Game Description

Test Drive: Offroad is yet another in the long running Test Drive series by Accolade. This time around the series takes an arcade look at Offroad racing with some impressive results. In fact the game features twelve well designed tracks all up (only six to start with) and eight Off Road vehicles such as the Jeep Wrangler and Hummer. There is also a wealth of options from such as three difficulty levels, an extraordinary nine view points and a bundle of championship and general options. Multi player gamers are also catered for with modem, IPX network and serial all catered for with up to four players. ~ Brad Penniment, All Game Guide

Review: Enjoyment

It's either this or the skipping rope? Take the skipping rope... ~ Brad Penniment, All Game Guide

Review: Overall

Off Road racers time and time again have proved difficult for video game developers to successfully simulate but Accolade have decided to release Test Drive: Off Road. Not only does this title bear no resemblance to it's Test Drive series but it also wins hands down as one of the most pathetic excuses for a racing game on the PC.

However visually you could be fooled as this games looks pretty good. Despite the sparse 3D visuals, the animation and frame rate is smooth and the detail puts many early 97 PC titles to shame. The music is also one of Test Drive: Off Road's strong points featuring a full blown rock album while the effects are nothing to write home about.

The faults of Test Drive: Off Road become more apparent once the gameplay or there lack of is uncovered. Lets start with the greatest and stupidest error of AI that is supposed to "ensure close races" that pits the competition at your pace. In other words, if you race fast they will too and if you cruise at 20 kmph they wont be far in front. The games also offers a number of surfaces to race on though they make very little difference to the vehicles handling as does the selection of the four instantly selectable vehicles provided. In addition there are six tracks (plus six others when earned) and two main modes along side the usual crop of useless options and control setups such as keyboard and joystick.

Don't be fooled by Test Drive: Off Road's use of the Test Drive name or it's above average visuals and audio because simply the gameplay stinks. ~ Brad Penniment, All Game Guide

Review: Graphics

Nice, good detail though a little sparse. ~ Brad Penniment, All Game Guide

Review: Sound

Excellent rock soundtrack but the effects are nothing surprising. ~ Brad Penniment, All Game Guide

Review: Replay Value

About an hour but I suppose you could use it as a boat or a thrisbe down the track. ~ Brad Penniment, All Game Guide

Review: Documentation

More fun than the game though that is probably not saying a lot. ~ Brad Penniment, All Game Guide