Test Drive: Off-Road

Test Drive Off-Road is a racing video game developed by Elite Systems and published Accolade for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation.

Test Drive Off-Road
Developer(s)Elite Systems
Publisher(s)
SeriesTest Drive
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation
Release
  • NA: 27 March 1997[1]
  • EU: July 1997 (PS)
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

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.[2]

Reception

Test Drive: Off-Road received mixed reviews on both platforms. Next Generation 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".[11]

Reviewing the PlayStation version, Kraig Kujawa of Electronic Gaming Monthly 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 [that] have been coming out recently".[6] While GamePro 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".[13] Greg Kasavin of GameSpot said of the PC version, "Test Drive: Off Road is pure arcade action".[9] 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".[10] In Japan, where the PS version was ported for release under the title Gekitotsu! Yonku Battle (激突！四駆バトル, Gekitotsu! Yonku Batoru) and published by Coconuts Japan on 31 July 1997, Famitsu gave it a score of 23 out of 40.[7]

As of March 1998 the game sold over 500,000 copies.[14]

Sequel

Accolade stated in a press release that the commercial successes of the game and Test Drive 4 caused Test Drive to become the top-selling racing series at the time.[15] Accolade published Test Drive Off-Road 2 in 1998, which uses the Test Drive 4 engine and includes licensed off-road vehicles.[15][16]

References
  1. "For Immediate Release". www.accolade.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 1998. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  2. "Test Drive: Off-Road (Preview)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 91. Ziff Davis. February 1997. p. 148.
  3. Marriott, Scott Alan. "Test Drive Off-Road (PS) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  4. Bauman, Steve (1997). "Test Drive: Off-Road". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 22 May 2003. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  5. Goble, Gord (July 1997). "Monster Truck Mayhem (Test Drive: Off-Road Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 156. Ziff Davis. p. 206. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  6. EGM staff (April 1997). "Team EGM Sports: Test Drive: Off-Road". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 93. Ziff Davis. p. 114.
  7. "激突！四駆バトル [PS]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  8. Storm, Jon; Reiner, Andrew; McNamara, Andy (May 1997). "Test Drive Off Road - PlayStation". Game Informer. No. 59. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on 21 October 1997. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  9. Kasavin, Greg (22 April 1997). "Test Drive: Off-Road Review (PC) [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  10. Kitts, Jeff (10 April 1997). "Test Drive: Off-Road Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  11. "Finals". Next Generation. No. 31. Imagine Media. July 1997. p. 170.
  12. Williamson, Colin (June 1997). "Test Drive Off Road". PC Gamer. Vol. 4, no. 6. Future US. Archived from the original on 5 March 2000. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  13. The Rookie (June 1997). "PlayStation ProReview: Test Drive: Off-Road". GamePro. No. 105. IDG. p. 69.
  14. "Accolade plans to further its highly successful Test Drive series, with Test Drive 5 and Test Drive Off-Road 2". www.accolade.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 1998. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  15. "Accolade Kicks Off 1998 With Record Selling Franchise, 12 New Titles And An Increased Focus On Sony PlayStation Market" (Press release). San Jose, CA: Accolade, Inc. 24 March 1998. Archived from the original on 6 December 1998. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  16. Wigmore, Glenn. "Test Drive Off-Road 2 (PC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
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