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Test Drive V-Rally

Score: 85%
ESRB: Everyone
Publisher: Infogrames
Developer: eden studios
Media: CD/1
Players: 1 - 4
Genre: Racing

Graphics & Sound:

Hey, like the Dreamcast's graphics have ever been bad. But seriously, the graphics for Test Drive V-Rally are tight. Each rally car model looks awesome, and the background graphics are unbelievable. What I really thought was cool was the amount of detail they put in with all the variables used. If it were a rainy day, there would be mud all over the side of your car, with car tracks following you right behind. And if you ever run into anything, say a car or a tree, your car will sustain damage that is noticeable.

The sounds were nothing to sneeze over in this Test Drive version, but they were good with what was provided. No music was in the background, and it's your basic revving of the car engine and bumping sounds that take place throughout each race.


Gameplay:

This is the first Test Drive I have ever played, but I got the feeling that it's basically the same as all the rest. For instance, game modes are a plenty with Time Trial, Arcade, V-Rally Trophy, and Rally Championships. With Time Trial, you race to beat your previous best time. In the Arcade mode, you must win to unlock other tracks to move on. In V-Rally Trophy and Rally Championship, you race against the computer in trying to win a certain trophy after placing in numerous races. The difference between the two is that Rally Championship is the more realistic with damage control, which actually affects your driving ability. The other really cool feature is the Track Editor, which lets you design your own track, right down to the turns and hills. The problem I found with this is that the directions on the screen are so small, you need a magnifying glass to read them. C'mon Infogrames, WE NEED TO BE ABLE READ!!!

With all these different game modes and features, you have 16 officially licensed 1999 rally cars with 10 bonus cars to play with, and more than 80 new tracks and special stages in more than 12 different countries. How much better can it get?


Difficulty:

Test Drive V-Rally's difficulty comes down to the three levels of European, World, and Expert. And the computer's AI enhances with each difficulty level, meaning it's tougher to pass and even tougher to win. Believe me, it's no Sunday morning drive.

Game Mechanics:

With many game systems, the one problem that occurs frequently is the speed of multiplayer. Let me reassure you, Test Drive V-Rally will not hit the brakes once despite the number of players racing. And saving on your VMU is a cinch, because you're able to save what you want when you want. And the controller configuration is fairly simple, with an accelerator on one side, and a brake on the other. You might find it a little difficult to control your car at first, but once you figure out the slipping and sliding that will go on, you'll be well on your way to the finish line.

I really liked Test Drive V-Rally because it had a lot of options on an already fun game. Great buy!


-Red Dawg, GameVortex Communications
AKA Alex Redmann

Sega Dreamcast Sydney 2000 Sega Dreamcast Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2

 
Game Vortex :: PSIllustrated