A Challenge for Daring Drivers

Is there fahrvergnugen without a steering wheel?

We don’t think so, but Accolade takes another worthy shot at it with “Road & Car 1.” This first add-on disk for last year’s top-selling “Test Drive III: The Passion” includes two new cars and a new course that winds its way from Cape Cod to Niagara Falls.

The new disk follows the standards set by the original game. Player-drivers race the clock, a computer opponent or another human across the countryside in a high performance sports car. Along with the winding two-lane blacktop of bucolic New England, there are plenty of natural and man-made road hazards: rain, snow, mountains, rivers, lakes, stop signs and the dark of night. Not seen on the previous course are stray horses and cows, buses, covered bridges, hot-air balloons and buzzing airplanes.

While octane addicts may enjoy the challenges offered by the higher difficulty levels, multiple route choices and uncharted shortcuts, these two beginners found just staying on the road a major challenge. It’s a good thing players can only be penalized with speeding tickets--no DUIs or reckless driving pullovers.

The game makers try hard to enhance the driving experience. The cars are described and pictured with a level of accuracy that will probably capture the attention of hard-core Road & Track readers. The graphics and animation--from the beautiful fall colors to the gently swaying hot-air balloons--are terrific.

But if you take the time to sightsee, you’re probably going to wind up crashed on the side of the road.

And it’s still difficult to understand how anybody who truly enjoys driving can feel challenged by trying to keep a car on the road with a joy stick or the arrow keys on the keyboard.

ROAD AND CAR

Rating: * * *

IBM compatibles, Tandy; 640K; “Test Drive III: The Passion” required ($59.95); List: $24.95.

Computer games are rated on a five-star system, from one star for poor to five for excellent.