Unoffical FAQ. RUNABOUT: ARE YOU BORN TO DRIVE? FULL FAQ V2.1 Written by: Vincent Liu(cl678@torfree.net) Special Thanks To ----------------- Shawn SackenheimFor helping on the whole faq! Henry LaPierre For the Hidden cars --------------------------------------------------------- This Document may be freely copied without changes, distributed or used in any way provided proper credit is given to it's author. --------------------------------------------------------- RUNABOUT ======== GAME: RUNABOUT SYSTEM: SONY PLAYSTATION RELEASE DATE: 1997 PRODUCED BY: YANOMAN GAMES & CLIMAX Again I make no claims as to knowing everything. If you think something is wrong or have information to add let me know. Table of CONTENTS ----------------- -Tradmarks -Copyright and Disclaimer Notice -Story Line -The Game -Controller Settings -Missions (Courses) -Gas Station -Vechiles -Hidden Cars -Time Trial -Setting -Test Run -IMPORTANT!!! (READ) Trademarks ---------- PlayStation and the game itself Runabout are trademarks, and so is acknowledged. Any other trademarks not mentioned here are still acknowledged. Copyright and Disclaimer Notice ------------------------------- This is were I give out the "SHOUTS" to all the amazing guys and gals at Climax & Yanoman Games for bring out this cool game. STORYLINE --------- This rich guy finds this tomb that holds untolded riches. He needs this small statue to open it but it has since been broken into three pieces. He hires you, a master thief, to steal the pieces and give them to him. DOWNTOWN starts with you stealing the statue piece from a museum and building a bomb (with the 5 batteries) to escape through Michael's Estate. SEA SIDE has you chasing down the man who has the Golden Wings in his limo. After hitting his limo you must escape. METRO CITY places you in Paris searching for the Scepter to finish the "key". After, or before, finding it you must hit a telephone booth to call your contact to wait for you at the end. THE GAME -------- ASCII has picked up Runabout for a late Summer/early fall release in the US under the name Felony 11-79. It should be out by late summer (i.e. mid to late August) due to the fact that most of the game is already in English. There is a contest in Japan right now that will allow anyone with the fastest lap times to win a trip to Guam. The contest pass can be found on the ranking screen as the series of letters and numbers labeled "contest pass". This will most likely only be in the Japanese version. Controller Settings ------------------- These settings can be changed in the OPTION SCREEN The defaults are: LEFT & RIGHT - Move left and right START - Pause/Quit L & R - Gear Up & Down (MANUAL ONLY) X - Gas SQUARE - Brake CIRCLE - Reverse TRIANGLE - Toggle View Missions (Courses) ------------------ This is what I found so far. There are probably more short-cuts and secrets but I haven't found them out yet. MISSION 1 (DOWNTOWN) Your mission is retrieve all the items in Chinatown first and make it to the end before the time runs out. This course is tough at first, but once you find the shortest paths to each item the rest is easy. This is were you will encounter all the items there are 5 batteries that you must get to make a bomb that will allow you to enter Michael's Estate after leaving downtown. The best way to retrieve all the items is to first start out travelling straight where there are two police cruisers blocking the road. Avoid if you can by going all the way to the left onto the sidewalk cuz you'll save time instead of positioning your car after you hit the cop cars. Travel until you retrieve the first item and make a right turn. You'll see the other item and travel back down to retrieve the next one. Once you have picked up the third item make a left turn and run through the mall. Once you've passed through the mall make a right and retrieve the item on the left. Make a dash afterwards to the north right corner of Chinatown to retrieve the last item. This is where you can save some time. IF you are driving any vechile besides the MOPED then you'll have to make a U-Turn back and travel out of Chinatown back down the street and to the right. IF you are driving the MOPED you will notice that there are a few metal rods sticking out of the floor. Pass between them since your MOPED is small enough and go through the small alley and you'll end up to the road to Michael's Estate. Chinatown - This is were you will encounter all the items. The best way to retrieve all the items is to first start out travelling to the furtherest road were there are two police cruisers blocking the road. Avoid if you can cuz you'll save time instead of positioning your car after you hit the cop cars. Travel until you retrieve the first item and make a right turn. You'll see the other item and travel back down to retrieve the other item. Once you have picked up the third item make a left turn and run through the mall. Once you've passed through the mall make a right and retrieve the item on the left. Make a dash afterwards to the north right corner of Chinatown to retrieve the last item. This is were you can save some time. IF you are driving any vechile besides the MOPED then you'll have to make a U-Turn back and travel out of Chinatown. IF you are driving the MOPED you will notice that there is a few metal rods sticking out of the floor. Pass through this since your MOPED is small enough to travel through and go through the small alley and you'll end up to the road to the mansion. Mansion - Once you have passed the gates go to the right of the mansion, since there is no road on the left of the mansion. Hotel - After the mansion you are then led up to the hotel. There are 3 possible ways to get throught this part. 1) Left - If you make a left you will encounter a tour bus and this will leave you little room to get through. Not a good choice. 2) Straight - Yup! That's right, Straight!! Bust through the billboard and travel through the lobbies. This is quick but your car will accumulate a lot of damage. 3) Right - The fastest and safest way. No obstacles in your way and just make a left at the end to get back on the main road. Tunnel - You will encounter a split one that goes left and one that goes right. Left Tunnel - Is longer but faster with no traffic at all. Right Tunnel - Shorter distance but with traffice from both sides. If you can dodge through all the cars then this is your path. Broad Street - Once you get to this street travel as fast as you can and reach the end. The first hill will throw you for a jump but if you steer to the left you should be able to make it without slowing down or taking a hit. MISSION 2 (SEA SIDE) Your mission is to retrieve the golden wings from a LIMO. The LIMO can be seen travelling the other direction around the GAS STATION. Hit the LIMO and you will retrieve the item. Once you get the item press the pedal to metal and dash for the finish line. Route 39 - This is easy until you hit the toll booths. On the right side the booths are filled up but on the left they are empty. Split - This is were you will see either a tanker infront of a small street or a path way to the left. 1) The small street has many cars and trucks parked on both sides which makes it difficult to get through quickly. 2) Hit the wooden railing on the right and this will lead you down to the beach. Take it slow and DON'T turn or you'll spin out. Once you passed either way the street or the beach, you will see a bridge in the distance. The bridge may be halfway down or standing straight up. If it's halfway then it is possible for a fast car (The RAM at least) to jump the ramp and pass the big ass curve. If it's down then you'll have to take the long way around. Once you passed either way the street or the beach, you will see a bridge to the left. The bridge may be halfway down or standing straight up. If it's halfway then it is possible for a fast car (The RAM at least) to jump the ramp and pass the big ass curve. If it's down then you'll have to take the long way around. My THEORY so far on how to control the bridge either up or halfway is the money you accumalate. IF you have accumlated over a 1 or 1.5 million the bridge will be half down. The reason is that there is an additional car you can get if this mission is passed within the time given with $2.5 million. Shawn's theory says that if you have over 180 seconds remaining the bridge will be up...any less and you get a cool shortcut...take it over 110 KPH though. 8) Gas Station - This is what is next in line. You will see that there are again two ways you can go, but if you are on pace to beat the game then most likely the LIMO will be traveling just by the gas station. So, you will have to stick to the left. Hit the LIMO to retrieve the item. From here on you will have two choice again either stay to your left or to your right. Route 24 - This is where if you stay to your left you will travel a longer, but safer, route. So what you need to do is get your car to the right. You will see an entrance with a toll booth after you have passed an empty lot filled with gas tanks. It's a pretty windy path and there is a wreck to deal with. If you stay to the left between the semi that is against the left wall and the other cars you should be able to make it through. End - This is where you will have two options again. 1) After you have made your way through Route 24 and you decide to stay to your right and travel till the end you will encounter road blocks and cruisers blocking your way. This will slow you down and acculmate massive amounts of damage to your vechile. 2) Once you make it through to the right curve, you will notice that there is an opening to your left. This will lead you to the an open sewer. Once you are in you will see a metal gate that can be broken and yoy can also travel to the left or right concrete walls to pass it. Once you have passed it you will notice an opening to your right, you must exit the sewer in order to pass the game. *Hint* If you are trying to get the secret cars by accumlating over 2.5 million the TANKERS, LONG TRUCKS, AMBULANCE & THE POLICE WAGONS gives you the most cash. MISSION 3 (METRO CITY) Mission 3 is only selectable once you have completed MISSIONS 1 & 2. This mission is tough since there are many possible ways to reach the end. You must find the scepter and then use (hit!) a pay phone to call your contact to be waiting for you. You don't have to get the first ones you see. There is one much later on that is the best way that I've found. Once you get the item, again dash for the finish line. This is what I found to be the shortest way to this mission. Montavo Street- This is were you will see the 3 flasing items on the bottom right of your screen. You do not have to hit the any of the payphones, as more or later on the stage. Approach the first one and travel to the left road that will lead you down. On the left hand side you will see two metal barracades in the middle of the brick wall, this is lead you to the SUBWAY! Subway - Not to tought, just travel in the tunnels and this will lead you to the ERASMUS PASS. If you hit the subway train you can get a COoL MILLION!!! Once you get and exit the subway there is two paths you can choose. 1) Make a left on the exit and make another left turn on the road and this will lead to the next road. 2) Make a left on the exit and go through the billboads.This will lead you to a jump. IF you car is fast enough you will get a short-cut. IF you fail the jump then you'll end up on the same road you would if you choose the first option. This is tough since you car will bouce and skid when it lands. Erasmus Pass - By this time you will see a split on the road. CHOOSE THE ONE ON THE LEFT!! LEFT!!!! Keep travelling left until you see the opening on your right to ANOTHER SUBWAY ENTRANCE!!! Again this is straight forward, go through it ASAP. Once you exit you will see a telephone booth, this is where you start the countdown when you hit the booth, this will give you about 120 seconds.Make the left turn through the doors and retrive the last item. Make a left and travel through those doors. Next Roads - This is a bunch of turns and twists but there is a shortcut! When you get to a point where there is a sign that looks like this <<<<< in red meaning a sharp right turn, crash through the billboards and you'll end up on a road. Travel left and you'll see a brick wall on your left, don't go to fast cuz there is a VERY SMALL OPENING in the wall. IF your vechile permits it this alley way will lead to the road that travels around the lake, so be sure not to go too FAST or you'll end up in the lake. If you do travel till the end of the lake and you'll see a road that will lead up to the main road. Lake - You have 3 options. 1) Travel to the left on the paved road. 2) Go in the lake an drive through it and you will see a ramp at the end of the lake leading to the next road. 3) Probably the fastest way, travel the right of the lake, where you will see a dirt path. Shopping Centre - This is the last part to this stage. Once you have made it in to the entrace of the Centre you will have two options. 1) Travel through the doors and bust your way through the displays and travel through the back doors. 2) If you are driving the MOPED then go to the extreme right of the front of the CENTRE and you'll see this pathway. THis is small enough to travel into. Keep going until there is no more and make your way to the end. If you choose the 1 option and you have accumlated a lot of damage and you don't want to bust through the baracades, then travel to the right and there will be a clear path. *Hint* If you are trying to get the secret cars by accumlating over 2.5 million the SUBWAY TRAINS gives you a cool million. MISSION 3 (METRO CITY) This is what Shawn found to be the shortest way through this mission. Head down Montavo Street and stay on the left side. After turning right keep going straight until you are forced to turn left. You'll see a wall forcing you to go left. Make a quick slide around this barracade and continue to the right. When you see the road go off to the right and down, follow it. Make a right and then a left to go back up a ramp. Continue past the partition and skip yet another telephone. You will reach the most hazardous turn in the whole game. A sharp turn with LOTS of stuff that you'll slide into. Take it slower and easy. (NOTE: I don't recommend taking the subway halfway through Montavo Street. The reason being that when you run a perfect, or near-perfect, race you'll meet the first subway car in the middle of a turn and almost always get hit, wasting valuable time). You will be presented with 3 paths here. Going straight is the fastest. To the right will take you to a big jump shortcut but it's a BIG time waster as you spin all over the place. And to the left will take you the wrong way! Soooo, go straight! Erasmus Pass You should take the turns slowly as spinning out will waste time. This will lead you to Erasmus Pass. Once you enter this maze-like area...GO LEFT! This will lead you to another, more advantageous, subway. Run it and instead of climbing onto the platform and having to go through the ticket gates (and racking up damage) go all the way to the end of the track (slowly!) and take a right for a hidden shortcut that will bring you out past the damaging ticket gates. Once you climb the steps you'll see a phone booth...this is the one you wanna hit. After hitting it the timer will start and you'll wanna go left to get the scepter. Turn left again and head out the partially opened doors. Other Streets After You get the scepter you'll take some windy roads, but nothing too difficulty. After a long right curve you'll see some big red signs with arrows. Take this slowly and head just past the signs to drop off the course and cut out a HUGE section of the race. Keep going right until you see the lake. There are a few ways to go here: 1. Go across the water...IN THE RAM or BIG TRUCK ONLY!! 2. Go to the right across the dirt path that will bring you out past the lake. Continue up the road until you go under an overpass and see some billboards straight ahead. Take a SHARP right and then another right to come to the shopping centre. Shopping Centre If you're in the MOPED, go right to the shortcut by the store marked with big white pillars. If you're in anything else go inside the store, towards the right side. Go past the first aisle and out the back. Go to the right and head for the somewhat straight path, there aren't many roadblocks here, and come around the last box to a straightaway to the finish. Simple....uh...right? VECHILES -------- Now to the good part. You start off with 4 cars RAM, 320, MIN and VES. Once you beat each mission 2 additional cars will be selectable. Each vechile will have either AT/MT transmisson or just AT or MT transmisson ONLY! Each vechile is different and unique. Each vechile has it's ups and downs and with time & pratice you will find the best vechile that will suit your style and skill. RAM - The good old American Pick-up. This looks similar to the Dodge Ram. Great power. This is a great car to start off. This baby has 4WD & V8 backing it up. (AT/MT) Horsepower 250 Torque 45.6 Length 5591 Weight 2903 Fuel 90 320 - From the looks of it, it looks like a BMW. Fast and good pickup. (AT ONLY) Horsepower 150 Torque 19.5 Length 4435 Weight 1385 Fuel 70 MIN - The Classic British Car. Designed for ON-ROAD ONLY! So if you take this baby off-raod, you will definitely have a rough time. (AT/MT) Horsepower 53 Torque 9.3 Length 3076 Weight 740 Fuel 50 VES - MOPED. Fun to play with. The best vechile to use when getting the no $ (damaged) cars. (AT/MT) Horsepower 12 Torque 2.2 Length 1655 Weight 84 Fuel 5 SIR - (AT ONLY) Horsepower 130 Torque 14.1 Length 4070 Weight 1040 Fuel 45 NSR - Better known as the NSX! (MT ONLY) Horsepower 280 Torque 30.0 Length 4430 Weight 1230 Fuel 70 GTR - Excels in acceleration and braking department. (MT ONLY) Horsepower 280 Torque 37.5 Length 4675 Weight 1530 Fuel 65 BUS - BIG BUS!!! (AT/MT) Horsepower 235 Torque 60.1 Length 11250 Weight 12130 Fuel 120 DAM - A construction dump truck. (AT/MT) Horsepower 395 Torque 141.5 Length 8024 Weight 10330 Fuel 150 LIM - A Limo. (AT ONLY) Horsepower 275 Torque 41.5 Length 8326 Weight 2980 Fuel 100 GTS - Dodge Viper GTS! Great speed and tight control. (AT/MT) Horsepower 450 Torque 66.1 Length 4450 Weight 1570 Fuel 70 ELS - A sporty little car. (AT/MT) Horsepower 118 Torque 16.8 Length 3726 Weight 690 Fuel 50 360 - The VW BETTLE!!! (AT/MT) Horsepower 16 Torque 3.0 Length 2948 Weight 640 Fuel 55 FD7 - Toyota Supra Turbo - One of the fastest AT cars around. (AT/MT) Horsepower 255 Torque 30.0 Length 4295 Weight 1290 Fuel 70 GT1- Toyota's Rally Car! Ever play SEGA RALLY?! :) (MT ONLY) Horsepower 600 (WoW) Torque 50.4 (WoW) Length 3726 Weight 1530 Fuel 65 TAC- Lambourghini Diablo! (MT ONLY) Horsepower 375 Torque 36.8 Length 4140 Weight 1065 Fuel 72 TRD - GARBAGE TRUCK?! EWwww. (AT/MT) Horsepower 230 Torque 40.5 Length 6820 Weight 3600 Fuel 90 RSP - Street Sweeper. (AT/MT) Horsepower 200 Torque 42.8 Length 6960 Weight 9025 Fuel 100 19A - Indy car but I guess it's C.A.R.T. Car now. (AT/MT) Horsepower 700 (Wow) Torque 45.3 (wOw) Length 4150 Weight 600 (light!) Fuel 130 PLS - Police Cruiser! (AT/MT) Horsepower 820 If that was only true! :P Torque 89.6 Length 5625 Weight 1820 Fuel 60 TNK - HollY MollY!!!! TANK!!! * Press "Square" to fire the CANNON!!!! (AT ONLY) Horsepower 1500 Torque 96.4 Length 9800 Weight 50000 Fuel 500 DSH - DASH CAR or the REMote Control Car. This baby can go places! (AT ONLY) Horsepower 1 Torque 0.1 Length 200 Weight 1 Fuel 1 Hidden Cars ----------- When you beat MISSION 1 (DOWNTOWN) you will be able to choose SIR - A sports car NSR - A.K.A. NSX When you beat MISSION 2 (SEASIDE) you will be able to choose GTR - A sports car BUS - BUS When you beat MISSION 3 (METRO CITY) you will be able to choose DAM - A contruction dump truck LIM - LIMO There are also 12 HIDDEN vechiles that are available. GTS - Beat easy mode with total amount over $1,000,000 ELS - Beat medium mode with total amount over $2,500,000 360 - Beat hard mode with total amount over $2,500,000 FD7 - Beat easy mode within 4 mins GT1 - Beat medium mode within 4 mins TAC - Beat hard mode within 4 mins TRD = Trash truck. On the freeway section of the Seaside course, while doing over 180 km/h. RSP = Street Sweeper. On the freeway section of the Seaside course, while doing over 230 km/h. 19A = Indy car. Complete Downtown with no accumulated money(no damage) PLC = Police cruiser. Complete Seaside with no accumulated money(no damage) TNK = Tank. Complete Metro city with no accumulated money(no damage) DSH = Remote Control Car! Get this in Metro City. Hit the shelves on the left side of the convention centre, pickup the car and finish the game. TIME TRIAL ---------- This is an other option to play each mission without the TIME LIMIT. So just drive around, find some secrets, short cuts and have fun. SETTING ------- This is where you can do some real work. You are give the following options: Steering, Front Suspension, Read Suspension, Grip Balance, Acceleration & Brake You can custom fit any car to your style of liking! COoL! You can then TEST RUN your car. TEST RUN -------- This is another course given to test drive your car. There is no time limit and all you have to do is test the car out. IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ----------------------- REMEMBER TO SAVE THE GAME TO YOUR MEMORY CARD AFTER GETTING THE NEW CARS. IF YOU DON'T THEY YOU CAN SAY BYE-BYE TO ALL YOUR HARD WORK!!!