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bad review

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 8
Date: June 05, 2002
Author: Amazon User

not the greatest i don't think anyway

Another 'A' title for Dreamcast

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 10 / 12
Date: November 23, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Graphics - 4.5; Sound - 4.0; Control - 4.5; Replay Value - 4

What's up with Dreamcast? Even with the release of Playstation 2 and all its hype, Sega and it's partners are quietly releasing one outstanding game after another. Nothing against Playstation 2, as technically it's an admirable system and I might buy that too when available. But sometimes people forget that Dreamcast is also a 128-bit system with similar capabilities. And it's the games that sell systems, not the other way around. Right now Dreamcast has lots of 'A' games.

The last few weeks we've seen the release of one quality Dreamcast game after another - Test Drive V Rally, Skies of Arcadia, NFL2k1, Starlancer, Grandia II & many more upcoming ones. But now this - perhaps the best racing game on Dreamcast or any other console - Test Drive LeMans.

Test Drive LeMans'attention to detail is striking. Each car's reflections, shadows, headlights, sponsor ads. and symbols are the best I've seen. When driving at night, your car's tail lights even cast a foggy glow and the the car itself leaves a realistic and subtle 'trail' effect. Hard to explain, you just have to see it! When your car gets off-track, it leaves animated dust trails that rotate like a galaxy and slowly dissipates-unbelievable! Even the stars at night seem to twinkle and aren't just bright stationary pixels in the sky. I just received this game yesterday and who knows what else is in store. Only gripe is that the framerate is likely not 60fps. But the sense of speed is still there. The tracks are detailed enough but not outstanding.

As good as the graphics and sounds are, they would mean nothing without playability and control. But again LeMans excels. It's a great balance of realistic sim and slightly arcade. I've never felt a racing game give such a realistic sense of speed and danger when taking tight turns. It's difficult to get tired of the game as spoiler adjustment, tire-wear, fuel-load affects the control of each car as the race progresses giving some variation. Having over a dozen cars at once in a race is almost unparalleled with no slowdown. The 'LeMans' race itself has 24 cars and no slowdown.

There are many cars and several tracks to unlock, the replays are like broadcast quality, the racing sounds seems like there's a "Doppler" effect built in and etc. etc. etc. I just can't write enough good things about the game. Again the only negative is that the framerate is likely not 60fps and it would be nice to see more detail and color on the tracks themselves. But can't have everything until a 256K hardware comes along with a faster CPU.

But other than that another "must buy" for Dreamcast owners. Fine job Infogrames!

What an incredible racing experience.....

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: February 13, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I'll admit, racing games never held my interest much until the Dreamcast came along. First, Metropolis Street Racer, which was so amazing I decided to get Test Drive Le Mans as well. Between these two, I'm hooked big time. My thinking used to be: "Let's face it, how fun can driving really really fast around and around a track be?" Le Mans caused me to eat my words before my first race was done. Why? The graphics are dazzling, even better than MSR. The weather changes during the 24 hour Le Mans race (yes, 24 hours in real time, if that's your thing) from sunstreaked skies to a thunderous downpour. The time of day is gorgeously simulated as well -- the sky slowly darkens and the full moon rises. This is the best-looking racer there is, no question. The controls are masterful: you can feel your car beginning to spin out and feel the weight shift as you barrel around hairpin turns. The thing I like the most, however, is the AI. Each car (up to 24 on screen at once!) has separate AI, so you'll see them jockey with each other, smash into walls, and spin out on the grass. None of the perfect, unchanging routes that made me hate racing games in the past. You actually have a chance of winning even if you're in the middle of the pack on the last lap!! There are around 40 licensed cars to choose from, all authentically rendered down to glowing brake discs and trails from spoilers, and meticulously detailed. The reflection mapping has to be seen to believed. You can choose quick race (which opens up all 10 real-life tracks), championship (opens up new cars), and Le Mans (offers the true 24 hour test, or compressed). Le Mans also stays away, thankfully, from tinkering with your car's particulars all day. I just wanna race! However, you can adjust fuel load and tire type, which is quite strategical rather than a needless detail. The sound is also top notch, with the exception of the somewhat generic music. However, I can't quite give this 5 stars because after all, you're still limited to driving around a track really fast, no matter how beautiful it is and how well it controls. MSR has more variety to its gameplay. However, if you want the best pure racing experience gaming has to offer, Test Drive Le Mans fits the bill to perfection. MSR and TDLM finally fulfill the promise of 128-bit systems beyond just prettier graphics, and raise the standard that hopefully others will try to surpass. As a new racing convert, I hope they do.

i thought of giving 5 out of 5 but........................

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: February 06, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This is the best ever game i played on any video game system.I was first of all stunned by watching the car rolling over the circuit like a real car.OK the GT1 and GT2 looked pretty good for the Playstation considering it`s 32bit caliber.But Dreamcast,although it`s a 128 bit system it could deliver the stuuf beyond it`s caliber.Yes ,i`m serious.I took the Dreamcast for the Christmas 2000.i played F1world grand prix,Speed devils on line racing,Monaco Grand prix,4 Wheel Thunder etc....racing games.F1 Grand prix was way too below the Dreamcast`s caliber,and don`t even think about buying the latter games i mentioned earlier.they are looking like 32 bit games .i`m a huge F1 fan and a crazy racing fan.TEST Drive LE mans was the perfect solution for my search for a pure simulation game,but even it was NOT PERFECT.Yes,it`s true.there`s no real damage,that was the main reason for me to give 4 stars instead of 5.if the damage were to be realthen it would be the best racing game available on the EARTH,.i`ll wait for F1 Championship Season2000 in the Playstation2 and the Need for Speed Series in it when they arrive in my country ,INDIA.till then Test Drive Le Mans is my best to mention.

did what they said couldn't be done...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: November 14, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I remember in the manual, if I'm correct, that they said you couldn't win the race, the 24 hour race, Circuit de La Sarthe, in a GT car - anything outside of the prototypes - the Toyota GT1, BMW V12 LMR, Panoz LMP-01 etc, but, I did win in the blue/white #52 Chrysler (dodge) Viper in the wet - lapping the 2nd place Toyota GT1 on the last lap. I had won in the BMW V12 LMR with a 14 lap lead on the 2nd place Audi R8C in the dry.

I have had this game for about 3 years now, I believe, and I still go after the LMP's in slower cars, just to make the game harder.

The AI is incredible - for instance, as I was following the Toyota GT1 in a Panoz LMP-01, coming around the last turn that goes 4 lanes wide to the first straightaway (the straightaway that leads to the first chicane), we had 2 porsche's in front of us, the AI took the toyota to the right side passing, and I immediately took the left side passing, and we both came back to the center of the track, at the yellow line when it went back to 2 lanes - it was the absolute pinnacle of AI perfection I have ever seen, and my friend who was watching me race, was simply in awe because of what I just did, and the AI performed that maneuver perfectly - even the AI in the 2 porsches riding in a single line, stayed on their line until we passed.

The graphics on this game are perfect - I have not seen one flaw yet, and I've given up looking - you can see the drivers eyes, which is a nice touch.

No car damage - at all.

I'm kinda proud to say that my best lap time in the BMW V12 LMR is (and it's been a while since i've played)...I recall between 3:11 and 3:15 in the wet. It's been a while, but I do know for a fact it was under 3:17 in competition.

This game is really great, even on the smaller tracks, which totally kick my ass, and I'm generally in the top 5 in the LMP's when finishing those races - the AI has me there, very challenging, hard to catch a first place finish every time.

Each car has it's ups and downs - they are all unique. The Panoz has a nice torque curve, the Audi has great mid to upper rpm power, and great brakes, the Toyota GT1 doesn't have smooth engine power - you can feel it sort of accellerate faster than the transmission, and let it catch up - seems weird, the Jaguar and the Sauber are rockets, the Mercedes CLK-GTR is a dream, and the BMW V12 LMR is the perfect car - will not go faster than 213 mph on the straights, unless you're in a draft, so you'll never use 6th gear. The Viper GTS/R - great car, awesome torque - you can change gears without ever worrying about changing at the redline, so you can change 1/2 to 3/4 way up the rpm range, because the torque wears off very quick, so keep the rpm's low. The Porsche's have a bit of oversteer, and are a little tricky to learn.

I'm going to get back into this game as soon as I beat Resident Evil 4, and finish destroying everything in Mercenaries.

Too bad there is no part 2 in this game, to add more LMP cars, animated pit crew, damage, and yellow/red/blue flags, and audio from your pit crew. Other than this, I would not change anything at all, just add these options on, and you've got the perfect game.

-Jeff
(...)

Fantastic! That sums up this effort by Infogrames

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 14
Date: November 14, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I'm a huge race fan, and the main reason I play video games is to fulfill my racing career. Since Gran Turismo for the PSX and then Sega GT for the Dreamcast I've had a great selection of racing sims.

This game blows them away. If your a sports car fan then you know what the 24 hours of Le Mans is all about. This game recreates that race and more. The game itself has brilliant control, each car handles differently. The Dodge Viper is gonna handle different then a Porsche GT2. The car models themselves are simply gorgeous. They look like CARS, not polygonal crayola colored triangular looking things that resemble a Viper, heck, you can even see the brake calipers!! (How cool is that?). I haven't finished the game but it has around 40 different cars and 9 or 10 tracks (I haven't won all those yet either). You can even race a 24 hour race if you want, that's right a full 24 freakin' hours. That's a bit much, but it's there if you wanted to.

Overall this is the best racing game I have ever played. Bar none. It's not necessarily the deepest as far as number of cars or tracks or blah, blah, blah, but it is as close as I'm gonna get to racing the BMW V12 at Le Mans. With this game, I'm even ok withthat.

Go pick it up, you WON'T be disappointed.

Former Race Car Driver sits in awe, jaw on the floor

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 10
Date: February 21, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I have been racing cars since I was 14 and have always longed for a real racer to play with my friends when I am not on the track. I own pretty much every racer for the DC and must admit; I really enjoy them. Sadly the only racing game that was real enough for me was Porsche Unleashed on my PC. Then I bought F1 World Grand Prix and loved it as well. F1 was spectacular, but for some reason lakced a certain pinache' to keep yearning for the game. Now I have Test Drive: Le Mans. Wow, what a game. This is by far and away the best racer available on the market for any system. The cars handle precisely like they do in real life (I have driven some of the cars in the game before in real life so I can testify to this) and the detail in jaw-dropping. The tracks are perfect represtations, especially the Le Mans circuit which is exact right down to the homes along the straights. Hell, you can even see the disc brakes heat up and turn red when braking into a corner. As far as game play goes, I can't think of a better way to describe it than, "Finally, they made a real racing game." I give this my full endorsement and if you own a Dreamcast, you must own this game.

---------

-A few Extras to help the buyer-

In the game you have the option to: "QUICK RACE" which is just what it says. Go into "CHAMPIONSHIP" mode where you have to move up from a GT2 class into the higher ranks of GT cars and classes. This is extremely fun and rewarding as you are able to unlock cars and tracks. The modifications you can make to the car before a race or while in the pits are perfect; not too technical, but technical enough that if you make the right change, it can be the move that wins you the race. You also can go into "24 HOUR LE MANS" mode where you simulate an actual 24 Hour Le Mans race. You can opt to have it condensed to 10 real minutes simulating 24 gaming hours. You can do 30 minutes, 1 hour, or even the full 24 hours, all the while the real time clock is in the corner. The weather conditions change realistically as well as the daylight. This is possibly the most enjoyable part of the game, and don;t worry, you can save your progress when you pit in (You don't have to sit in front of the TV for 24 hours). There is also a "MULTIPLAYER" option which has great gameplay as well and a "TIME TRIAL" mode that allows you to work on lowering your track times with the assistance of a ghost car. All in all, one perfectly spectacular game.

Best racing game for DC yet!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 7
Date: November 15, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Le Mans has the graphics, the cars, and the power to deliver a very satisfying game. Sega GT is ok, more like a PSX GT clone, which never wasn't truly the "best" game. Le Mans still isn't the "best" ever but it certainly is close. Allowing for 24 cars on the screen is simply amazing! The graphics are the best for racing on DC yet! And then the price, ... where could you go wrong! The Test Drive series has always been off very poor quality, but with Le Mans this has truly been a 180 in terms of quality. Great job Infogrames!

THE BEST RACER ON DREAMCAST!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: June 01, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Test drive le mans is by far the best racer on dreamcast,the graphics are simply amazing!since when have you seen brake rotors turn red from friction on any video game.The handleing on the cars is perfect,some of the best control since gran tourismo!There are plenty of modes of game play single race,championship and le mans 24 hour.Dont miss out on this one get it while you can before its gone!

The most stunning racer on Dreamcast to Date!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: August 03, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I picked up Test drive Le Mans a while back and to this day I still play it allot! It is the ONLY GAME for ANY system to generate 24 cars on the track at one time let alone in the same screen. You have over 30 cars to choose from. You have your basic 2 groups GT, and Protoype. In the GT you have your Porsches and Vipers, and then the Protypes had cars like the Panoz Esperante, Toyota GT 1 and many more. The graphics are absolutely splended. The smoke from squealing tires, and tire marks, headlights glaring, backround effects, weather (such as the rain looks spectacular.) The rain can be seen falling and making the little ripple on the ground, and the faster you travel, the wider the tracks are from your tires (where the rain splits from the tires) The handling is awesome. Easy to control, and fast and responsive. This game is a MUST HAVE for any dreamcast racing fan.

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