Customer Reviews

TEST DRIVE OFFROAD: WIDE OPEN - XBOX

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I'm a big fan of arcade style racing, and Test Drive:Off Road took it to the next level. (If you prefer more "realistic" racing where you buy parts & make money see my review on 4x4 Evo2 instead.)

Test Drive delivers the one thing I have wanted from a racing game for years, the ability to choose your own way through a course, AND still win. In '98 Microsoft came out with Motocross Madness, where you rode dirtbikes and did tricks for points, but when you were in racing mode, if you left the track, you didn't stand a chance of winning.

Test Drive is different. There are tracks that you can use, and finish, and win on. But you can choose to go off road and win also. You choose your vehicle based on what you want to do. There are power vehicles and speed vehicles. The speed vehicles do well on the relatively flat dirt tracks that lead to the finish, while the power vehicles that have lower top speeds do better leaving the beaten (longer) path and taking the shortcut over the top of the mountain.

That said, there is still a downside: There are a relatively limited number of races, so if you are like me and tend to finish games quickly then this one won't take you long. It can also be frustrating, because when you play in the hardest mode, the other vehicles will attempt to bump you and make you spin out. That is really annoying when you managed to stay in first place through an entire race, and then get spun out 10 seconds before you hit the finish line and you end up in 5th place.

This is the best off road video I have ever played. The two major reasons why, are there are great trucks to choose from (with many upgrades), and when racing any level, there are no limitations to the track. For example some off road games make you stay on this set path, and of you don't, your speed will decrease. Not in the game. You can climb mountains, go off cliffs,and crash your vehicle as many times as you want, becasue the game lets you get creative and find your own ways to win the races.

But yes, i found one negative to the game. the music played while you are racing is horrible. (i realize this is personal) but it is all heavy metal that just iritates you. You can turn the music off, or thanks to the x-box technology put your own cd in and have it play while you are racing.

All in all it gets an A.

Let's start out by saying that I never bought this game for a realistic four wheeling adventure. Anyone who wants to claim that any of the 4x4 games out there are realistic has never broken an axle Jeeping down a mountainside. If you want authentic outdoor experiences, leave your living room. However if its a cold and rainy day and you have some friends over tryout the multiplayer "King of the hill" mode. This is the one reason I love this game so much. As for the graphics, well they arent great but getting pumped up by the music and knocking your friends around makes up for it.

If you are looking for a good off-road driving simulation, this is not the game for you. The graphics are average at best and the driving model is very arcade-like. There is no vehicle damage, and jumps are insane.

HOWEVER, the forgiving driving model is great for younger kids who can't control more serious driving games. My 5 year old and I have a great time racing each other with this game.

It also has a career mode where you can earn vehicle upgrades by winning races. The "tracks" that are available are a bit limited, but they are a lot of fun, especially the jumps.

This game is a great game if u wanna chalenging, hard to beat racing game. This game has awesome graphics and its not so easy to beat it took me about 30 MINUTES to beat one of the races. Although, sometimes you may get frustrated when you race, and sometimes you're in 1st and then someone comes and knocks you out-or spins you out-you end up in 5th.

Good Things-
Awesome Cars (Stock cars in speed and power, Modified cars in speed and power, Pro cars in speed and power, and Unlimitied cars in speed and power)
NOT easy to beat
good graphics
ALOT of races
A GOOD GAME
Good music, and sound
once beaten still really fun to play
really good with multiplayer
free roam is fun

Bad things-
Frustrating at some points
when selecting things have to push the button awfully hard
easy to win once in front of everyone kind of alot

so overall, A PRETTY GOOD GAME RIGHT(...)

This game has great graphics and a good selection of vehicles (even the Chevy Avalanche), however it lacks one component. . . fun.

In career mode you would expect more feedback throughout the course of the season. All that you get is a flip from one season to another.

By season four the tracks become redundant and you find that you are racing the same four tracks over and over again with difference weather conditions. I became so bored with the game after that I haven't picked it up since.

My kids love the game.Myself,I would not be so generous.Good Graphics and some fun but lacks originality.Would be more realistic with cab view and a more lively environment.

I bought this game for my XBOX and expected a decent offroad racing game with good graphics and got neither. No skill is required to play this game and the graphics are a direct port from some other game console with little or no enhanced features for the XBOX.

I addition menu selection is further complicated by requiring use of the directional pad instead of the thubstick the rest of the game is played with. If you are looking for a decent racing game or an offroad game look elswhere. Not worth $(...)!

I love this game, it's easy and fun to play. The graphics are good and there are a variety of courses and vehicles to choose from. I like this game much better than 4x4, yes the graphics are better in 4x4 but Test drive is just more fun.

Infograms should have stuck with Smugglers run. This thing is a sad attempt at making a game.

If you want a REAL off road racing game, check out 4x4 Evo2 for X-box. At least that game is fun and has some life to it.