''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
PlayStation
is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a di ...
.
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 ''
Electronic Gaming Monthly
''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' (often abbreviated to ''EGM'') is a monthly American video game magazine. It offers video game news, coverage of industry events, interviews with gaming figures, editorial content and product reviews.
History
The ...
'' 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
hat
A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mech ...
have been coming out recently".
[ While '']GamePro
Gamepro.com is an international multiplatform video game magazine media company that covers the video game industry, video game hardware and video game software in countries such as Germany and France. The publication, GamePro, was originally la ...
'' 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, ''Famitsu
formerly ''Famicom Tsūshin'', is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Kadokawa Game Linkage (previously known as Gzbrain), a subsidiary of Kadokawa. ''Famitsu'' is published in both weekly and monthly formats as well as in the ...
'' 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