Test Drive: Off-Road 2

Despite all the technical flaws in this game, I really got hooked. I just could not stop until I unlocked all the vehicles and tracks. I was very impressed with all the variety the game offered in terms of tracks and vehicles, but the collision detection problem was pretty bad. This game reminds me of a new music CD by one of your favorite bands. It sounds different from their old music and you are not sure if you like it at first, but the more you listen to it, the more it grows on you. If you give Test Drive Off-Road 2 the chance to grow on you, look forward to some challenging racing action.

Basically, the game is pretty good, but the most surprising exclusion in the game is the lack of a two-player mode. You'd think that this sort of thing would be automatic at this point, but it's not in there.

This edition of TDOR is improved thanks in part to a much quicker, recycled Test Drive 4 game engine. It's a good thing too - to race these super long tracks at a slower pace could possibly induce a coma. They're OK, but shorter with more variation would've been better. TDOR 2 attempts to be a real sim and won't provide the kind of excitement Rally Cross 2 will. It's solid, if not a little boring, but worth a look.

This game stinks. It was hard to write this review because it was so bad. This game irritated me every time I played it. The people at Accolade really need to review their games before they put them in stores. I don’t know how well this did on the console market, but I don’t believe it will do very well in the PC market. Save your money.

TDOR2 could have been a decent game. It's too bad so many resources were invested in obtaining fancy licenses (including the music soundtrack by Gravity Kills and Fear Factory) and so little in enhancing gameplay. For my money there's better entertainment to be found in racers like Need for Speed III (or I and II, for that matter), which managed the licenses and the gameplay, and even Monster Truck Madness II (but not I). Skip it, unless you are absolutely determined to get a Hummer any way you can.

If you want truck racing, go buy Monster Truck Madness 2. Off Road 2 is nothing more than a muddy mess.