Test Drive Unlimited
| Test Drive Unlimited | |
|---|---|
| Cover art for Test Drive Unlimited | |
| Developer(s) | Eden Games & Melbourne House |
| Publisher(s) | Atari |
| Director(s) |
|
| Platform(s) | PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360 |
| Release | PC:
 April 26 2007 |
| Genre(s) | Street Racing |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer,Xbox Live |
Test Drive Unlimited is an arcade-style racing game that features over 125 licensed sports cars and motorcycles and a terrain modelled after the Hawaiian island of Oahu that features some 1000 miles of roads and highways.[1] Test Drive Unlimited is the latest installment of Test Drive, one of the longest running racing game franchises.
Gameplay
In Test Drive Unlimited, the player is able to drive both on-road and off-road, challenging any racers they encounter. Oahu is modeled to within a meter of detail of its real life counterpart, as the developers have used satellite imaging for precision modeling.[1] The terrain differs from rainforest and mountains to sandy beaches and Hawaii's capital city, Honolulu. The Xbox 360 version has supported steering wheel controllers since launch. Following the third free update, Test Drive Unlimited supports force feedback wheel controllers such as Microsoft's Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel.
Although advertising material for the game suggests it to be an exact depiction of the Hawaiian island, numerous government buildings (such as those on Pearl Harbor, Camp H. M. Smith, and Hickam Air Force Base), commercial buildings (Ala Moana Center, the convention center, the entire commercial strip in Pearl City and the Pearlridge Center), and notable landmarks (statue of King Kamehameha I, etc.) are not present in the game. Many roadways and highway are also missing or rendered far from its real-life counterpart.
Single-player game
The game begins by purchasing a car and a house. The player is then free to explore the island; as this happens key locations on the map are revealed. These include:
- Car/Bike dealerships
- Car rental agencies
- Tuning Shops
- Real Estate Agents
- Clothes shops
Challenges can also be found, which include:
- Race vs CPU cars
- Time challenges
- Speed challenges
- Hitchhiker
- Top Model
- Courier (Package Transport)
- Vehicle Transport
Success in challenges is rewarded with in-game money, or in the Hitchhiker and Top Model challenges, tokens. Using these tokens, the player can buy clothing for their character at the many branded clothes shops on the island. Money earned may be spent on buying new vehicles, renting cars, upgrading cars and buying houses. Players can acquire a total of 90 sports cars from manufacturers including Ford, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Audi, Dodge, Pagani, Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz, Lotus, TVR, Jaguar, McLaren and Saleen, as well as motorcycles from MV Augusta, Ducati, Kawasaki, and Triumph.
The PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions of Test Drive Unlimited exclude a few features. Players do not have access to manual transmission options and avatars cannot be customised. Only 67 cars are available, motorcycles have been removed and several mission types have been cut out. The PSP version also lacks the interior camera angle. However, the PS2/PSP versions also contain features that the Xbox 360 do not have. For example, they have features like Master Points, Auto GPS, and more.
Multiplayer game
The multiplayer component (branded as M.O.O.R or Massively Open Online Racing) works as an extra layer on top of the single-player game - that is all activities available in single-player are also available in multiplayer. The following challenges are also available in multiplayer only:
- Race vs other players
- Challenge players to complete tasks
- Attempt other player challenges
Racing against other players works using the player match/ranked match system employed by Xbox Live, while the PC version uses the GameSpy network. It is also possible to create an immediate, ad-hoc race against another player by flashing headlights at their vehicle.
Players may create and join "clubs" which help organize player events. A patch has been added after the game's launch that allows vehicles to be traded between players through a central "clearing house"-style interface that lists the vehicles for sale along with class, mileage, specification, and price information.
Downloadable content (Xbox 360 and PC)
On the Xbox 360, new cars can be downloaded via Xbox Live, similar to Project Gotham Racing 2 and 3's Booster Packs. So far, there are 25 new cars available for download: the Nissan Skyline GTR R34, the Audi RS4 quattro Saloon, Cadillac CTS-V, Chevrolet Corvette C1, 1971 Dodge Challenger RT and Lexus IS 350 are available to be downloaded from the Xbox Live Marketplace without charge. The first payable pack was released in November 2006 and included Ferrari 250 GTO, Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition, Chevrolet Corvette C6 Convertible, Koenigsegg CCR, RUF RGT and Noble M400. In December a new pack was released featuring the 1971 Dodge Challenger RT, Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, McLaren F1 GT, Dodge Viper SRT-10 Coupe, RUF Rt 12, Alfa Brera and the Edonis. On March 8, 2007 the latest car pack was released adjacent to the release of the long-awaited Hardcore Mode. This car pack included the Cadillac CTS-V, Ferrari F40, RUF RTurbo, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible 1971, Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 Roadster, Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR, and the Audi S6. Once downloaded, the cars are offered for sale in-game in the relevant dealerships. A new dealership is added for the Lexus brand and a separate dealership is added for the McLaren F1 GT when those vehicles are downloaded. A Lexus pack was released on April 12 2007, containing the LS460 and GS450h, free of charge. On May 14 2007, a new car pack is available for download. Included are the Cadillac Cien, Ferrari Dino, Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster, Saturn Curve (Free), RUF RK Spyder, TVR T440R and Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale. Once again, the cars are offered for sale in-game in the relevant dealerships.
Four other cars (The McLaren F1 LM, Pagani Zonda C12S Roadster, Spyker C8 Spyder and the Lamborghini Gallardo) were at one time available, but the McLaren and Pagani were limited to the first 10,000 people who could acquire a friend's promotional code and enter it along with his or her own via the referral program, which is now closed. The Lamborghini was a promotion available only to those who preordered the game. Presently, the only way to obtain these exclusive cars is to obtain a Token code, with which the player can gain access to the download, but each code can be used only once. The Spyder was a promotion only available to those that preordered the game at certain game stores, mostly in Europe.
An administrator on the Atari Forums announced on May 25th that the PC version will get Nissan Skyline GTR R34 and Audi RS4 quattro Saloon packed together with the first patch for free.[2] However, this patch has turned out to be delayed until late June 2007, and has still not been released as of July 9th, but it is apparently in its 'Final Testing Stages' to stamp out the numerous problems associated with cheating.[2] Regardless of complaints from fans, Atari has failed to officially comment on the delays.[3][4][5]
Special NPCs in PS2 Version
There were 1500 total beta testers in Atari's closed beta for Test Drive Unlimited PS2. At the end of the testing period, Atari awarded 30 of the most active testers with "immortality" in the PS2 version of Test Drive Unlimited. These 30 beta testers were allowed to name one of the Non Playable Characters (NPC) in the game. Some chose to use their first and last name; others chose to use their screen names. These 30 special NPCs can be found spread throughout the virtual island of only the PS2 version.[6] Atari and Melbourne House ensured the Beta Testers were given prominent positions as NPCs. Most were granted President or Vice President status in the car clubs around the island, and were put in highly desirable performance cars. [7]
Reaction
Upon release, Test Drive Unlimited (Xbox 360 version) garnered generally favorable reviews, with Game Rankings reporting an average rating of 82%[8] as of April, 2007 for the Xbox 360 version, 82% for the PC version, 77% for the PS2 and 75% for the PSP.[9]
Metacritic, a review averaging site, also reported "generally favorable reviews" with an average score of 82, and an average user score of 8.6 out of 10.
References
- ^ a b "Experience Racing Reinvented on Xbox 360". Atari press release. GameSpot. 2006-08-14. Retrieved 2006-10-02.
- ^ a b Atari Forums - Official information on Patch #1 (Posts 3 and 4 respectively)
- ^ Atari Forums - Official Patch Discussion thread Part 1
- ^ Atari Forums - Official Patch Discussion thread Part 2
- ^ Atari Forums - Official Patch Discussion thread Part 3
- ^ "I'm Officially an NPC in Test Drive Unlimited PS2".
- ^ "I'm The Official President of the GT Racers Club of Oahu PS2".
- ^ "Test Drive Unlimited Reviews". Game Rankings. CNET. Retrieved 2006-10-02.
- ^ "Test Drive Unlimited Reviews". Game Rankings. CNET. Retrieved 2007-03-21.