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The Plot: My best compliment to "Test Drive: Eve of Destruction" is that I don't care for racing games, yet I liked this one. Although the game has some faults, one of the finest things about the title is that, if you don't like a certain mode of racing, one can simply choose from a wide variety of others. There's straightforward races around tracks, school bus races, elimination races, demolition derbies, races where half the racers are going one way and the other half the other, races on a raised metal platform where you try to push the other cars off, chain races, a gauntlet race where your car is racing around the track while other cars are trying to smash it, and even more. Players can play in either a straightforward action mode or a career mode. Single or multi-player options are available, although there is no online mode. As you play, you unlock races and cars. The career mode is nicely done, offering a "Grand Theft Auto" style freedom, with players starting off with their grandmother's crappy ride. They hit the backroads looking for additional races and win (or lose) cash, which they use to get a new ride or work on their current car. There's plenty of cars to choose from, including school busses, hearses, muscle cars and cars predestined for the junkyard scrap heap. They all handle differently and, as a result, have different pros and cons in the game's over 20 different events. The most fun to be had in the game would be the ridiculous crashes; while the car damage isn't rendered with remarkable clarity or in a terribly specific way, the game still renders crashes in slow-mo, cars do look pretty nicely smashed and there's plenty of opportunities for great smashes. The physics and handling of the cars isn't quite as tight as I'd like overall, but different cars were better than others. The sense of speed isn't quite, well...up-to-speed, either; the game seems to be going for slow, brute force instead of sleek, swift smashes. The other issue I had with the game is that it remains fairly easy; while I still found it fun, some may wish the game offered a greater challenge. Rating: 8/10 The DVD Graphics: "Test Drive" presents graphics that are satisfactory - they manage to show the game's events fairly well, but they lack a further layer of polish and detail that would have made the overall game a slicker package. As mentioned before, cars crumple decently, but they lack the specific shattering that other, similar games have presented. The arenas present a decent level of detail in the background surroundings; while not sparse, the arenas and countryside aren't too noteworthy in the looks department. While I do have some concerns about the looks of the game, the graphics aren't too bad overall - they suit the game and do the job, but there have been other games in the genre that offer a greater level of depth and definition to the look of the title. Rating: 7.5/10 Sound: The game is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1, which is a pleasant surprise. Although not every moment offers terrific surround-sound goodness, the demolition derbies sound particularly good, with the crashes and bashes going on behind you easily heard over-the-shoulder in the rear speakers. Sound effects - both car sounds and crash sounds - are adequate, but not fantastic. Very nice use of 5.1 audio, though. Rating: 8/10 Rating Issues: The game is rated "T" (Teen) for action, but the content didn't seem particularly objectionable in any way. Final Thoughts: "Eve of Destruction" just gets the job done in the looks department, but it offers a wide variety of choices and gameplay that is largely enjoyable - if you're not into one gameplay mode, there's a legion of others. Moderate recommendation, especially if the game can be found on sale. |