However, upon playing Test Drive Le Mans, my attitude quickly changed. I was pleased to discover a racing game that I not only enjoyed, but one that gave the Test Drive name justice, hearkening back to the days of the Commodore 64 when Test Drive was considered one of the best.

What sets this Test Drive game apart from the others in the series is the ability to provide an experience that most of us will never know. You see, Le Mans racing is an endurance sport. These racers drive for a full 24–hours in an attempt to complete more laps than anyone else. This experience is reproduced in real–time, or if you prefer in shortened versions, for those daredevil racers. If you need to get some rest, or to avoid burning up your PlayStation, you can roll into the pit stop and save your game. All of the racing teams, cars, and tracks are officially licensed and faithfully reproduced.

Besides the aforementioned 24–hour races, players can choose to play arcade mode, championship mode, or the two–player mode. The arcade mode satisfies those folk who go for games such as Ridge Racer because your car can’t be damaged and you don’t have to worry about fuel or tires wearing out. There are six challenge cups that you can race for (more cups are added later) that will take place on a fixed series of tracks. Taking first place rewards you with a new car. In championship mode you race during a season in one of the three classes (GT2, GT1, or Prototype). Points are assigned according to your finishing position. The racer with the most points at the end of the season will win.

The two–player mode allows for split–screen racing with either a three or five race championship. Several options can be turned on or off and the number of computer–controlled racers can vary from four to none. The artificial intelligence (AI) of the computer racers is some of the best I’ve seen. They actually swerve to block your attempts to pass and won’t think twice about smashing your car into a wall. All it takes is a hit to the right spot on your car and you will begin to slide off the track. It’s nice to have the cars react semi–realistically to bumps and nudges, a technique that games such as Ridge Racer should implement.

Easily the most impressive element of Test Drive Le Mans is the game’s excellent control. Every vehicle is a pleasure to drive. The steering is exceptionally spot–on, and the controls aren’t muddied with unnecessary options. The cars can be customized to your liking, as well. The amount of fuel can be changed to make the car heavier or lighter, the tires can be optimized for different weather conditions, aerodynamics can be adjusted to allow for better grip on the road, and the sensitivity of the steering can be fixed to your liking. I found it best to not adjust most of the features since the cars all drove so well, but there are attributes that can be changed if you so choose. I had no problems learning how to drive the various vehicles, making the learning curve fairly low. I recommend starting the game in arcade mode since the cars don’t take damage. This provides a familiarity with the cars to make you more comfortable before trying the more difficult racing modes. It takes a considerable amount of playtime to win in the championship modes or the 24–hour marathon.

There are two major strikes against Test Drive Le Mans; the sub–par graphics and the annoying commentator. While the graphics are satisfactory, they don’t meet the standards of other racing games on the PlayStation. Although there are hints of lens flares, reflections, and even tire marks that are permanently etched in the sand if you happen to stray from the track, these nice touches don’t have the same flair of games like Ridge Racer 4 or Gran Turismo 2. The music is above average, but very forgettable. The announcer simply repeats too many of his one–liners. His vocabulary should be increased ten–fold and he should learn when to remain silent!

For those of you looking for a simulation–type racing game, Test Drive Le Mans is sure to deliver an experience you will enjoy, and fans of arcade racing games will also enjoy this title with the arcade mode and excellent control. Just don’t expect to be able to power–slide your way around corners. I’m highly impressed with the game and it’s sure to provide hours upon hours of entertainment for those who buy it. Good job, Infogrames and Eutechnyx.