''Test Drive Off-Road'' is a

racing video game Racing games are a video game genre in which the player participates in a racing competition. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to fantastical settings. They are distributed along a spectrum between more realistic rac ...

developed by

Elite Systems Elite Systems is a British video game developer and publisher established in 1984 as Richard Wilcox Software. It is known for producing home computer conversions of popular arcade games. Elite also published compilations of games on the Hit-Pak ...

and published Accolade for Microsoft Windows and

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Gameplay

There are two different play modes: Class Racing, in which only vehicles of one type race, and Unlimited, in which all types of vehicles compete.

Reception

''Test Drive: Off-Road'' received mixed reviews on both platforms. ''

Next Generation Next Generation or Next-Generation may refer to: Publications and literature * ''Next Generation'' (magazine), video game magazine that was made by the now defunct Imagine Media publishing company * Next Generation poets (2004), list of young ...

'' reviewed the PC version of the game, stating that "all in all, ''TDOR'' doesn't muster up to the competition. Not by a long shot". Reviewing the PlayStation version, Kraig Kujawa of ''

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'' praised the use of real vehicles and complexity of the tracks, while criticizing the small selection of vehicles. His co-reviewer Dean Hager said the game has a sufficient mixture of intensity and realism, but many of the tracks become repetitive and the competitors are not challenging enough. Both concluded it to be the most acceptable of the "hordes of mediocre off-road racing titles

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have been coming out recently". While ''

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'' complimented the realistic engine sounds and soundtrack, it had a more negative overall assessment, summarizing that "''Test Drive: Off-Road''s loose controls, aggravating pop-up problems, and uninspired gameplay stall its overall appeal". Greg Kasavin of ''

GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...

'' said of the PC version, "''Test Drive: Off Road'' is pure arcade action". Jeff Kitts, also from ''GameSpot'', said of the PlayStation version, "''Test Drive: Off Road'' is an acceptable entry in the suddenly crowded field of off-road racing games". In Japan, where the PS version was ported for release under the title and published by Coconuts Japan on 31 July 1997, ''

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'' gave it a score of 23 out of 40. the game sold over 500,000 copies.

Sequel

Accolade stated in a press release that the commercial successes of the game and ''

Test Drive 4 ''Test Drive 4'' is a racing video game developed by Pitbull Syndicate and published by Accolade for PlayStation and Microsoft Windows in 1997. It offers 14 supercars and muscle cars, and tasks the player with beating computer opponents in tra ...

'' caused ''Test Drive'' to become the top-selling racing series at the time. Accolade published ''

Test Drive Off-Road 2 ''Test Drive 4X4'' (known as ''Test Drive Off-Road 2'' in North America) is a racing video game co-developed by Accolade's internal development team and Pitbull Syndicate, and published by Accolade for PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. Develo ...

'' in 1998, which uses the ''Test Drive 4'' engine and includes licensed off-road vehicles.

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1997 video games Accolade (company) games Elite Systems games Multiplayer and single-player video games Off-road racing video games PlayStation (console) games

Off-Road Off-roading is the activity of driving or riding in a vehicle on unpaved surfaces such as sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, and other natural terrain. Types of off-roading range in intensity, from leisure drives with unmodified vehicl ...

Video games developed in the United Kingdom Windows games