Test Drive Unlimited

The Test Drive series has been around for a few years and delivered some fairly good gameplay, but with the latest release in the series, the Test Drive team wanted to do something radical--- to map the entire island of Oahu and make it drivable. To this extent, the game is a solid racing sim, but the controls and car mechanics seem to have slipped a couple gears in the process.

The game begins with you choosing between a set of six or eight “various” character models to represent you (or your alter-ego). I say “various” because they don’t really seem to vary except in gender. After you pick your character you are given a choice between a couple basic (and crappy) cars to drive around the beautiful island of Oahu. The island is huge, and although the textures aren’t as sharp as you would like, the graphics don’t disappoint. The game gives you some time to drive around for a bit and get used to the controls before presenting you with your next choice-- a house. There aren’t that many available to buy at the beginning because you're broke, and not that the house really matters anyway, but it’s a unique (albeit useless other than to store cars) option that most other racing sims lack.

Now down to the meat: the racing. Test drive is very fun at times, but can also be both easy and boring. You can drive around the city and when you run across “missions,” indicated by floating holograms above the road, you can enter them at your own discretion. The races consist of your standard checkpoints, speed challenges, or time trials, all of which are exactly as they sound, and incrementally increase in difficulty as the island opens up. They are well paced and give quite a challenge as the game progresses. Up next is where Test Drive gets weird. In between the races you will be given random assignments like delivering discreet packages, cars and even picking up hitchhikers and taking them wherever they want to go. Technically you don’t have to do the missions but you are basically forced to, otherwise you will be broke if you don’t; and without money, you can’t buy any of the cool stuff in the game. And there is plenty to keep you buying. Test Drive advertises over 90 licensed cars that take you from basic American cars all the way to the rare exotics that make any racing game fun.

Sadly, other than that, Test Drive is kind of…bland. There isn’t really a story, just challenges. I guess they assume your main inspiration will just be to get nicer cars and houses, and that very well may be enough inspiration for you. Just be warned that there is no such thing as character development. This type of assumed motivation reminds me of the first Sims game. It just lacks a central focus. Luckily, this is where the wonderful online component comes into play.

Test Drive allows you to log in straight from the main menu into GameSpy’s network and boot up Hawaii with thousands of others. Again, freedom is the key word here. Want to just drive around and see the scenery? Go ahead. Maybe you want to race everybody you run into and make lots of money—you can. Just flash your lights at them, set the finish line on the map and voila.  

Gameplay: 8
Even though the lack of a central storyline leaves Test Drive a bit anemic, it still is a sturdy racer.

Graphics: 7
With a pretty good computer the models look crisp and smooth; the textures—not so much.

Sound: 7
Some pretty good sound but nothing near the quality of Need For Speed and other racing sims.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 8.9
The online component and the freedom of an entire island is very appealing, and for the most part is pulled off successfully with few hitches.

Multiplayer: 9
By far the strongest point of Unlimited. Well organized, quick and easy to set up with lots of racers ready and eager to race for status and money.

Overall: 8
If you’ve never been to Hawaii, here’s a one-way ticket for $50.