Test Drive 2: The Duel

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The Duel: Test Drive II
Developer(s) Distinctive Software
Publisher(s) Accolade
Release date(s) 1989
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single player
Platform(s) Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple Macintosh, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, MSX, SNES/Super Famicom, Genesis/Mega Drive, ZX Spectrum

The Duel: Test Drive II is a cross-platform racing game developed by Distinctive Software and published by Accolade in 1989. The game belongs to the Test Drive series, and like its prequel, features driving exotic cars through dangerous highways, evading oncomming traffic while trying to escape police pursuits. The main innovations are varied scenery and ability to race against computer-controlled opponent.

One of the advertisements for this game showed a picture of white regular rise briefs (the design of the waistband depicts it as late 1980s/early 1990s Fruit of the Loom) and asked the potential player about having a spare.[citation needed]

Contents

[edit] Vehicles used

In this game, the driver/player has the option of using one of two vehicles (three in the SNES and Genesis versions of the game). These vehicles are presented at the beginning of the game with technical specifications, including top speed, torque, and acceleration rates. These cars can be driven in either automatic or manual transmissions, based on the difficulty level the player chooses. The cars included are:

  • Porsche 959-With a 444hp twin-turbo flat 6 that can hurl the car past the 60mph mark in just 3.6 seconds, this German made vehicle has a top speed of 197mph. It also has a six-speed transmission, a rear-mounted engine, and all-wheel-drive.
  • Ferrari F40-Bright red in color and equipped with a five-speed transmission, this Italian vehicle's 478hp twin-turbo V8 can go from 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 201mph. Its mid-mounted engine puts its power to the rear wheels.
  • Lamborghini Diablo-This vehicle was only available in the SNES and Genesis versions of the game. It is another Italian-made vehicle with similarities to the Ferrari F40, in that it also has a five-speed transmission, a mid-mounted engine, rear-wheel-drive, and a top speed of just over 200mph. However, vehicle has a naturally-aspirated V12 that makes 492hp and can accelerate the car from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds.

Accolade later released two data disks, which added possibility of driving other cars. These were released on many platforms.

[edit] Courses

The computer versions of the game provided one course (Master scenery), consisting of several stages. Later two "scenery disks" were marketed, each containing one additional course:

  • California Challenge
  • European Challenge allowed to travel through various European countries (f.e. the Netherlands, Germany)

[edit] SNES version

There are four available courses in this game, of varying length and difficulty. Although these are referred to as "courses", they are actually routes in various public highways in different parts of the continental United States. The courses included are:

"Desert Blast (Easy)"-Seemingly takes place somewhere in the US Southwest. This course is the easiest in the game, hence the description.

"City Bound (Medium)"-It is not entirely clear where this takes place, but in various parts of the course, Mount Rushmore can be seen. This course is at an intermediate level.

"East Coast (Hard)"-Takes place in the location described, with the last section of the course including a view of the New England coast. This course is of considerable length and difficulty.

"West Coast (Hardest)"-Takes place in the United States West Coast and is the longest and most difficult course in the game. The Seattle skyline and space needle can be seen in the beginning parts of the course

[edit] Driving

As stated previously, the player drives primarily on two to four lane public highways. These highways also include cliff roads, and two lane roads with many turns and bridges. In the Super Nintendo version, the player can choose between four levels of shifting difficulty. These range from "rookie" (automatic) to "pro" (manual with realistic shifting).

The player begins the game with 5 vehicles, and he/she loses one vehicle each time that he/she crashes into something. If the player manages to complete a section of the course without crashing or running out of gas, then he/she is awarded a bonus car. Time is important in driving as taking too long to complete a course will result in losing the game. Crashing adds thirty seconds to the player's time.

There are also other ways in which the player can lose time or cars. This includes "running out of gas" and getting stopped by the police. A player runs out of gas if he/she drives too far past the designated gas station/stop point. Consequesntly the player loses a car.

If the player is going too fast while spotted by a police officer, the officer will follow pursuit. If the police officer manages to get in front of the player, the player is forces to stop and a ticket is issued, stating the offense and the speed of the vehicle. The player can determine when he/she is near a police car through the radar detector, which comes standard in all three vehicles.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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