Test Drive 4

{{Infobox video game

| title = Test Drive 4

| image = Test Drive 4.JPG

| caption = North American cover art featuring the 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 (left) and the 1997 Dodge Viper GTS (right)

| developer = Pitbull Syndicate

| publisher = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|Accolade}}

|{{vgrelease|WW|Accolade|JP|Electronic Arts}}}}

| producer = Slade Anderson
Chris Downend

| programmer = Ian Copeland
Chris Kirby
James Parr
Darren Tunnicliff
Michael Throughton
Robert Throughton

| composer = Peter Hewitson

| platforms = PlayStation, Microsoft Windows

| series = Test Drive

| released = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|3 November 1997

}}|PlayStation{{vgrelease|WW|3 November 1997|JP|2 April 1998}}

Microsoft Windows{{vgrelease|WW|24 November 1997}}}}

| genre = Racing

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

}}

Test Drive 4 is a racing game developed by Pitbull Syndicate and published by Accolade for PlayStation and Microsoft Windows in 1997. It offers 14 supercars and muscle cars, and tasks the player with beating computer opponents in tracks set in real life locales. The game's tracks are long courses with rural roads and urban streets, and commonly feature traffic and short corners. The player has to arrive at each checkpoint (a banner with text such as "Stage 1" or "Stage 2") before the Checkpoint Timer expires, resulting in additional time, and crossing the finish line is required to complete the race. Test Drive 4{{'}}s commercial success briefly made Test Drive the best selling racing franchise, but the game received mixed reviews. In 1999 the game was republished under the Greatest Hits label after selling 850,000 copies within one year of its release.

Gameplay

Image:Test Drive 4 PS1 Capture.png) in third place during a race in Keswick, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom.]]

Test Drive 4 offers 14 supercars and muscle cars, and tasks the player with beating computer opponents in tracks set in five real life locales: Keswick, Cumbria, San Francisco, Bern, Kyoto, and Washington, D.C.;Test Drive 4 (PlayStation) manual the Windows version adds a sixth location: Munich. The game's tracks are long courses with rural roads and urban streets, and commonly feature traffic and short corners. The player has to arrive at each checkpoint (a banner with text such as "Stage 1" or "Stage 2") before the Checkpoint Timer expires, resulting in additional time, and crossing the finish line is required to complete the race. The police car can chase and stop a player who exceeds the speed limit; to counter this, the player either stops in front of the police car or outruns it. Only a few vehicles are available to the player from the outset, with the rest needing to be won or purchased as the game progresses.Test Drive 4 (Windows) manual

In singleplayer, the player can participate in a Single Race, a Cup, or a Drag Race. The game also offers multiplayer; the Windows version of the game has three Network Options: serial, modem, and LAN, while the PlayStation version supports the PlayStation Link Cable.

Development and release

Image:Dodge Viper GTS - Flickr - Alexandre Prévot (1).jpg is one of the fourteen vehicles licensed for Test Drive 4.]]

English video game developer Pitbull Syndicate was established in December 1996 by eight experienced programmers and artists.{{Cite web|url=http://uk.gamespy.com/company/026/026981.html|title=GameSpy: Pitbull Syndicate Company Profile}}[https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1G1-231581691/pitbull-s-founder-sinks-teeth-into-new-venture]{{dead link|date=July 2021}} In 1997, the studio designed Test Drive 4 in collaboration with publisher Accolade. According to Accolade president and CEO Jim Barnett, the game exploits 3D graphics to offer a satisfactory driving experience. Its fourteen vehicles were used under license from car designers such as Chrysler, the owner of the Dodge and Plymouth automobile brands. In contrast to multi-lap circuits found in most other racing games, Test Drive 4 only had linear point-to-point courses. The game's race tracks are realistically modeled after real places such as Kyoto, Japan and Washington, DC.{{cite press release|author=|url=http://www.accolade.com/press/6.19.td4.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980201103033/http://www.accolade.com/press/6.19.td4.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 February 1998|title=Get Ready To Pit The Most Exotic Modern Supercars Against The Raw Power Of Classic "Muscle Cars" In Accolade's Test Drive 4!|publisher=Accolade, Inc.|location=San Jose, CA|date=19 June 1997|access-date=27 April 2020}} Test Drive 4''{{'}}s techno-oriented soundtrack{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/08/22/test-drive-4-3|title=Test Drive 4 - IGN|date=22 August 1997}} includes licensed songs from the bands Orbital and The Younger, Younger 28's; Accolade executive producer Chris Downend considered the two bands suitable for the game's energetic gameplay style.{{cite web |url=http://www.accolade.com/press/10.2td4music.htm |title=Archived copy |website=www.accolade.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980201103021/http://www.accolade.com/press/10.2td4music.htm |archive-date=1 February 1998 |url-status=dead}}

Test Drive 4 was displayed at the 1997 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), and Accolade announced its November release date.{{cite web |url=http://www.accolade.com/press/e301.htm |title=Jack Nicklaus 4 Hits Stores Today |website=www.accolade.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980201103109/http://www.accolade.com/press/e301.htm |archive-date=1 February 1998 |url-status=dead}} Prior to its completion, the publisher spent $2 million dollars on a promotional campaign for the game; television commercials ran on ESPN, Speedvision, and MTV during the final two weeks of November, and radio advertisements appeared on The Howard Stern Show in December. Accolade vice president Stan Roach said that the company anticipated the game to be the highest-selling racing title of the winter season (and also its most successful product "in years"), and that the advertisements are the first time they signed promotional deals with broadcasting media since the beginning of the "16-bit market".{{cite web |url=http://www.accolade.com/press/1022td4tv.htm |title=Test Drive 4 Hits TV and Radio |website=www.accolade.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980201103015/http://www.accolade.com/press/1022td4tv.htm |archive-date=1 February 1998 |url-status=dead}} Accolade published the game on 3 November for PlayStation, and 24 November{{cite web |url=http://www.accolade.com/press/113td4.htm |title=TEST DRIVE 4 - Press Release |website=www.accolade.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980201103002/http://www.accolade.com/press/113td4.htm |archive-date=1 February 1998 |url-status=dead}} for Microsoft Windows. The Windows release came in two versions, one with support for 3dfx video cards, and another with a software renderer. Electronic Arts imported its PlayStation version to Japan on 2 April 1998.

Reception

=Sales=

{{As of|March 1998}} the game sold over 850,000 copies.{{cite press release|url=http://www.accolade.com/press/032498E3.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981206045039/http://www.accolade.com/press/032498E3.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 December 1998|title=Accolade Kicks Off 1998 With Record Selling Franchise, 12 New Titles And An Increased Focus On Sony PlayStation Market|publisher=Accolade, Inc.|location=San Jose, CA|date=24 March 1998|access-date=26 July 2019}} Because of its commercial success, the PlayStation version was republished under the Greatest Hits label.{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/01/10/playstation-greatest-hits-complete-list|title=PlayStation Greatest Hits: Complete List|author=IGN Staff|date=9 January 2002|website=IGN |accessdate=September 17, 2020}} Accolade stated in a press release that the commercial successes of the game and the off-road-themed Test Drive: Off-Road caused Test Drive to become the top-selling racing series at the time.

=Critical reviews=

{{Video game reviews

| Allgame = {{Rating|3|5}} (PS){{cite web |last=Marriott |first=Scott Alan |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15846&tab=review |title=Test Drive 4 (PS) - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114224304/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15846&tab=review |archivedate=14 November 2014 |url-status=dead |accessdate=31 January 2019}}

| CGSP = {{Rating|1|5}} (PC){{cite web |last=Royal |first=Tim |year=1998 |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/010/001/td4_review.html |title=Test Drive 4 |website=Computer Games Strategy Plus |publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030523183319/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/010/001/td4_review.html |archivedate=23 May 2003 |accessdate=31 January 2019}}

| CGW = {{Rating|2|5}} (PC){{cite magazine |last=Goble |first=Gord |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_164.pdf |title=Flat Tire (Test Drive 4 Review) |magazine=Computer Gaming World |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=164 |date=March 1998 |page=138 |accessdate=31 January 2019}}

| Edge = 6/10 (PS){{cite magazine |author=Edge staff |title=Test Drive 4 (PS) |url=https://archive.org/details/EDGE.N053.1997.XM/page/n97/mode/2up/search/test+drive+4?q=test+drive+4+edge |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future plc |issue=53 |date=25 December 1997}}

| EGM = 6.125/10 (PS){{cite magazine |title=Review Crew: Test Drive 4 |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=102|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=January 1998|page=163}}

| Fam = 27/40 (PS){{cite magazine |url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=1195&redirect=no |title=テストドライブ4 [PS] |language=Japanese |magazine=Famitsu |publisher=Enterbrain |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201065302/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=1195 |archivedate=1 February 2019 |url-status=dead |accessdate=31 January 2019}}

| GameRev = B (PS){{cite web |author=Tony V. |date=February 1998 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33950-test-drive-4-review |title=Test Drive 4 Review (PS) |website=Game Revolution |publisher=CraveOnline |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980613224122/http://www.game-revolution.com/games/sony/test_drive.htm |archivedate=13 June 1998 |accessdate=1 February 2019}}

| GSpot = 5.5/10 (PS){{cite web |last=Rubenstein |first=Glenn |date=9 December 1997 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/test-drive-4-review/1900-2549729/ |title=Test Drive 4 Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000"] |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=1 December 2018 |authorlink=Glenn Rubenstein}}

| IGN = 7/10 (PS){{cite web |last=Rignall |first=Jaz |date=3 November 1997 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/11/04/test-drive-4-2 |title=Test Drive 4 (PS) |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |accessdate=1 December 2018}}

| NGen = {{rating|2|5}} (PS)

| OPM = {{Rating|3.5|5}} (PS){{cite magazine |title=Test Drive 4 |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |year=1997}}

| PCGUS = 63% (PC){{cite magazine |last=Smolka |first=Rob |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/1043.html |title=Test Drive 4 |magazine=PC Gamer |publisher=Future US |volume=5 |issue=4 |date=April 1998 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000116232003/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/1043.html |archivedate=16 January 2000 |url-status=dead |accessdate=31 January 2019}}

| GR = 71% (PS){{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625111722/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/198920-test-drive-4/index.html |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/198920-test-drive-4/index.html |title=Test Drive 4 for PlayStation |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=1 December 2018|archivedate=25 June 2009}}

}}

Reviews for Test Drive 4 were divergent, disagreeing on many aspects of the game, and ranged from mediocre to moderately positive. For example, reviewers for Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) and GameSpot both felt the inclusion of oncoming cars and police cars help liven up the action and were a distinctive feature of the Test Drive series, but Next Generation found them irritating and unfairly difficult to avoid due to the sensitive steering, and concluded that "had developer Pitbull done away with the hazards and just stuck to the driving, Test Drive 4 might have been a decent racer. As it stands, it's just another Need for Speed. And nobody needs that, not even EA."{{cite magazine|title=Finals|magazine=Next Generation |issue=37|publisher=Imagine Media|date=January 1998 |pages=154–155}} The sensitivity of the controls was cited as a problem by most critics, particularly when driving at high speed. IGN{{'}}s Jaz Rignall added: "Also, the car's weight-shift response is not fluid, so there's no feeling of feedback -- once you lose control, it's very difficult to avoid spinning out." He said the controls are the one issue which made Test Drive 4 a good, rather than great game: "Had Test Drive 4 been more polished and better refined in the handling department, it would have been close to getting a 9. As it stands, it misses out on an 8 by a whisker."

Kelly Rickards and Kraig Kujawa of EGM and Glenn Rubenstein of GameSpot instead felt what held the game back was that its gameplay is simply too basic and generic to stand out, though Rickards still compared it positively to the Need for Speed series, calling it "the game Need for Speed II should have been." Rickards was among a number of critics who commented positively on the game's clash of modern cars with 1960s muscle cars, its diverse locales, and its drag strip. Rubenstein acknowledged that the drag strip is a unique feature in what he nonetheless maintained is an overall generic game.

The music was another subject of diverse opinions; GamePro called it "engaging and catchy", but Rignall and Rubenstein both deemed it unexciting and remarked that the use of techno music in racing games seemed to be played out. Where Rickards found the deranged, aggressive driving of the A.I. opponents to be annoying, Rignall argued that it presents an interesting and enjoyable challenge. The graphics, too, saw disagreement among critics; EGM and IGN both praised how the car models are highly detailed to the point where they are readily recognizable, while Next Generation contrarily stated that the detailing is poor and the in-race models are conspicuously less impressive than the ones on the car select screen. GamePro was the most impressed with Test Drive 4{{'}}s graphics, summing up, "Easily one of the most highly detailed, graphically superior PlayStation racers to date, Test Drive 4 verges on perfection at every turn, but never quite takes the trophy."{{cite magazine |author=Boba Fatt |title=PlayStation ProReview: Test Drive 4|magazine=GamePro |issue=111 |publisher=IDG |date=December 1997|page=154}} Test Drive 4 received "average" reviews on the PlayStation according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.

Sequel and legacy

Pitbull Syndicate developed a 1998 sequel, Test Drive 5; it features more vehicles and tracks and competed with Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit.{{cite magazine |last=Olafson |first=Peter |url=http://gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/883.shtml |title=Test Drive 5 Review for PC on GamePro.com |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG Entertainment |year=1999 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050214064657/http://gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/883.shtml |archivedate=14 February 2005 |url-status=dead |accessdate=3 February 2019}} Accolade published Test Drive Off-Road 2 in 1998, which uses a modified version of the Test Drive 4 engine and includes licensed off-road vehicles.{{cite web |last=Wigmore |first=Glenn |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=19517&tab=review |title=Test Drive Off-Road 2 (PC) - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115093545/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=19517&tab=review |archivedate=15 November 2014 |url-status=dead |accessdate=4 February 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=16009&tab=review |title=Test Drive Off-Road 2 - Review - allgame |website=www.allgame.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115093549/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=16009&tab=review |archive-date=15 November 2014 |url-status=dead}}