Introduction

Test Drive lost its luster in the 5th and 6th installments. The huge linear tracks full of traffic were replaced with short bumpy lap based tracks, most of which had little to no traffic. The tough challenging AI from the 4th version was replaced with cheesy almost unbeatable AI that was more frustrating than challenging.

After a couple of years off, Test Drive has returned. You are Dennis, a former pro race car driver with no money and nothing to do. A wealthy racer disabled from a race offers you a chance to make money and respect. All you have to do is participate in weekly "Test Drives", races against 5 other people spanning the world.

Presentation

What gets really annoying though, is the "email" type things you have to do inbetween races, and practices. Theyre meant to expand the story and interact with your "boss" and other racers, but after awhile theyre plain annoying.

The controller setup should make and Test Drive vet feel right at home. X still accelerates, square brakes, circle is rear view and triangle changes view. The number of cameras has sadly been reduced from about 10 to 3.

This games beat feature: Pong. The game is made by Atari and they threw in Pong for a loading screen mini game. Trust me, you will see it alot, because the loading in this game is worse than some of the PSX versions. The game is challenging, although the AI seems a little too weak against speed shots in the top and bottom corners. Nevertheless, the best loading screen game to date, and well, it was more fun for me than the game itself. While it could be alot better, the presentation in Test Drive is still better than most racers.

Graphics & Sound

The stages are huge, some taking minutes per lap. However, its not free, and the price is draw distance. Sometimes you cant see whats coming next soon enough. The game gives you flashing arrows, but usually theyre useless and more confusing than helpful. The map is the same. Turning it off helps. To top it off, some effects are plain laughable, and sometimes the arrows blind you from barriers, such as rails, etc. Sloppy indeed.

Sound wise, the first and foremost thing is play your radio when you’re playing this game. The music is pure popular rap/nu-metal crap. Turn it down. As far as the cars go, its a mixed bag. Some of the muscle cars sound awesome. Other muslce cars sound like they have turbos under the hood. The sound effects are pretty top notch, and help save a pretty much generic display of sound in this game.

Gameplay

The control has returned to its familiar floaty Test Drive feel. Gone are the tight and touchy controls from Test Drive 6. Fans of simulation type games like Gran Turismo and SegaGT will not appreciate the way you can barrel through corners at 150mph+ without using the brake.

Basically, you start the game at the bottom os the ladder. Youre working for a guy who pays you to race and provides you your car. You race through stage after stage in one city, through various lapped/linear tracks. Every so often the game mixes it up with drag races, which you must win every heat to advance. For a few good races, the game is enjoyable. However, after a few hours or so of playing, the game becomes entirely repetitive. Each city has multiples stages, and aside from the drag racing, the tracks in each city are virtually the same.

The cars are too similiar also. They mostly sound the same, and for the most part, handle exactly the same. The strangest part is, each car gives you a breakdown on stats before you choose. You dont even need to look. For example, taking a look at the Cudas stats, you’ll see it gets you from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds. Cool. I’d consider the Cuda over the Supra because they are almost matched in acceleration but the Cuda has a higher speed. Wrong. None of the cars accelerate or top out at the speeds listed. The Cuda actually tops out about 5mph UNDER whats listed and accelerates way faster than listed. 0-100 in the Cuda comes faster than the listed 0-60 time. Its little things like these that makes the game more annoying than fun to play. When you’re having to guess which car will end up being the furthest off whats listed and if it will be to your advantage or not, you’re not having a good time.

Another negative on the gameplay is the AI. The computer cars are not great racers. Theyre sloppy at best, wrecking left and right, braking too much on corners, etc. Yet, when you’re approaching the finish line, all 5 of them are right beside you still. Some might say that makes for an exciting game, but I say it makes for a waste of time trying to master a game. Whats the point of becoming good at a game when the AI is on par with you regardless of how bad they perform. Its like a sports game where you’re winning 60-0 with 2 minutes left and the AI team suddenly starts scoring non stop and takes the game to OT. You feel ripped off, and it makes the game very boring.

Lastly, most of the modes are pointless. The Cop Chase mode is too easy, and the drag race mode isnt really a drag race, just a top speed test. The tracks are extended so long that its no longer a 1/4 mile, it’s a straight track that determines nothing more than which car has the highest top speed.

Test Drive is a game that feels rushed, but judging by the graphics, the licensed music and the huge tracks its obviously not rushed, only designed poorly. The tracks need to be less generic and less similiar. Also, whats the point of putting all different types of cars in a game from different eras if they all handle the same? Pitbull brought back a few of the good sides of Test Drive back for the next gen systems, but kept too many of the things that ruined the series. The result is an average game that gets old too quick, even with the kick ass Pong mini-game.

Lasting Appeal

Conclusion