Uploaded March 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I was very pleasantly surprised when this build got released as a part of Hidden Palace's Project Deluge:
As this build is dated almost two months before the final PS2 NTSC build, there are tons of differences. In this video I'm going to show at least one race of each game mode and cover some of the more interesting features in great detail, so read on! I've made a TCRF page for this build, too: tcrf.net/Test_Drive_(2002)
Right in the beginning there is a completely different loading screen and TD Underground is revealed as a working title for the game. While most of the models and textures are pretty much finalized at this point in the game's development, the game modes are still in an earlier unfinished state. And for some reason all AI cars use their second paintjob as opposed to the first one and the rubber banding is pretty extreme in some races.
One of the more interesting differences is in Underground mode, where the beginning FMV is showing Clark's Cuda (which is actually rendered in realtime in the final game, instead of using pre-recorded FMV), finally revealing that the unused Cuda model, the existence of which has been known for more than a decade is indeed his Cuda! I guess they have decided to not use it as the only difference is mainly the hood scoop, yet it reuses the same texture as the normal one. Yet it's fully playable in this build. It could also be an oversight as it can also be easily enabled in the final game, but that FMV alone is a solid proof.
Hamada's Supra is not present in this build.
You'll also notice that there are completely different countdown animations during the races and that you can damage out racers with just one hit in Cop Chase. Also, apart from SF, in the other cities vans are used instead of checkpoint flares. These vans are another cut feature. In addition to that, an orbit camera can be toggled while changing camera modes, this is also cut from the final game. There are also different billboard advertisements such as Google and eBay, which are not in the final game.
None of the races have thumbnails yet and it looks like the developers originally planned 4 cars for Cop Chase mode.
Another interesting feature is being able to change the traffic cars' weight from Game Options.
My personal highlights are: the inclusion of Clark's Cuda and a surprise feature - two player cop chase mode which is completely cut from the final game! Only one chase in London is available in this build, but it's totally playable (with the exception of the bugged cop map). I assume it was cut due to issues with choosing different cop cars and conflict with the police lights. Even the racers are only using Vipers.
Due to copyright claim and a bug making it impossible to view the entire intro in-game, I have uploaded the full video here: youtu.be/LjPsj-iSgco
The main menu also uses different music track and only one song is playing in-game. Sadly, I had to disable them as well.
I'm currently working on another video which is going to cover even more cut content, combining my previous research done on the final builds with the fresh research on this preview build, so stay tuned!
Meanwhile, feel free to check out the free roam mode that I made last year, includes driving segments of Clark's Cuda and Hamada's Supra: youtu.be/6Ex8gZow9Ns
Since the loading times are very long in this build, you can check out the chapter markers to quickly fast forward:
00:00 Intro
01:31 Main Menu
05:05 Underground
08:39 SF Satnav Challenge
14:31 All Underground events
15:32 All cars
15:59 Clark's unused Cuda
16:37 Skeeter's GTO
16:43 Reese's Camaro
16:49 Skeeter's Chevelle
17:34 Monaco Linear Race
21:38 Tokyo Circuit Race
26:44 London Satnav Challenge
29:39 London Cop Chase
32:26 SF Drag Race
33:01 Traffic Weight Demonstration
33:30 Statistics
35:09 Cut Two Player Cop Chase Mode
I was very pleasantly surprised when this build got released as a part of Hidden Palace's Project Deluge:
As this build is dated almost two months before the final PS2 NTSC build, there are tons of differences. In this video I'm going to show at least one race of each game mode and cover some of the more interesting features in great detail, so read on! I've made a TCRF page for this build, too: tcrf.net/Test_Drive_(2002)
Right in the beginning there is a completely different loading screen and TD Underground is revealed as a working title for the game. While most of the models and textures are pretty much finalized at this point in the game's development, the game modes are still in an earlier unfinished state. And for some reason all AI cars use their second paintjob as opposed to the first one and the rubber banding is pretty extreme in some races.
One of the more interesting differences is in Underground mode, where the beginning FMV is showing Clark's Cuda (which is actually rendered in realtime in the final game, instead of using pre-recorded FMV), finally revealing that the unused Cuda model, the existence of which has been known for more than a decade is indeed his Cuda! I guess they have decided to not use it as the only difference is mainly the hood scoop, yet it reuses the same texture as the normal one. Yet it's fully playable in this build. It could also be an oversight as it can also be easily enabled in the final game, but that FMV alone is a solid proof.
Hamada's Supra is not present in this build.
You'll also notice that there are completely different countdown animations during the races and that you can damage out racers with just one hit in Cop Chase. Also, apart from SF, in the other cities vans are used instead of checkpoint flares. These vans are another cut feature. In addition to that, an orbit camera can be toggled while changing camera modes, this is also cut from the final game. There are also different billboard advertisements such as Google and eBay, which are not in the final game.
None of the races have thumbnails yet and it looks like the developers originally planned 4 cars for Cop Chase mode.
Another interesting feature is being able to change the traffic cars' weight from Game Options.
My personal highlights are: the inclusion of Clark's Cuda and a surprise feature - two player cop chase mode which is completely cut from the final game! Only one chase in London is available in this build, but it's totally playable (with the exception of the bugged cop map). I assume it was cut due to issues with choosing different cop cars and conflict with the police lights. Even the racers are only using Vipers.
Due to copyright claim and a bug making it impossible to view the entire intro in-game, I have uploaded the full video here: youtu.be/LjPsj-iSgco
The main menu also uses different music track and only one song is playing in-game. Sadly, I had to disable them as well.
I'm currently working on another video which is going to cover even more cut content, combining my previous research done on the final builds with the fresh research on this preview build, so stay tuned!
Meanwhile, feel free to check out the free roam mode that I made last year, includes driving segments of Clark's Cuda and Hamada's Supra: youtu.be/6Ex8gZow9Ns
Since the loading times are very long in this build, you can check out the chapter markers to quickly fast forward:
00:00 Intro
01:31 Main Menu
05:05 Underground
08:39 SF Satnav Challenge
14:31 All Underground events
15:32 All cars
15:59 Clark's unused Cuda
16:37 Skeeter's GTO
16:43 Reese's Camaro
16:49 Skeeter's Chevelle
17:34 Monaco Linear Race
21:38 Tokyo Circuit Race
26:44 London Satnav Challenge
29:39 London Cop Chase
32:26 SF Drag Race
33:01 Traffic Weight Demonstration
33:30 Statistics
35:09 Cut Two Player Cop Chase Mode
