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Test Drive 6
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Graphics & Sound:
It is almost a must to have a true D3D card for this one. Voodoo just won't cut it this time. Although still nice looking on the Voodoos, the game runs smooth as glass on the D3D specialty cards. So, how nice is nice? Well, it's pleasing to the eye, but not very realistic at all when it comes down to it. It's really pretty and cartoony, but not real. It really brings out an atmosphere of arcade style racing. After further investigation, I have come to realize that that is exactly what this game is. It's an arcade style racing simulation (as opposed to a Need for Speed or Sports Car GT realistic type). The arcade style graphics look great. The sound track is out of this world. The featured artists (the likes of Eve 6, Incubus and Fear Factory) for the soundtrack find their following in the realm of heavy rock. This is a nice change from the usual techno style music.
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Gameplay:
Let me get this out of the way - checkpoints. Usually that's a bad thing. Well, this is an arcade simulation, so checkpoints are very much in order here. Here is how the game goes: You start of with some money. You use that money to buy, paint, and upgrade cars. You can race people to win more money. You can enter tournaments to really up your cash on hand. Another cool feature they put in the game is the cops. If you get pulled over, you get a ticket (and lose ground). You have to pay the tickets out of your winnings. I thought that was a nice addition. There are forty licensed cars to choose from and many, many tracks, complete with obstacles, cops, and short cuts. The game speed is fast. Nothing but fast and furious racing in this one. The game is anything but sluggish; it's smooth, and just down right fun. |
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Difficulty:
I thought the game to be pretty good as far as difficulty goes. It wasn't too easy, but it wasn't unbeatable either. In the beginning, it's a little tough, but once you get your wheels under you, it's not too bad. The difficulty is adjustable, and the controls are customizable. This is a good middle of the road racer.
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Game Mechanics:
The game runs fast, smooth, and handles great. Again, it is the arcade style, so no damage, no real car physics, and you can achieve unrealistic speeds. However, that's just what makes it work. The game has a sick magic to it that makes it a blast. The controls are responsive, customizable, and accurate. The camera angles are changeable, and the sound is great. All in all, this is a great looking game that handles great with a good design. I suggest you give this one a test drive.
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-Storm, GameVortex Communications AKA Jeremy Kelso |
Minimum System Requirements:
Windows 95/98, Pentium 233, 32 MB RAM, 250MB HD Space, 4MB Direct 3D accelerator, 4X CD-ROM, Sound Card, Mouse, Keyboard, DirectX 7.0 |
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Test System:
P2 400, Windows 98 SE, 128MB RAM, Diamond Viper V770 Ultra w/32MB RAM, 2 Voodoo 2's SLI, 5x24 DVD-ROM, Monster Sound MX300, DirectX 7.0a |
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