Test Drive 4
Developed By: Pit Bull Syndicate
Published By: Accolade
Genre: Racing
Players: 1 (2 w/ link cable)
Rating: K-A (Kids to Adults)
Analog Compatible: Yes
Memory Card: 1 Block
Following the mediocre Test Drive Off-Road, Test Drive 4 is actually an enjoyable racing game. Test Drive 4 has more of an American feel than most other racing games on the market. The cars consist of the old and the new, such as a '97 Corvette, a '66 Shelby Cobra, and the Dodge Viper GTS Coupe. The races take place in international settings like San Fransisco and Japan. Combining realistic 3D car models and exciting gameplay, Test Drive 4 will soon be in every racing fan's game collection.
The gameplay is pretty standard racing genre stuff, you race against many computer controlled opponents and try to be the first to the finish line. Instead of using laps, the tracks are set up in stages, making them more of a circut. There are plenty of pedestrian cars on the roads ready to make trouble for the cars that are exceeding 100 mph. There are also cops who will put you at a disadvantage if they are able to get in front of you and force you to come to a complete stop. The tracks are original and well designed, I especially liked the huge air you could catch off of the steep streets of San Fransisco. The only real problem with Test Drive 4 is the lack of a two player split-screen mode, you can use the link cable for head to head action, but not very many gamers have that sort of setup.
Test Drive 4's graphics wouldn't be considered eye candy, but they are true to life and look very realistic. The colors are a little bland, the colors are dim and sort of convey an overcast weather feel. There is some minor pop-up, but that comes standard on most PlayStation racers. What really makes this game's graphics stand out are the awsome 3D car models. These 3D models are true to their real life counterparts, and they aren't chunky at the least. One of the few complaints I have about the game's graphics are the racing stripes on the SS, why are they crooked? I'm one of those kind of people who can't look past an eye-sore like that.
The sound isn't really anything special. The music was supposedly done by electronica act Orbital, the music is kind of cool, but it can get real annoying, like on the Japan track. The engine noises and tire screeches are pretty standard stuff. What I really liked about the sound effects were the roaring V8 engines in the cars, the Hemi in the Cuda' sounds awsome, I guess I was just getting sick of hearing those V12 engines that sound like a Toyota Camary which is running at 7,000 rpm's.
The control really hampers the overall experience of Test Drive 4. The car really doesn't seem to stick to the road, it's like driving a car with greased up racing slicks on ice. The strange control practicaly rules out all chance of successfully taking a corner at reasonable speeds, when you tap the brake at high speeds the wheels lock up and you go into a power slide. The funny thing is that you don't really loose any ground when you smack a building or the guardrail, the computer controlled cars have their own problems, especially with pedestrian traffic.
Overall, this game is really fun, but it would have been a blast with a split-screen mode. Split-screen modes praciticaly come as standard equipment on most racing games nowadays and it's really unexcusable to not have one. If you are a racing fan who likes to go solo and appreciates American muscle cars as much as I do, then you will definetly want to buy this game. For everyone else, this game makes and excellent rental, you will just have to trade off with your friends.
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