Ready to get down and dirty? Hard music, big trucks and lots of action make Test Drive Off-Road Wide Open allot of fun. Although there’s nothing ground breaking to this Playstation 2 port to the Xbox, the fast paced jump right in gameplay that the Test Drive series is well known for makes this title surprisingly enjoyable. Over 53 legendary trucks battle it out for victory in the wide open courses offered from this insane off road racing title.

Gameplay

Race through three huge environments, Moab Utah, Yosemite California, and the big island of Hawaii – each offering circuit races, blitz races, and scramble races. There is a ton of action and the levels really are huge and open as the title suggests. For the most part the gameplay is fairly unrealistic, as you’ll never get to see a Hummer perform some of the stunts you get to perform in the game, in real life. Climbing up a hill at an 85 degree angle is really unrealistic, and slamming to the ground after a quarter mile drop is just as far-fetched. Adding to the unrealism is the fact that your vehicle will take absolutely no damage from any of this, but it’s allot of fun.

There are many modes of gameplay, including Single Race, Career Race, Multiplayer, Free Roam, and the Xbox exclusive Stadium Races. If you’re looking to jump right into the action, then opt for the single race session, which pits you against the computer’s AI cars, that will undoubtedly try to run you off the road. Career Mode is where you’ll see the full effect of the game. Progress through several seasons and win cash for placing third or better. This cash can then be used to purchase upgrades to your existing vehicle (3 upgrade levels) or purchase a new car totally.

You can also sell your vehicle for the same price you bought it for, making switching vehicles easy. Free Roam can be useful if you just want to explore the lands, and possible come up with shortcuts for future races, without a time clock or any competition. You could also use this to make up challenges for your buddies. Multiplayer basically boils down to a King of the Hill competition. Interestingly enough, and adding more replay value to the races is the fact that all modes of gameplay can be played with up to four players, with the exception of Career Mode of course.

The Stadium Races offer you the first opportunity in the game to actually use the brake, as in the other modes the levels are so vast that there really is no need to slow down, even while off course. Stadium Races are just as they sound, races on dirt tracks held in a stadium filled with fans and are quite possibly the funniest and most challenging part of the game.

There are trucks galore to choose, Jeeps, Ford F-150s, Hummers, Dodge T-Rex’s and a ton of others. Each coming in varying levels of modifications. They are all upgradeable and many of them will act differently on different terrain, making it fairly important to choose the right vehicle for the track.

Graphics / Presentation

As a direct and quick port from the Playstation 2 version, the graphics are not what you would hope to have in an Xbox title. The vehicles are done fairly well, but when compared to other racing games out for the Xbox, really don’t fit the bill. The environments lack true detail, and while there are a ton of obstacles and things to look at, none of them really meet the expectation that we have begun to rely on in an Xbox title.

Audio

Having a soundtrack comprised mostly of heavy metal type music, including Metallica, Fear Factory, 8 Degrees and Unloco, the background music seems to fit the mood of the intense, and sometimes unorthodox style of racing. There are only about 15 different songs and you don’t have the option of using your own music, which is a real bummer. The sounds of the trucks are OK, but again nothing ground breaking. There are few ambient sounds, but based on the heavy metal thrash music you’ll be listening to, chances are you wouldn’t hear them anyhow.

Replay Value

There are huge levels in the game, and many different types of modes to enjoy, which can add hours of fun for parties and friends. Unfortunately, there are only 3 environments, which could get old pretty quick if you’re not in the right company.

Overall Score

Overall Score: 6.5 [Not an Average]

Additional Comments

Despite it’s technical and graphical shortcomings, Test Drive Off-Road Wide Open is a decent title and can prove to be a really fun and addictive hit the dirt racer. The fun factor alone is enough to make this title at least worthy of a closer look.

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