Since the launch of the XBOX there have been a host of PS2 ports and many of them have not been a heck of a lot different from the Playstation 2 version, and that again holds true with Test Drive Off-Road: Wide Open. This game may as well be put into a PS2 tray if you want to play it.
As many people know from the earlier versions of Test Drive is that it plays as more of an arcade style game then a simulation. Test Drive has four main modes: Single Player, Multiplayer, Career Mode, and Stadium Mode. While you will probably only spend a few minutes at the most playing the Single Player mode, the multiplayer mode should not be overlooked. It is a solid multiplayer mode that has the different modes. These are Single Race, King of The Hill, and Free Roam.
Angel Studios added a new mode for the XBOX version of Test Drive and that is Stadium Race. I feel that although it was nice that Infogrames made an effort to put something extra in, the stadium race is just not much fun. It is pretty much an extension of the Career Mode in which you have place first to move onto the next round. The Career mode is where the meet of the game is. You will notice right away that your not going to win easily. It may take you a couple try's to learn the turns, and all the shortcuts you will need to take to win the race. The career mode is a rather lengthy one you will probably need numerous try's to win the races, and save up enough money to get a new vehicle.
Test Drive has the right idea for a great off-road game but doesn't come through with the games physics. You can take hills at odd angles as well as flying off huge jumps and landing them perfect. The computer AI is not to great either, I noticed as soon as I took first in a race the computer would immediately catch up and knock you off the road.
Test Drive is a game that doesn't do much for anyone visually. The environments are well drawn out, but just don't fully use the Xbox's capabilities. The cars are look pretty good, but again nothing compared to what you would hope to see. I really think that if Angel Studious decides to create another Test Drive, they are really going to need to work on the graphics.
The controls are not to bad, they are set up pretty well on the controller. I think that they were pretty normal for an off-road game, which is nice. There won't be a long learning curve with the controls either.
Angel studios paid the big bucks for some big named bands. This means some great songs played over and over again. I think the worst part about it is that Angel Studios left out the option to throw in your own soundtrack. If that is not bad enough the overall sound effects might as well not be there. The engine doesn't make much noise and the sound effects are not heard very much through the game.
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