"AS THE INTRODUCTION STARTS THE SOUNDS OF METALLICA BLARE THROUGH YOUR SPEAKERS" (Test Drive Off-Road Wide Open (PS2))

Member Name: ps2update

Product:	Test Drive Off-Road Wide Open (PS2)
Date:	14/04/02 (80 review reads)
Rating:

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Racing games have been done before, time and time again on every console, the PS2 is no exception. Ridge 5, Burnout, and Tokyo Xtreme Racer are all examples of racing games, there is however only one king of racing games and that is Gran Turismo 3: A Spec. Infogrames bring us yet another racer in the form of Test Drive: Off-Road Wide Open. Off-Road Wide Open offers a different racing experience rather than the serious simulation of Gran Turismo 3. With this racing game you more or less race where you want to race, read on…

GRAPHICS

Test Drive: Off-Road Wide Open has a lot of spectacular views; there are mountains, lakes, grass areas, dirt areas, boulders, and a whole host of other things. Although everything looks nice and colourful the graphics are a little basic. Sure the graphics are in brilliant 3D and there are a lot of great scenes but there isn't as much detail as there is in games such as Gran Turismo. With Test Drive not being a simulation this can be excused but in the age of the PS2 one has become accustomed to lush graphics, and individual unique bricks in walls. Test Drive is a colourful game, and can certainly not be described as ugly; there are nice features such as tyre marks, and headlights on the cars. The graphics are about the standard expected for a PS2 game but are unfortunately rather average than anything special, it is a humble attempt though from Infogrames nonetheless.
15/20

GAMEPLAY

Test Drive: Off-Road Wide Open plays very differently to both Gran Turismo, and Ridge Racer. Off-Road Wide is not a simulation racer like GT racing on dirt tracks, race tracks, and streets, it is neither an arcade racer such as Ridge Racer, it is a combination of the two. Test Drive plays very similarly to Ridge in the sense that it is an arcade racer with checkpoints, yet at the same time you save up money to buy cars like in GT3. Off-Road Wide Open is one of the most free roaming racers to date, the only rul
e is that you must pass all the checkpoints, you can take shortcuts through bushes, up hills, and through the sea if you have to but as long as you pass through the checkpoints anything goes. As the title might suggest the bulk of the racing is off-road, you will go through dirt, forests, beaches, waterfalls, and a whole host of other things. The main aim of Test Drive: Off-Road Wide Open is to primarily have fun, and secondly to win as many races and seasons/divisions as possible. The concept is basic; buy car, win race, earn money, win division, repeat remembering to buy a better car. As one can see not the most tasking of ideas but definitely one that is fun particularly with a friend. The gameplay is not as adventurous as one would hope for a free roaming racer but it is certainly a fresh idea.
17/25

SOUND

When the game first opens it is not the graphics you notice, nor even the gameplay, it is in fact the sound. As the introduction starts the sounds of Metallica blare through your speakers, a little unusual to have such a phenomenally big band on any PS2 game, even Gran Turismo settled for the likes of Ash, and Feeder but Test Drive has taken things that little bit further. Metallica isn't the only big band that provides music for the game; also providing music is Fear Factory. Fear Factory are very big on the nu-metal scene and have provided songs for the new Resident Evil film. The music varies from track to track but it is fair to say that the majority of tracks are classed as metal. Metal is a good choice of music for the mood of things in this game, the gamer needs something to psyche themselves up with a heavy beat as they go up and down cliffs, and through dusty caverns. It isn't just the soundtrack that you will hear when racing, you will hear the revs of engines and the occasional arcade style voice reminding you that you have passed a checkout - no surprises though considering this is an arcade style game. When colliding
with other vehicles you get a satisfying clunk followed by the rumble of your dual shock - it all adds to the experience of the game. With a carefully selected soundtrack it is unfortunate that the rest of the sound effects aren't equally spectacular, still you can't have everything.
15/20

LIFESPAN

The game boasts single mode, career mode, free roam mode, and multiplayer mode. Not only does it boasts these modes but there are various seasons to complete it career mode, 16 trucks, and 27 tracks, with that said you would expect this game to last you a long time. Sadly it doesn't last as long as one would hope. Test Drive does have a few hours of play in it but it doesn't have weeks of gameplay or indeed months such as Gran Turismo. Expect Test Drive to last you a good weekend plus multiplayer time. While Test Drive lasts it will remain fun but after playing it through once you may not revisit it very often.
16/25

ORIGINALITY

Test Drive: Off-Road Wide Open can only be compared to Smuggler's Run in similarity, this is coincidentally also made by Angel Studios. Off-Road racing makes for a change to track racing so in this sense it is familiar. Even if one has seen off-road racing games before Test Drive manages to pull it off successfully and this makes for a change in itself. There are few revolutionary touches to the game not seen before but the feel of the game is relatively pleasing. If you have played Smuggler's Run it will feel similar but luckily they are fairly different games when you get into them.
6/10

OVERALL

Test Drive: Off-Road Wide Open is warmly welcomed to the PS2 and is a good attempt at making an off-road racing game, don't expect a realistic simulation, but do expect an arcade style racer.





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