Test Drive Off-Road Wide Open
Score: 85% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: Infogrames Developer: Infogrames Media: DVD/1 Players: 1 - 4 Genre: Racing
Graphics & Sound: Test Drive Off-Road Wide Open's car models and environments look very impressive. You can choose from a wide selection of vehicles from makers like Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Jeep, and my personal favorite, a Humvee. When you take your vehicles out on the road (or off-road, for that matter), you will encounter everything from hills, trees, and water, to rain, mud, and lava. Wide Open is the first game I have seen on the Xbox that doesn't boast the Dolby Digital symbol, but sound fx and music are still very well done. Crunching cars and revving engines get you started, and the background music in the game puts the icing on the cake. There are 14 music tracks from Metallica, Fear Factory, Digital Assassins, 303infinity, 8 Degrees, Celldweller, Phantom Black, Quarashi, and Unloco. Unfortunately, there's no option to add your own tracks from the Xbox hard drive.
Gameplay: Anyone that has seen or played Smuggler's Run on the PS2 will notice the immediate correlation that ties Test Drive Off-Road Wide Open with it. Wide Open includes three expansive outdoor environments that give you that 'go-anywhere' feeling. For those of you that enjoy inside racing events, the Stadium feature allows you to compete in the tighter quarters of the indoors. Along with the Single Race, Multiplayer (which includes the King of the Hill game mode), Free Roam, and Stadium game modes, the heart of Wide Open is in the Career Mode. Here you have to work your way through race after race to earn points. Earn enough points in the series, and you will earn money to buy new vehicles. Different vehicles have different qualities, and depending on the type of race, you may need to utilize these qualities to win the next event. There are three different types of races in Wide Open: Circuit Race, Blitz Race, and Scramble Race. Circuits are your typical races, where you will have to navigate checkpoints and complete a number of laps before other racers to win. The Blitz Race is similar to Circuit, but you won't know where the next checkpoint is until you cross through the active one. React quickly and take any path you want to cross all checkpoints first. Finally, the Scramble allows you to choose any path and any order to enter the checkpoints. Not only do you have to be fast, but you also need to use your head to find the best possible route.
Difficulty: Racing games are only as hard as your competition. Wide Open's computer racers are fairly intelligent, but after a few races you should be able to learn the courses enough to win fairly easily. Fortunately, races seem to increase in difficulty as you progress through a Career. Unfortunately for your frustration factor, at times it seems as though computer-controlled vehicles are out to get you by knocking you off the road or slowing you down. Overall, Wide Open's difficulty is not too easy and not too hard, but right in the middle.
Game Mechanics: Wide Open's controller scheme is pretty basic, making it easy for anyone to get into. An added feature allows for you to change your vehicle's pitch (with the right analog stick) while you're flying through the air. Although not really realistic at this point, it will be necessary to land at the same degree as the terrain's slope in order to keep your speed up. Test Drive Off-Road Wide Open has a definite fun-factor to it. After completing a Career, you may not feel like playing anymore, but the added Multiplayer feature makes this a fun party game. Wide Open's gameplay is very enjoyable, and somewhat addicting. This is a solid title and definitely worth a look.
-Woody, GameVortex Communications AKA Shane Wodele
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