Test Drive II - The Duel

STORY / GAMEPLAY
Test Drive II is one of the best driving games (in first-person perspective) the 16bits could ever show. Your main goal is to beat the opponent by choosing a supercar, either the Porsche 959 or the Ferrari F40. You must reach the next checkpoint accomplishing better times than your opponent while you must also be careful of the incoming traffic and the police patrols. You have five lives to complete the selected stage. Crash, run out of gas or blow your engine up and you instantly lose a life, plus a time penalty. Accolade have also created various mission disks with more cars and more levels available to enrich the game.

GRAPHICS / SOUND
Ok, the game features wonderful graphics although limited to a 16 color palette (quite similar to the PC EGA version). The perspective is from inside the car and is presented with impressive details that prompt to reality. All indications, from gear shifting to torque changing are shown in a realistic way. The surroundings are pretty good, with cars on or opposite your way, trees, mountains and more. Compared to the original Amiga and ST versions, the Apple IIGS version cannot compete their high standards. I would expect -at least- some better coloring for the IIGS version as this 16bit computer is capable to offer graphics similar in quality to the Amiga computers. Soundwise, the game does offer all the original sampled ambient and engine effects found on the Amiga and the Atari ST as well as the original intro tune that sounds better in quality compared to the Amiga/ST versions (!!)