Features
Test Drive: Eve of Destruction offers up a virtual smorgasbord of redneck racing. There are 25 different types of races including figure 8 races, jump races, trailer races, demolition derbies, and a bunch of other crazy race types. The game also features several different cars including the standard beefy 70’s and 80’s Buicks and Pontiacs that you typically see in these events and even school buses and ambulances. There is quite a bit to do here, but once you have used all of the cars and tried all of the races at least once there is little to keep you coming back.Gameplay
The gameplay isn’t bad, but with some tweaks it could have been a lot better. The controls are sluggish and it is difficult to get your car where you really want it to go. You would think that you could slide all over the place with the greatest of ease since these are slick dirt track events, but that just doesn’t happen. Also, there is no sense of speed in the game at all so even though your speedometer says 80 you only feel like you are crawling around the track. The sluggish controls definitely don’t help this. Crashing into other cars and dealing out damage is fun, and the physics in the game are actually really good, especially when you crash in midair, but the thrill of crashing fades rather quickly and all you are left with is a decidedly average racing game.Something interesting that EoD does is it presents an open world to explore as the way you select events and do other things. You actually have to drive from your home to the track or the scrap yard or the repair shop. This makes the game feel more alive and realistic, but after a while it seems more annoying than anything since there isn’t much to explore. Luckily you can bypass the little drive around and select events and locations from the menu.
Graphics and Sound
Visually, Test Drive: Eve of Destruction is pretty average looking. The cars lack detail and they don’t crumple up nearly as nicely as the cars in other games. I think that is a major point because this is a game that is supposed to be focused on crashing and bashing but it doesn’t do it nearly as well as straightforward racing games where crashing is miles away from being the focus. The arenas and countryside you get to drive through also looks pretty bland and is really nothing to get excited about.The audio is just as poor. The soundtrack consists of only seven songs from the likes of Rob Zombie and Thrice. With so few songs, you get tired of the music very quickly. On Xbox you can use your own custom soundtracks, which makes the experience a whole lot better than it would have been otherwise. Engine sounds are also pretty disappointing. They just don’t sound like real cars and they definitely don’t sound like the V8 monsters that typically participate in these events in real life.
Bottom Line
Overall, Test Drive: Eve of Destruction is an average game that is only going to appeal to a very limited audience. Rednecks who enjoy these races in real life will probably get a kick out of it, and a handful of curious city folks will probably enjoy it for a while, but hardcore racing fans are better off waiting for Burnout 3 or one of the other dozen or so racing games coming to Xbox this holiday season. Gimmicky gameplay coupled with average graphics and sound doesn’t usually add up to a winning formula and Eve of Destruction is just another so-so experience destined for the scrap heap / bargain bin. Give it a rent.
