907/http://www.shmups.com/reviews/outzone/index.html|archive-date=2018-07-09|url-status=live}}</ref>

''Out Zone'' was included as one of the titles in the 2010 book ''[[1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die]]''.<ref name="1001vgympbyd">{{cite book|last=Mott|first=Tony|title=[[1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die]]|publisher=[[Universe Publishing]]|date=2010|isbn=978-0-7893-2090-2}}</ref> A spiritual sequel, ''FixEight'', was released in July 1992 for arcades.<ref name="OZhg101"/> In more recent years, the rights to the game, its spiritual follow-up and many other IPs from [[Toaplan]] are now owned by Tatsujin, a company named after ''Truxton''{{'}}s Japanese title that was founded in 2017 by former Toaplan employee Masahiro Yuge, and is part of [[Embracer Group]] since 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tatsujin.tokyo/custom.html|title=ライセンス事業|publisher=TATSUJIN Co., Ltd.|date=2019|access-date=2019-10-11|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225203847/http://tatsujin.tokyo/custom.html|archive-date=2018-12-25|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bravo|first=Roberto|url=https://www.gamercafe.cl/2018/09/12/nueva-compania-tatsujin-asegura-tener-gran-parte-de-las-ips-de-la-extinta-toaplan/|title=Nueva compañía "Tatsujin" asegura tener gran parte de las IPs de la extinta Toaplan|publisher=Gamercafe|date=September 12, 2018|access-date=2019-10-11|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021030437/https://www.gamercafe.cl/2018/09/12/nueva-compania-tatsujin-asegura-tener-gran-parte-de-las-ips-de-la-extinta-toaplan/|archive-date=October 21, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/408/G040821/20190125146/|title=［JAEPO2019］TATSUJINやナツメアタリの参入が発表されたexA-Arcadia。出展コーナーの模様を紹介|work=[[4Gamer.net]]|publisher=Aetas Inc.|date=January 26, 2019|access-date=2019-10-11|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021031252/https://www.4gamer.net/games/408/G040821/20190125146/|archive-date=October 21, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Embracer Group Announces the 11[th] Operating Group: Embracer Freemode |url=https://embracer.com/releases/embracer-group-announces-the-11th-operating-group-embracer-freemode/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Embracer Group |language=en-US}}</ref>