Test Drive 5

Reception

Test Drive 5 earned a mixed reception across both PlayStation and PC, based on aggregate scores from GameRankings. In Japan, Capcom handled the PlayStation port, releasing it on March 25, 1999, and Famitsu rated it 26 out of 40. James Mielke of GameSpot felt the PlayStation version was not a total failure but argued that when you consider the racing games it tries to imitate, you would buy at least three others first, calling the artificial intelligence cheap and the gameplay unbalanced, making it suitable only for a rental. Michael E. Ryan, also from GameSpot, found the PC version lacking in many areas, noting that while it offered decent arcade racing with strong visuals, a large car roster, and many tracks, it could not match Electronic Arts' Need for Speed III in nearly any respect. Trent C. Ward of IGN praised the PC version for its solid graphics, excellent sound, and an impressive selection of cars, but he criticized the unfair behavior of computer-controlled opponents. He explained that a gentle tap from behind by an AI car would send the player's vehicle spinning out of control, yet the same move failed when attempted on opponents, often leaving the player in a ditch. Ward concluded that Test Drive 5 nearly achieved greatness but then fell apart, as its good handling, great car choices, and decent graphics were undermined by AI cars that could knock the player off the road at any moment, and even with the fastest cars, keeping up with the slowest AI opponents was a struggle. Craig Harris, also of IGN, had a more positive take on the PlayStation version, highlighting the sound effects, music, and multiplayer mode, and noting that the graphics were an improvement over Test Drive 4, describing the engine as smooth, crisp, and fast.