Test Drive Unlimited
If your console savvy you'll recognize this title as an Xbox 360 release from last year. Well, the game has finally made its way to being ported over for the PlayStation 2. The world may be limited by the restrictions of the console but it still offers a fun experience and it's one that seeks to dethrone some of the top racing franchises. Does it overtake them for the win?
Test Drive: Unlimited puts you behind the wheel as a freedom loving rebel of sorts and gives you the island of Oahu as a sandbox. There isn't much in the way of a fascinating story but it's safe to say that this game stands on the merits of its gameplay and not plot. Once you arrive on the island you'll be taken through some tutorials and the world will gradually open up to you.
You start out with a little bit of pocket cash and are pointed in a few directions. As you decide what kind of cast you want to drive first you'll also have to keep in mind that you need a base of operations. Buying houses and cars are the fundamentals of Test Drive: Unlimited and they really become one of the most addicting features. You'll constantly feel like improving your digs and purchasing that shiny new toy all in the sake of collecting.
In order to upgrade your material possessions you need money. Fortunately there are races all over Oahu as indicated by a marker on your map and icons in the heads up display. Driving from one race to the next will really give you some idea of how big this digital version of Oahu really is. Literally there are over a hundred miles of road here and all of them can be driven on or raced through.
Your money is also affected by how well you drive. Similar to PGR's Kudos system, Test Drive: Unlimited rewards you for a show of skills. Whether you drift, enter a slipstream, or simply drive well you'll be credited points that affect your rank as a driver. It's a simple system that is satisfying in many ways and I'm sure you'll see many more racing games utilizing this mechanic in the future.
The single player world is populated by a bunch of traffic and cops who would love nothing more than to bag you for driving poorly. If you ever played the online mode for the Xbox 360 though you'll know that it was the multiplayer mode that was the most robust. With seemingly thousands of players occupying Oahu at the same time Test Drive: Unlimited for the 360 truly came to life. It was a massive online racing community and challenging people was as easy as flashing your lights.
On the PS2 this online community is again restricted by the limitations of the hardware. Instead of having countless gamers driving around you at all times the world is limited to your immediate surroundings. This means if you are looking for a particular player on the island you'll have a heck of a time trying to find them unless you meet up at a particular hotspot. The modes are a little lacking as well but there are many races to be had if you're in the mood for one.
Overall Test Drive: Unlimited offers an intuitive racing structure with fine gameplay and a decent online mode. Unfortunately it's hard to say that the entire game as a whole isn't lacking compared to the Xbox 360 version. The hardware limitations are noticeable and though Atari took steps to minimize the loss of quality it still shows. A certain lack of modes creates a boring experience and the online just isn't as solid. This is still a great driving game but if you own a 360 you're better off going with the older (and better) version.
Test Drive: Unlimited is a fickle beast when it comes to grading the visuals. On one hand you have some fantastic environments and car models with decent lighting and textures. On the other you have graphical pop up and funny physics such as a shrubbery's ability to stop a car going 160 miles per hour. The good and bad seem to be at war with each other and again, if you have an Xbox 360 your experience will be better in the graphics department. This isn't a bad looking game; it's just one with ups and downs.
Like any good racing game Test Drive: Unlimited features a decent soundtrack with some tunes that set the mood. The music does tend to lack in terms of quantity but there some songs here that will really get you into the game. The sound effects are decent as well with realistic quality and good variety.
If you own a PlayStation 2 and want a solid racing experience Test Drive: Unlimited is about as good as you're going to get with the last generation console. The island of Oahu is a beautiful place and it's full of street races to partake in whether you're online or off. If this game has any flaw it's that it is not quite as polished as the Xbox 360 version and some things went missing in the transition. You could do far worse if you're looking for a racing game but with the next generation upon us taking a step back like this seems a little silly. Recommended if you can't play the 360 version.