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TEST DRIVE (AMI)
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Publisher: Electronic Arts.
Developer: Distinctive Software. Released: 1987. Genre: Driving. Other versions: AST; C64; PC. Posted 27th May 2021. By Tom Clare © 2021 |
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A couple of years into the Amiga’s lifecycle and the perceived view of its burgeoning consumer base, at least through the lens of Amiga Computing magazine, was an interesting one. Users tended to be viewed in two camps. The first was the more traditional gamer, to whom the arcade was everything. They were happy to experience coin-op throwbacks such as Return of Defender alongside any number of lawsuit-tempting Pac-Man and Space Invaders clones. The newer user was your aspiring next-big-thing, someone who used their Amiga to get ahead of the pack in the software computing market and maybe, just maybe, indulge in some high-brow adventure games and cutting-edge simulations while they were at it.
Did you strut through the concrete jungle in a crisp suit, one eye on the stock exchange, a mobile phone the size of a brick ready for some ‘speculating’? No, of course not. This probably wasn’t anyone. Nevertheless, if you longed to be such a person (or if you simply loved cars), Accolade was ready to fulfil your dreams, whilst you were busy waiting for your first million to accumulate. There’s probably no more aspirational a simulation than Test Drive, a game that hands over the keys to five luxury sports cars including a Porsche 911 Turbo and a Lotus Turbo Esprit (before it was cool to drive virtual Turbo Esprits), putting the player in the driver’s seat, quite literally. As an early Amiga release, it was impressive stuff, offering a very different kind of driving experience, even if it isn’t as thrilling as some of its simpler contemporaries.
Whilst the environments are sparse, Test Drive delivers a smooth, immersive driving experience
As the name suggests, Test Drive consists of picking one of five cars from a dealership and taking it on a five-stage trip on the open roads. Several factors set it apart: most immediately apparent is the first-person view, which grants a fantastically detailed view of the different interiors, complete with working tachometers and rev counters. The sim elements aren’t overbearing, with the only other factor being the need to manually shift gears, which is fun and intuitive. Timing gear changes right is very satisfying, not least because of the excellent whirring engine notes, which offer a different cadence depending on the revs and gear you’re in. It’s that little extra layer of immersion, even if each car sounds the same.
The 3D effect is quite impressive. Test Drive showed the Amiga could manage solid, smooth track scrolling, even if it struggles to conjure a palpable sense of speed. Little inclines and descents are nifty and car behaviour feels consistent, even though some of the sharper corners can make the perspective seem a little jerky. Each car not only has its own interior but characteristics specific to the model as well. The Lamborghini Countach delivers fearsome acceleration through the early gears but lacks top-end speed, whilst the Ferrari Testarossa takes longer to get up to speed but makes up for it on faster sections.
The 3D effect is quite impressive. Test Drive showed the Amiga could manage solid, smooth track scrolling, even if it struggles to conjure a palpable sense of speed. Little inclines and descents are nifty and car behaviour feels consistent, even though some of the sharper corners can make the perspective seem a little jerky. Each car not only has its own interior but characteristics specific to the model as well. The Lamborghini Countach delivers fearsome acceleration through the early gears but lacks top-end speed, whilst the Ferrari Testarossa takes longer to get up to speed but makes up for it on faster sections.
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Intermissions between stages showcase TD's stunning presentation, along with a quick appraisal on your driving performance
The visual high point comes in the form of the game’s stunning attract screens, from the car selection with details to pour over, to the end of stage fuel stops, where you can appreciate the spectacularly detailed models. Perhaps as a result of its resource-heavy nature, Test Drive skimps a little on some of the essentials. One-tone skies look bland, populated with never more than a couple of puny clouds, whilst a somewhat featureless rock face to the right side of the driver is naff. There’s traffic and some impressively large sprites, but it’s clear Test Drive struggles with scaling, as the perspective of other road users lurching between different sprite sizes is all too noticeable. It’s a shame the scenery never changes between stages because it starts feeling rather samey.
We’ve established it’s a decent simulation. Is it a good driving game? Well, yes and no. Darting in and out of traffic whilst shifting through the gears is a good deal of fun. Especially when you hurtle around corners, sliding close to the edges of the road. Points are up for grabs based on the average speed at which you complete each stage. Going full-pelt is a high-risk strategy that’s likely to work on the first couple of stages, but a crash will see the car respawned, costing valuable momentum. However, cornering doesn’t feel convincing and the police presence is another downer. Cops appear at certain points when you’ve been speeding and, if they catch you in a sequence of corners where you’ve slowed down, it can be difficult to stop them from passing. Once this happens, you’re essentially a passenger as they arrest you and instigate a Game Over. Counter-intuitively, it’s sometimes preferable to crash deliberately. That way, the cops disappear.
We’ve established it’s a decent simulation. Is it a good driving game? Well, yes and no. Darting in and out of traffic whilst shifting through the gears is a good deal of fun. Especially when you hurtle around corners, sliding close to the edges of the road. Points are up for grabs based on the average speed at which you complete each stage. Going full-pelt is a high-risk strategy that’s likely to work on the first couple of stages, but a crash will see the car respawned, costing valuable momentum. However, cornering doesn’t feel convincing and the police presence is another downer. Cops appear at certain points when you’ve been speeding and, if they catch you in a sequence of corners where you’ve slowed down, it can be difficult to stop them from passing. Once this happens, you’re essentially a passenger as they arrest you and instigate a Game Over. Counter-intuitively, it’s sometimes preferable to crash deliberately. That way, the cops disappear.
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Test Drive was by no means the finished article, with its five stages proving a taster of what the series was capable of. Despite these relatively humble beginnings, however, there’s no question Distinctive Software’s sterling effort highlighted the programming potential of the Amiga. Even at this relatively early stage in the computer’s life, it was clear that driving games could provide very different experiences to the coin-ops of the early eighties. Prioritising simulation over gameplay structure will inevitably leave some wanting more, and it doesn’t quite get the pulse racing like an Out Run or a Hang-On might. But for those seeking enjoyment through immersion, it remains a key early step on the road towards sim racing.
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VERDICT
"Test Drive was by no means the finished article, with its five stages proving more of a taster of what the series was capable of... But for those seeking enjoyment through immersion, this remains a key early step on the road towards sim racing." OVERALL: 6/10 |