Test Drive – XB – Review

There is no such thing as being in the
wrong lane, or a speed limit. You won’t worry about your insurance rates
skyrocketing if you have an accident. After all, what you are doing is
highly illegal.

Pitbull Syndicate and Atari return players
to the good old days of breakneck speed on city streets with its release
of Test Drive for the Xbox. This arcade racing program features deadly
curves, high-powered cars and, of course, devastating crashes.

But don’t worry about the latter ­
there are not many times when you can hit another vehicle head-on at 120
miles-per-hour and not only walk away seemingly unscathed, but continue
the race. This game, however, presents precisely that opportunity.

This program is about pure racing entertainment.
Some real-world physics sneak into the mix of the gameplay, but only in
terms of how the car handles when it tries to take that corner at a high
rate of speed.

The game features a variety of hot cars,
from the ugly rendered (but surprisingly fast) GTO to the unmistakable
lines of a Camaro, as well as the Chevy Chevelle, Supra and several imports.

The idea of the game is simple: make all
the checkpoints before time runs out, outrun any police pursuers and try
to beat your opposition to the finish line. You can pick up points for
hitting some of the jumps. That is the intention aspect of aerial automotives;
there are also the unintentional jumps, which can be a quick adrenaline
rush if you were unprepared for the event.

When it comes to the game play options,
there are several ways to attack this game. There is the obligatory quick
race, or you can power through single-player options of linear racing (one
course) or the circuit. If you want something a little more than merely
out-racing other illegal street drivers, you can take on the Underground
game. The latter involves a club dedicated to street racing. Your character,
Dennis Black, has been invited to stand in for one of the club members
(who was injured in a race), and take on the circuit and its cutthroat
competitors.

Of course, there is also a multiplayer,
head-to-head racing option that allows players to pick and customize the
paint job of a car, then take off on one of the courses.

Each of the courses ­ which include
streets in San Francisco, Monte Carlo, Tokyo and London ­ present unique
challenges. Some races are at night, which give the game an added dimension.
That head-on collision may be fine during the daylight, but do it at night
and you will likely lose your headlights. That is not a good thing when
barreling around the streets of San Francisco. That trolley does have running
lights, thereby announcing its presence. In the quick times between checkpoints,
any accident can delay you long enough to miss making the next marker.

Graphically the game is well done. The
course environments are superb and the racing action is intense. The sound
for the game is equally well done. The musical score features tracks from
a variety of artists such as DMX and JA Rule. There are also the customary
sounds associated with a racing game ­ such as revving engines and
squealing tires.

The controls take little time to learn.
This game was played with both a wheel and the standard Xbox controller,
and the latter proved a little easier to use simply because players can
take their finger off the left thumbstick (direction control) on straight-aways
and the car will keep to a straight line.

Test Drive is an enjoyable arcade car-racing
game. It does have challenge, and though some of the action (as in the
crashes) are slightly unrealistic, this is a game that will likely appeal
to both young and veteran race fans.

Gameplay: 8

This is an arcade race game, and that
means some real-world physics can be overlooked. There is little damage
to cars, even in the most incredible collisions you have seen (imagine
gunning toward an intersection with the pedal to the metal when cars ahead
of you turn into your path ­ that will give you some idea of the crashes
this game offers). And for those who want to know ­ nope, can’t run
over pedestrians. They are too quick, even if you try to pretend you aren’t
going to hit them, then swerve at the last possible second.

Graphics: 8.5

While the crashes may lack a certain reality,
they do look spectacular. The environments are very well rendered.

Sound: 8.5

Solid tunes and racing effects co-star
with the graphics.

Difficulty: Easy

The game is easy to jump into and play,
but winning presents its own set of challenges.

Concept: 7

This game sports a good options package,
although it hardly offers a unique racing experience.

Multiplayer: 7

Nothing different here. This game will
support two players racing head-to-head.

Overall: 8.3

The police pursuit ends way too quickly
(only once was a roadblock encountered), but solid graphics and sound accelerate
this game down the home stretch. This is entertaining and challenging.