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Test Drive Unlimited
By: Eden Games
More Information
the best game ever
On: 2008-11-06In this game you can do almost anything,go on a cruise,go to a secret island,go in to peoples houses,buy over 150 cars,buy about 10 types of motorcycles,buy houses to store your cars and motorcycles in,get chased by the cops,real people playing the game, and my favorite part is that you can go anywhere you want.The island may look small but when you drive on it ITS NOT!Im not really a race person I just like to drive around the island and thats just whats on this game.
Brendan Cafaro.
desent game
On: 2008-05-19I did not pay that much for this game !graphcially it is very nice but the control is a bit dissapointing !I have it on my drive wheel and it still feel sluggish!...its harder to drive on the game than driving it realife!
( I guess thats the problem with all the simulator type games)
This game is GREAT
On: 2008-04-18So far this is my favorite XBox 360 game. I love it. Everyone in my family loves it. I borrowed it from a friend, and then I had to have it. You get to cruise town looking for challenges. You have to unlock roads, shops and challenges by driving past them. There are shops to buy close, and you can even customize every feature of your characters face. the graphics are great and the gameplay is extremely fun. You can challenge AI cars you meet, or challenge real people on LIVE. Buy houses and cars, then race them through the streets of Oahu. Cant afford that new car? Just rent it then! And you can Test Drive all cars before you buy them.
A must have racing game - well I just HAD to have it!!!
Great game but, no wrecking of cars
On: 2008-04-08Great game and fun to play, when you start if you are online you will not even know that you are playing online untill you see a name above a car. The only thing that is kind of wrong with the game is if you crash a car you dont have any damage to the car. You can even get traffic tickets from the police. Still a great game.
Great game with a few flaws
On: 2008-03-02All in all, its a great game. Its a racing lifestyle simulator where you buy houses, nice cars, and race. I love working towards my next big palace and better cars, I just wanted more customization.
PROS:
Virtual Oahu is gorgeous.
You make your driver, and customize him/her.
Buying houses.
Sweet cars (with plenty to download if you want).
CONS:
Some handling issues.
Cop chases need improvement.
You cant customize your houses or your cars really.
VERDICT: BUY IT. I wouldnt have paid $60 for it, but $20 is BEYOND FAIR.
Wonderful Game!!
On: 2007-12-23This game will satisfy any racing fan for a very long time. There are many cars to choose from, and it is all open-world free driving during career and muli-player modes. My favorite part about the game is that while in multi-player (Xbox Live), there are other people on Live driving around with you. You can get into a group of friends and just cruise through Hawaii. It doesnt get better than that! Wait, it does, you can drive Ferraris, Lambos, Saleens, Pontiac, Fords, Ducattis, Koenigseggs, and thats just the tip of the iceberg! 5 out of 5, A+++. Great game.
Wonderful Game!!
On: 2007-12-22This game will satisfy any racing fan for a very long time. There are many cars to choose from, and it is all open-world free driving during career and muli-player modes. My favorite part about the game is that while in multi-player (Xbox Live), there are other people on Live driving around with you. You can get into a group of friends and just cruise through Hawaii. It doesnt get better than that! Wait, it does, you can drive Ferraris, Lambos, Saleens, Pontiac, Fords, Ducattis, Koenigseggs, and thats just the tip of the iceberg! 5 out of 5, A+++. Great game.
not a true racing game, but the one of its kind
On: 2007-10-31As a racing fun, I have played lots of GT, F1 and rally on several platforms. So tired to wait GT5, I decided to give a shot on street racing again, since the admirable NFS Porsche Unleashed faded away in time. It is no need to repeat how beautiful the landscape is in this game. Back to driving, it is fun in a very different way. As a track racer, it is so frustrating to drive on the winding mountain road north of the island. The map is too big to get familiar with. Even you are a Finn, you dont get a British pilot with the car. Which means you cannot plan your move ahead and the road force you to brake unprofessionally. The high way is more predictable, but the arcade tend control make your car unpredictable at low speed in heavy traffic. You and your rivals will get into traffic trouble from time to time. Whatever wins or loses, it feels by chance, not by skill. So, after a couple of hours, I realize why not just relax. I drive my Alfa Romeo around the island to visit car dealers, buy fancy cars and drive home, stop at signs... just a way of Sunday life... I never felt it since NFS PU. One thing remind who are still going to buy this game, dont be fooled by the interior screenshot took from car purchase manue. The interior of actual drivable model is less detailed. But, well, it is a small thing. The only thing I regret is bought a used copy. Im really waiting for TDU 2 now.
Zero Fun Factor
On: 2007-10-14Test Drive Unlimited, where do I start? First, the cars handle poorly and even with upgrades they dont help the car go any faster wtf?
Come on, the models/courier missions are pure trash, I mean how can side seat drivers have the audacity to be picky and set demands in your car, ATARI you guys dropped the ball on this aspect of the game.
Secondly, the fines are unacceptable, $87,500 for hitting 4 cars, give me a break! If that were the case in real life, then those in traffic accidents should be worried. I dont mind paying a reasonable traffic fine, but not the numbers theyve pulled up to break your bank.
Third, the makers of this game have sucked all of the fun out of the game by forcing you to be an expert driver. Meaning, on the courier/models/transport missions and etc, where a few mistakes will force you to restart the mission and thats dumb! Who in their right mind wants to keep retrying a mission that they cant get past?
In conclusion, the games only bright spot is the transport mission, where you can drive without a time limit and without all the stress, unlike the other missions in the game. The good thing about this, was I bought this game off someone on ebay for $10, so i only lost $10. However anybody considering this game, should reconsider something else instead.
The sound of the Maserati MC12 = Amazing
On: 2007-10-14Great and challenging game, with a lot of races to keep you busy. A few gripes though, TDU should have allowed the player to do more such as: date, offer more upgrades for cars, have a passenger with you for fun if youre in free ride mode or something to keep you more entertained.
Another gripe is the fact some cars use the same engine effects and I thought the purpose was to make the car sound close to what it really sounds like in real life?
Anyways, the sound of the Maserati MC12 alone is worth the price of the game. Wow, its my most driven car just to hear how good it sounds, especially when youre giving it full throttle. What an amazing sounding car, I know hearing one in real life would be 10xs better.
Also, there are plenty of cars available through the the Xbox Live Marketplace, but a word of waring: if you get the red rings of death and youre given another xbox console you wont be able to continue from where your last left off. Pretty much youll be forced to start a new game and lose all that hard work youve put in prior. Plus you wont be able to play offline with the cars youve downloaded from XBL marketplace unless you buy more ms points and re-download the packs you previously had. However, if youve an internet connection then you wont have this problem.
Just ride arround
On: 2007-09-24It really feels like you are driving dreams cars arround the beatifull Oahu!!! the downside is that there isnt much more than this; but the feeling of driving nice fast cars arround an amazing view (drive really fast with no risk of serious injurioes) make this game worth it.
MMO + Racing = Grind and Frustration
On: 2007-09-06You know, I can admire the goal that Test Drive Unlimited set out to achieve. I really can. And they do some good work toward that goal. But the sad fact of the matter is that Im about halfway through the game progression, and its entirely probably that I may never start the game up again.
To start, for those who dont know, the game itself is basically a standard racer, with the twist in this case being that it takes place on a pretty accurate virtual reproduction of the island of Oahu. The basic idea is the same - you win races, earn money, buy cars, houses, etc. However, the entire game takes place in a sort of real-time online world that you inhabit with a number of other selected members of the Live community that happen to be online at the time.
The concept itself is pretty interesting, as it basically combines the features of a racing game with the format of an MMO. Kind of cool, right? Well, sort of. When youre just driving around the island, remarking at how nice everything looks, or playing the races that you stand a chance at (which is not all of them), its quite enjoyable. The island is beautifully rendered, and while the car you drive is utterly immune to damage (one of those silly things that car companies tend to suggest and tend to be one of the hassles most frequently left out of games of the type), they do at least manage to look good in their base states.
Unfortunately, all this good stuff, and there is a lot of it, doesnt really help much for the parts of the game which are bad. For one thing, while the island itself is well designed, the challenges and their locations are not. Its not only very possible that you will stumble uninformed into a challenge that you cannot possibly hope to complete, I can virtually guarantee that it will happen. You have to search the giant island high and low to find all the dealerships and mechanics to get your equipment tuned to the point that you can win at some of these events you locate, and even after that, theyre still fairly challenging. Challenging isnt bad, but the fact that these challenges are essentially arbitrary "you lose" events when you encounter them certainly is.
The basic theory for games is that you should always be able to complete whatever challenges the game provides you with. The fact that this is simply not the case here is a pretty good proof that the game suffers from some serious and fundamental design issues.
Thats certainly the biggest problem, but not the only one by a long shot. Just as a short list, the human models are worse than creepy and horrible, the music gets old pretty fast, and the game will singlehandedly destroy your Recent Contacts list for Live if you play it online as it arbitrarily dumps people you dont even really play with into it. These bugs and insufficiencies taken by themselves would be minor, but as a whole, it drags the whole title down.
Ill confess - Im not a racing game type of guy. They frustrate and annoy me to no end. This game is no exception. Its enjoyable enough, and driving around the island is incredible fun for a while, but in the long run, I cant really recommend this to anybody but the hard core fan at anything less than a bargain price. Its a great start, and hopefully future games (like the next Burnout, for instance) will make good use of it. For now, its an inspired, but ultimately disappointing effort. Worth a twenty dollar purchase at bargain price, but I dont think Id personally pay any more.
MMO + Racing = Grind and Frustration
On: 2007-09-05You know, I can admire the goal that Test Drive Unlimited set out to achieve. I really can. And they do some good work toward that goal. But the sad fact of the matter is that Im about halfway through the game progression, and its entirely probably that I may never start the game up again.
To start, for those who dont know, the game itself is basically a standard racer, with the twist in this case being that it takes place on a pretty accurate virtual reproduction of the island of Oahu. The basic idea is the same - you win races, earn money, buy cars, houses, etc. However, the entire game takes place in a sort of real-time online world that you inhabit with a number of other selected members of the Live community that happen to be online at the time.
The concept itself is pretty interesting, as it basically combines the features of a racing game with the format of an MMO. Kind of cool, right? Well, sort of. When youre just driving around the island, remarking at how nice everything looks, or playing the races that you stand a chance at (which is not all of them), its quite enjoyable. The island is beautifully rendered, and while the car you drive is utterly immune to damage (one of those silly things that car companies tend to suggest and tend to be one of the hassles most frequently left out of games of the type), they do at least manage to look good in their base states.
Unfortunately, all this good stuff, and there is a lot of it, doesnt really help much for the parts of the game which are bad. For one thing, while the island itself is well designed, the challenges and their locations are not. Its not only very possible that you will stumble uninformed into a challenge that you cannot possibly hope to complete, I can virtually guarantee that it will happen. You have to search the giant island high and low to find all the dealerships and mechanics to get your equipment tuned to the point that you can win at some of these events you locate, and even after that, theyre still fairly challenging. Challenging isnt bad, but the fact that these challenges are essentially arbitrary "you lose" events when you encounter them certainly is.
The basic theory for games is that you should always be able to complete whatever challenges the game provides you with. The fact that this is simply not the case here is a pretty good proof that the game suffers from some serious and fundamental design issues.
Thats certainly the biggest problem, but not the only one by a long shot. Just as a short list, the human models are worse than creepy and horrible, the music gets old pretty fast, and the game will singlehandedly destroy your Recent Contacts list for Live if you play it online as it arbitrarily dumps people you dont even really play with into it. These bugs and insufficiencies taken by themselves would be minor, but as a whole, it drags the whole title down.
Ill confess - Im not a racing game type of guy. They frustrate and annoy me to no end. This game is no exception. Its enjoyable enough, and driving around the island is incredible fun for a while, but in the long run, I cant really recommend this to anybody but the hard core fan at anything less than a bargain price. Its a great start, and hopefully future games (like the next Burnout, for instance) will make good use of it. For now, its an inspired, but ultimately disappointing effort. Worth a twenty dollar purchase at bargain price, but I dont think Id personally pay any more.
A MUST FOR ANY AUTOMOTIVE ENTHUSIAST!!!!!!
On: 2007-08-27THIS GAME IS A MUST FOR ANY CAR LOVER!!! EXCELLENT GRAFFICS, WIDE RANGE OF CARS AND MOTORCYCLES TO CHOOSE FROM, GREAT DRIVING LOCATION! THIS GAME FOR THE PRICE IS UNBEATABLE, I HAVE PLAYED THIS GAME FOR MANY HOURS AND IT DOES LOSE ITS APPEAL. YOU REALLY FEEL LIKE YOUR DRIVING AROUND THE REAL HAWAIIAN ISLAND!YOU CAN EITHER RACE OR CRUISE, BUY HOUSES TO STORE CARS AND BIKES, CUSTOMIZE CHARACTER, CUSTOMIZE CARS AND BIKES, GREAT GAME!!! LIKE I SAID, GREAT PRICE, GREAT GRAFFIX, GREAT FUN, GREAT GAME THATS A MUST FOR ANY AUTO FAN!!!!
Ambitious game, not as much fun as other racers
On: 2007-07-27Maybe I missed the point. I was impressed by this game, having played it after Gotham 3. Like Gotham, it has the in-car views, which is cool.
It innovates in that youre always online--folks online are driving around your island, you can hear them talking, race with them, etc.
However, I could care less about clothing and houses. This is almost like an RPG with racing grafted on, and the Racing isnt that good. It all starts to feel the same--because it is. And unlike with Forza 2 or PGR3, you cant really memorize the tracks, which is annoying.
So, while Im impressed and applaud Atari for releasing it, its not really a pure racer . . but more of a role playing game where you get to drive cars around.
Very interesting game.
On: 2007-07-23This game is unlike any other racing game other there. The missions are very unique and challenging. The cars and landscapes are beautiful. if you want tou can simply drive around the island all day and try to get away from the cops. I enjoyed that a lot. Even though the missions are unique, they can be frustrating. That is the only reason why I give this game a 4 star rating instead of a 5 star rating.
A Pretty Cool Game!!
by: Anonymous On: 2007-07-18
Test Drive Unlimited is a really cool game! If you play too much at one time, it gets pretty boring. While you progress through the game, you earn money by racing, and you can get cool cars like the Mercedes-Bens SLR McLaren which I have parked at my beach house! I really recommend this game if you like cars. It ROCKS!
Best Driving game EVER!
On: 2007-07-09I have had this game for about 5 or 6 months now, and it has to be one of the best games Ive ever played, and the best driving game. Great graphics, and tons of places to go. Hundreds of miles to drive all over Oahu, Hawaii. One negative thing is you can only play one person at a time, unless youre online. Online is ok, but not to great. Not really good at all without a mic. A very wide selection of cars/bikes, with more being added each month available for free download and microsoft points via xbox live marketplace. Can tune almost every car, with the exception of the ones you win by completing all the challenges in a certain type. (i.e. racing, timed, speed). But very fun to do, and takes a while to finish so youll be playing for a while, depending on how long you play each day. Another thing I dont like is that to finish the game depends about maybe 15-25% online. You have to win I think its 5, 10 , and 20 races against another players which will take a long time. I havnet even found anyone to go in a headsup match with me yet. Just unranked matches, that dont count. You also have to join or create a club, which isnt hard at all, but there are a few more things youll need to do online to finish the game 100%. All in all a GREAT game that you will play a long time. Heres the list of cars and bikes in game, and available for download via xbox live marketplace. I made this list myself, and there shouldnt be any missing, unless a new download has been added to marketplace in the last few weeks, as I havent checked back yet. Enjoy, and buy the game!
CARS
AC 289
Alfa GT 3.2 V6 24V
Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione
Ascari KZ1
Aston Martin D89 Coupe
Aston Martin D89 Volante
Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
Aston Martin DB7 Zagato
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Aston Martin Vanquish S
Audi A3 3.2 Quattro DSG
Audi A6 4.2 Quattro
Audi S4 Cabriolet
Audi TT Quattro Sport
Cadillac XLR-V
Caterham CSR 260
Chevrolet Camaro Z-28
Chevrolet Corvette C6 Coupe
Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Z06
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 69
Chevrolet SSR
Chrysler 300C SRT-8
Chrysler Firepower Concept Car
Chrysler ME Four-Twelve
Dodge Viper SRT 10
Enzo Ferrari
Farboud Supercharged GTS Prototype 2005
Ferrari 280 GTO
Ferrari 575M Maranello
Ferrari F430
Ferrari F430 Spider
Ford GT
Ford Mustang GT Convertible
Ford Mustang GT Coupe
Ford Mustang GTR Concept
Ford Shelby Cobra Concept
Ford Shelby GR-1 Concept
Jaguar Type E Coupe
Jaguar XJ220
Jaguar XK Convertible
Jaguar XK Coupe
Jaguar XKR Coupe
Koenigsegg CC85
Lamborghini Gallardo SE
Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder
Lamborghini Miura P40GSV
Lamborghini Murcielago Coupe
Lotus Elise R
Lotus Espirit V8
Lotus Sport Exige 240 R
Maserati 3500 GT
Maserati GranSport
Maserati MC12
Maserati Spyder 90th Anniversary
Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa
McLaren F1
McLaren F1 GTR
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Mercedes-Benz CLK 55 AMG
Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG
Mercedes-Benz CLS 55 AMG
Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG
Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
Nissan 350Z Coupe
Nissan 350Z Nizmo S-Tune
Noble M12 GTO-3R
Noble M14
Pagani Zonda C125
Pontiac Firebird
Pontiac GTO
Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo
Saturn Sky
Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe
Shelby GT500
Spyker C8 Laviolette
TVR Sagaris
TVR Tuscan S
Volkswagen Gold R32
Volkswagen W12 Coupe
Volkswagen W12 Roadster
Wiesmann Roadster MF3
BIKES
Ducati 999 R
Ducati Monster S4R
Ducati SuperSport 1000 DS
Kawasaki Z1000
Kawasaki Ninja ZK-10R
MV Agusta F4 Brutale 9105
MV Agusta F4 Tamburini
Triumph Speed Triple
FREE DOWNLOADABLE CARS
Audi RS4 Quattro Saloon
Cadillac CTS-V
Chevrolet Corvette C1 1957
Dodge Challenger RT
Lexus GS 450h
Lexus LS 350
Lexus LS 460 L
Nissan Skyline GTR R34
Saturn Curve
DOWNLOADABLE CARS FOR MICROSOFT POINTS
Alfa Brera
Audi S6
Cadillac Cien
Cadillac CTS-V
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible 1971
Chrysler Crossfire SRT6 Roadster
Corvette C6 Convertible
Dino 246 GT
Dodge Viper SRT-10 Coupe
Edonis
Ferrari 250 GTO 1962
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
Ferrari Challenge Stradale
Ferrari F40
Koenigsegg CCR
Lamborghini Countach 25th
Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster
McLaren F1 GT
Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR
Noble M4000
RUF RGT
RUF RK Spyder
RUF RT 12
RUF Rturbo
TVR T440R
Best Driving game EVER!
On: 2007-07-08I have had this game for about 5 or 6 months now, and it has to be one of the best games Ive ever played, and the best driving game. Great graphics, and tons of places to go. Hundreds of miles to drive all over Oahu, Hawaii. One negative thing is you can only play one person at a time, unless youre online. Online is ok, but not to great. Not really good at all without a mic. A very wide selection of cars/bikes, with more being added each month available for free download and microsoft points via xbox live marketplace. Can tune almost every car, with the exception of the ones you win by completing all the challenges in a certain type. (i.e. racing, timed, speed). But very fun to do, and takes a while to finish so youll be playing for a while, depending on how long you play each day. Another thing I dont like is that to finish the game depends about maybe 15-25% online. You have to win I think its 5, 10 , and 20 races against another players which will take a long time. I havnet even found anyone to go in a headsup match with me yet. Just unranked matches, that dont count. You also have to join or create a club, which isnt hard at all, but there are a few more things youll need to do online to finish the game 100%. All in all a GREAT game that you will play a long time. Heres the list of cars and bikes in game, and available for download via xbox live marketplace. I made this list myself, and there shouldnt be any missing, unless a new download has been added to marketplace in the last few weeks, as I havent checked back yet. Enjoy, and buy the game!
CARS
AC 289
Alfa GT 3.2 V6 24V
Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione
Ascari KZ1
Aston Martin D89 Coupe
Aston Martin D89 Volante
Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
Aston Martin DB7 Zagato
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Aston Martin Vanquish S
Audi A3 3.2 Quattro DSG
Audi A6 4.2 Quattro
Audi S4 Cabriolet
Audi TT Quattro Sport
Cadillac XLR-V
Caterham CSR 260
Chevrolet Camaro Z-28
Chevrolet Corvette C6 Coupe
Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Z06
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 69
Chevrolet SSR
Chrysler 300C SRT-8
Chrysler Firepower Concept Car
Chrysler ME Four-Twelve
Dodge Viper SRT 10
Enzo Ferrari
Farboud Supercharged GTS Prototype 2005
Ferrari 280 GTO
Ferrari 575M Maranello
Ferrari F430
Ferrari F430 Spider
Ford GT
Ford Mustang GT Convertible
Ford Mustang GT Coupe
Ford Mustang GTR Concept
Ford Shelby Cobra Concept
Ford Shelby GR-1 Concept
Jaguar Type E Coupe
Jaguar XJ220
Jaguar XK Convertible
Jaguar XK Coupe
Jaguar XKR Coupe
Koenigsegg CC85
Lamborghini Gallardo SE
Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder
Lamborghini Miura P40GSV
Lamborghini Murcielago Coupe
Lotus Elise R
Lotus Espirit V8
Lotus Sport Exige 240 R
Maserati 3500 GT
Maserati GranSport
Maserati MC12
Maserati Spyder 90th Anniversary
Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa
McLaren F1
McLaren F1 GTR
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Mercedes-Benz CLK 55 AMG
Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG
Mercedes-Benz CLS 55 AMG
Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG
Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
Nissan 350Z Coupe
Nissan 350Z Nizmo S-Tune
Noble M12 GTO-3R
Noble M14
Pagani Zonda C125
Pontiac Firebird
Pontiac GTO
Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo
Saturn Sky
Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe
Shelby GT500
Spyker C8 Laviolette
TVR Sagaris
TVR Tuscan S
Volkswagen Gold R32
Volkswagen W12 Coupe
Volkswagen W12 Roadster
Wiesmann Roadster MF3
BIKES
Ducati 999 R
Ducati Monster S4R
Ducati SuperSport 1000 DS
Kawasaki Z1000
Kawasaki Ninja ZK-10R
MV Agusta F4 Brutale 9105
MV Agusta F4 Tamburini
Triumph Speed Triple
FREE DOWNLOADABLE CARS
Audi RS4 Quattro Saloon
Cadillac CTS-V
Chevrolet Corvette C1 1957
Dodge Challenger RT
Lexus GS 450h
Lexus LS 350
Lexus LS 460 L
Nissan Skyline GTR R34
Saturn Curve
DOWNLOADABLE CARS FOR MICROSOFT POINTS
Alfa Brera
Audi S6
Cadillac Cien
Cadillac CTS-V
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible 1971
Chrysler Crossfire SRT6 Roadster
Corvette C6 Convertible
Dino 246 GT
Dodge Viper SRT-10 Coupe
Edonis
Ferrari 250 GTO 1962
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
Ferrari Challenge Stradale
Ferrari F40
Koenigsegg CCR
Lamborghini Countach 25th
Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster
McLaren F1 GT
Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR
Noble M4000
RUF RGT
RUF RK Spyder
RUF RT 12
RUF Rturbo
TVR T440R
A great game with loads of replay value.
by: Anonymous On: 2007-05-29
First off I have to say I LOVE THIS GAME! I think its is very realistic and also very fun. Some of the things I really like in the game:
1. Graphics: OMG! The graphics are amazing! Everything from trees to the ocean, the cars and even the sun looks real. Cars are so accurate they look real and for a minute I can imagine that I actually have these cars! It is so great to joy ride in my Ferrarri syder or my multiple Lamborghinis.
2. Gameplay: Although I like the multiple races in the game, I dont like that only courrier missions and vehicle deliver missions actually pay. Hitchhikkers and models give u boutique vouchers. I like the races but I dont like the way the cars, even expensive ones handle at high speed. Other than that the game is solid here.
3. Achievements: Like most racing games, achievements are not hard to come by. One can easiily get a few hundered points by just bying cars, houses and driving. The island tour, a 50 min race is a great thing to do if you have the time. It gives you $200,000, 30 gamerpoints and a free alpha romero car! Although many have different methods to winning I beat it with my Lamborghini murcialago coupe upgraded to level 2. The top speed it supposed to be 218 but i got it up to 225 in this race!
Complaints: As I said earlier, I dont like how even expensive cars handle at high speed. This however can be overlooked. I dont like the way cars just appear outta nowhere on the road. I know they pushed the 360 to the limit with the continuous server and gigantic map, but it is hard to drive when u cant see. Also the police. It is really messed up. They r everywhere! Ansd they dont bust you for speeding or even driving wrong way, but the slightest tap of a car will get them on you! Very frustrating. But an otherwise great game!
Driving in Hawaii
On: 2007-05-16Great game, and fun to play. Just tough enough to keep my interest. I love the graphics.
Better to play it live
On: 2007-05-14very nice game and better to play it on XBOX LIVE.
nice but boring some time
On: 2007-05-06this game is good and the graphics are also good but when playing a long time with it you recognize that its boring a little bit !!!
Immersion
by: scotlynhatt On: 2007-03-08
After reading all of the reviews, I came to the conclusion that some people dont really get this game. Some enjoy it because it looks great and I would agree but I dont think this is the allure of the game. Basically, if you would like to drive a Ferrari but cant afford one, guess what, you can actually play this game and imagine what it would be like sitting in a F430 Spyder cruising down a beach highway in Hawaii at 220mph. Then you can hop in your stage-3 Z06 and slam through six gears on your way to over 200mph. This is the cool factor here, really cool cars in this immersible world. Of course, I love exotic cars. If you like older cars, there are also a decent selection of those.
My point is that this game really uses the the 360s power to create an immersive environment for fans of near-sim racing games. If you play this game in the cockpit view, it really is an experience unlike other driving games. I dont see how anyone could be annoyed at flying down the backroads of the island at 250mph in your McLaren F1; this is not a Monday morning commuter scenario IMHO.
They also have been offering car packs online. Some are even free. I have added a RUF Porsche, convertible C6 vette, and a Lexus LS350 which opens up a new dealership as well. There are some other dealerships that are not open yet, so I expect they will keep extending the game.
Some nits:
Wish there was some extra time spent by the game developers to add weather and a day/night system; maybe they could update it through a download. There is a bit of a lighting change throughout the gameplay but it is really only an HDR exhibition. I cant imagine the cars handling in the rain though (see next point).
Car physics leaves a little to be desired. Dont even think about any drifting or e-brake use like PGR3 or NFS. I think you really need a wheel to manage the subtle driving required at 190mph. The standard controller works, but the levels of acceleration, braking and steering are a little too sensitive to use a hand-held controller.
The character clothing aspects borrow a little from Saints Row, poorly. I could have lived without this part because there really is no character development to the game. You see your character for 5 seconds before you pick what car to drive.
The bottom line is that this game really sets a standard for open gameplay in the driving genre. The nits do not distract from the core of this game and the overall fun factor.
this game blows
On: 2007-01-11the concept of this idea is cool, the layout is cool, but the driving is wack and its confusing and boring. this game could of been a lot better
Decent game, great graphics
On: 2007-01-10Decent gameplay with some interesting racing options. Somewhat dependent on online functionality. Great graphics, really fun to drive around Hawaii.
Decent game, great graphics
On: 2007-01-09Decent gameplay with some interesting racing options. Somewhat dependent on online functionality. Great graphics, really fun to drive around Hawaii.
Awesome game
On: 2006-12-17This is an awesome game. The only gripe I have with it is that you have to visit all the car dealers to unlock the bikes. Thats a major pain. Online play is fair. If you get this game, get a wheel too!
Some of the cars handle really well, and are pretty realistic. Some of the high powered cars are unrealistic, for example, a little more gas than necessary and youre spinning out, a little over sensitive!
Some of the challenges are stupid. Still dont understand why game companies dont give you an unlock option for those of us who arent kids and dont have umpteen hours to spend playing :)
Dull
On: 2006-12-01There was a time once when I thought that realism in driving games would make them better. I was quite wrong. This game is so realistic that it is exactly like real driving...theres stoplights, traffic, other obnoxious drivers (many from xbox live) on the road, cops, etc. etc. Its so realistic that it reminds me of my daily commute, which I hate, and would like to forget when I get home and fire up the 360. Games should be an escape, not a reminder. If youre under 16 without a drivers license and have never driven before youll probably like this game, the rest of us can just grab the keys and drive around for an hour or so in our real world cars and have the same experience. Nice graphics (not what they touted but still decent), cool integration with XBox Live, and there is a lot you can acquire in the game if you have the time / patience for it. For me, I just found it too much like real life and that made it dull.
Average
On: 2006-11-28I do have to admit ... the graphics on this game are really nice ... but that is about as far as I go. The physics on the cars is, for the most part, cruddy. They do not handle even close to way the car would, nor do they really even sound like the car you are in. I thought it would be cool to start out with the Audi S4 in the game because I own one. The sound was way off and I can do burn outs with smoke coming from the rear?! On a 4-wheel drive car I can do dounuts too!? Just try to do that in a real 4-wheel drive car. I know how the car handles at high speed because I have spent some time on the track as well in it. It was not even close. All the cars handle pretty much exactly the same except for acceleration. BORING. I will just wait for Forza to come out for 360. If you are into a game because the graphics look nice then buy it. If you are looking for a realistic racing game, move on.
Average
On: 2006-11-27I do have to admit ... the graphics on this game are really nice ... but that is about as far as I go. The physics on the cars is, for the most part, cruddy. They do not handle even close to way the car would, nor do they really even sound like the car you are in. I thought it would be cool to start out with the Audi S4 in the game because I own one. The sound was way off and I can do burn outs with smoke coming from the rear?! On a 4-wheel drive car I can do dounuts too!? Just try to do that in a real 4-wheel drive car. I know how the car handles at high speed because I have spent some time on the track as well in it. It was not even close. All the cars handle pretty much exactly the same except for acceleration. BORING. I will just wait for Forza to come out for 360. If you are into a game because the graphics look nice then buy it. If you are looking for a realistic racing game, move on.
Endless driving is cool
On: 2006-11-10I totally enjoy the feeling of really driving on Oahu. Ive visited the island and this really brings that feeling to the Xbox 360. All thats missing is the Trade Wind!
Endless driving is cool
On: 2006-11-09I totally enjoy the feeling of really driving on Oahu. Ive visited the island and this really brings that feeling to the Xbox 360. All thats missing is the Trade Wind!
Cruisin down the highway...lookin for adventure..
On: 2006-11-02They actually recreated Oahu to exact specs. This game is just fun to drive around and see the sites. If you havent been to Hawaii now is the time to take this affordable trip. I gave this game a lower rating in general because the racing is actaually a little lackluster. Driving a car seems to move a little slower than usual. While recreating a Hawaiian Island they have failed create a great racing sim. I would recommend this game to others just for sheer beauty. Although if you are looking for a great racer turn head.
wow!
by: Anonymous On: 2006-10-28
I cant believe how GREAT the graphics look! Im the kind of guy that doesnt care much about graphics but Test Drive Unlimited is a game that made me completely change my mind. The amount of detail and energy that went into making this game... wow! I simply love the way everything looks.
As for the actual racing... yeah, its pretty fun. But I have to agree with the person who said the racing feels slow. If for example the speedometer says youre going 60 mph, it feels more like 35. Oh well. Thats not much of a problem. I cant imagine a more enjoyable racing experience.
wow!
On: 2006-10-27I cant believe how GREAT the graphics look! Im the kind of guy that doesnt care much about graphics but Test Drive Unlimited is a game that made me completely change my mind. The amount of detail and energy that went into making this game... wow! I simply love the way everything looks.
As for the actual racing... yeah, its pretty fun. But I have to agree with the person who said the racing feels slow. If for example the speedometer says youre going 60 mph, it feels more like 35. Oh well. Thats not much of a problem. I cant imagine a more enjoyable racing experience.
The island looks nice
On: 2006-10-25Pros: You can drive just about anywhere. The island is beautiful. You literally could spend days driving around the 1000+ of roads and streets.
Cons:
The police are about as smart as a box of rocks.
The speedometer and the actually speed you are traveling dont seems to match. Id say you are moving at about 50% of your real speed. When you are doing 115 down a side road and it feels like you are driving 40. I figured they did this to so people could have a sliver of a chance at driving the super cars in the game for more than a mile or two with out loosing control.
No extra parts or upgrades for the cars. Just the equivalent to stickers. (Everyone knows stickers make them go faster.)
Excessive use of HDR & reflection effects are annoying, causes the sky to flicker in brightness and shinny objects to blink.
This game feels unfinished. It seems to me that they spent way too much time making the island and not so much on gameplay and almost zero when it comes to simulation. It might be more fun if you had a wheel and pedals and just wanted to go cruising.
Give this game to your kids theyll love it. Not much there for adults.
The island looks nice
On: 2006-10-24Pros: You can drive just about anywhere. The island is beautiful. You literally could spend days driving around the 1000+ of roads and streets.
Cons:
The police are about as smart as a box of rocks.
The speedometer and the actually speed you are traveling dont seems to match. Id say you are moving at about 50% of your real speed. When you are doing 115 down a side road and it feels like you are driving 40. I figured they did this to so people could have a sliver of a chance at driving the super cars in the game for more than a mile or two with out loosing control.
No extra parts or upgrades for the cars. Just the equivalent to stickers. (Everyone knows stickers make them go faster.)
Excessive use of HDR & reflection effects are annoying, causes the sky to flicker in brightness and shinny objects to blink.
This game feels unfinished. It seems to me that they spent way too much time making the island and not so much on gameplay and almost zero when it comes to simulation. It might be more fun if you had a wheel and pedals and just wanted to go cruising.
Give this game to your kids theyll love it. Not much there for adults.
new genre takes the cake, eats it and burns pavement
On: 2006-10-19Welcome to the world of M.O.O.R. (Massively Open Online Racing). The emergence of a new genre takes the cake, eats it and burns pavement at insane speeds through blurring and beautiful landscapes that are not only massive but somehow surprisingly well-done. And here we are, standing amazed on the island of Oahu wondering if something this massive, lush and wonderful can hold up in the area of gameplay and endurance. The quick answer: Yes. The guys at Atari have done their homework despite their generic title and have bum-rushed the scene of MOOR by inventing the genre and re-iventing an old one. If you have never experienced the european lifestyle, heres your chance in a virtual world that takes your breath and makes your heart race simultaneously while you dodge traffic and rush through crudely realistic and seamless landscapes. Your mission is insanely expansive and diverse ranging from timed races, speed traps, trials, knock-out, staged quests involving transporting models and hitchikers, delivering packages and delivering vehicles and more. Its the racing game that keeps on giving for those of you, like me, who thought PGR grew rapidly tiresome after just a few races. Test drive keeps the wheels spinning on some big tires by offering a refreshing arcade/simulation type racing style that makes PGR seem like Rad Racer for the NES. The frame-rates are blistering fast and car models are dead on with their real-life counterparts down to the stick shift. The car models dynamicaly reflect the dynamically lit backdrops that are astonishing and endless. From sunrise to sunset, to artificially lit tunnels to natural shade from valleys, trees, hills and oceans -- its all here and surprisingly realistic when you realize how massive this world really is. The attention to detail is absurd as you never drive past an area that is remotely identical to another.
Cars: Although this game doesnt house every car out there that car fanatics would like to see,it certainly has chosen most of the ones we care about -- leaning more towards euro-fashion fantastico w/ Ferraris, AshtonMArtin, Audis, Mercedez, Alfa Romeo, Lamborghini (can you say murcielago -- one of the best cars in the game), Volkswagen (GTI), Jaguar, Maserati. They have also done a superb job covering the classics (mercedez, jaguar), muscle-cars, a few japanese models from Nissan (nizmo 350z anyone?) and many more.
Test Drive adds a lot of refreshing elements of an RPG w/ the ability to advance skill level as you progress along with earning cash for each event. Earning cash and buying cars actually has a sense of thrill and achievement unlike PGR where sports cars become easily available. When
you get your hands on one of Ferraris in this game, there is almost a real sense of excitement tapped w/ realistic controls, handling and speed to fit w/ the type of car. To add icing to the cake, Test Drive doesnt stop there as you have the ability to customize your character, buy clothes for your character (can be bought using coupons earned from hitchhiking and transport events) and even houses for your character and cars to reside in.
Probably the most thrilling part of this game is unlocking the bike shops (Ducati, MV Augusta, Kawaski)and blazing past traffic in your Ninja through the beautiful landscapes of the Oahu island. It is the most freedom I felt in a video game in a long time. Further to boot, re-race events with your new found bike or new ones that are specific for motorcycles. Popping wheelies at 130 mph + is also quite amusing or during a race to taunt your opponents.
And for something massive, fun and glorious -- can you beat the price tag?
Loved it!
On: 2006-10-16awesome game much better than any other ive played.. though i dont own it i was able to play it at my friends house. He couldnt get me off the game! recommend to anyone!
Simply Amazing
On: 2006-10-11If youre looking for a racing game that goes beyond the tracks look no further. Everything from custom paint jobs, sick cars and even a change of clothes for your character, TDU features them all. With miles and miles of roadway, you can choose to do missions, race or simply cruise around and interact with other users through Xbox Live. You can even join/create a "club" for you and your friends to be apart of. I can honestly say this is the only racing game that doesnt wear out its welcome. Always something new to discover.
Anticipation mostly realized
On: 2006-10-10When TDU was announced a year ago, I followed it closely, reading every piece of news and preview articles on it. The idea of driving around a fully open environment like Oahu was a thrilling concept. Well, TDU is here and for the most part it is a thrilling joyride. Of course, like many titles, it isnt perfect. It IS a fantastic journey in its own right mind you.
THE PLUSs
INTRO TO OAHU AND CHARACTERS
As you may know, the island of Oahu is fully rendered and accessible right from the start. Yes, its said from some that most major streets and highways are in tact and in the game, as well as some of the islands landmarks. I cant dispute this, as Ive never been to Oahu. I can say though, that the island is enormous. This being the case, you have the opportunity to begin driving the entire island very early in the game. The way you are introduced to the island is a nice touch. Not simply pick a character and a car. Instead you arrive at an airport and are standing in line with a host of characters. You can pick either a male or female. If you dont particularly like the way they look or the clothes there are wearing no problem, you can modify your character as soon as you buy a home. After picking a character you then head to the rental car place to get a car. There are a few choices ranging from Chevy to Audi to Lotus (this is just a vague listing of the various companies cars you can rent). After renting a car for a few minutes (no, you cant keep the care for more than about 20 minutes or so -- for a cost), you can drive to a car dealership of your choice. Since you only have a few hundred grand, you can only pick from certain classes right off the bat. Dont worry; there are some decent machines out there. To name a few: Audi, Alfa Romeo and a bunch of others. After you get the ride of your choice, you then head to the real estate agency closest to you and pick a house. Since you have a limited budget, you only have a choice of 2 homes. They are both nice, considering the prices. If you like the whole urban yuppie thing, you might want to buy a condo in the city. If you like scenic drives in the country, then the single family home may be your choice. In either case, they are decent establishments with 4 garages apiece. This may seem suitable early in the game, but as you progress and buy different classes of cars, you see that another home with more garage space is needed.
As stated earlier, you can change the appearance of your avatar. The things you can change about yourself are amazing. If you have the time and patience, you can most likely modify your character to at least "resemble" your real world image, which is cool, but time consuming. The trick to this is picking a character at the airport that sports many of your current physical facial features. You shouldnt worry if they are not the same race as you, as you can change skin color quite easily. You can also change your clothes (Street clothes or motorcycle clothing) in your dressing room. The only thing is that you have to first by more shirts, pants, jackets, glasses, sneakers/shoes/boots and gloves from the various boutiques throughout the island. The only way you can do this is by either dropping Top Models off at certain designations or giving hitchhikers rides. After you have achieved your objectives, they give you "markers" to redeem at boutiques. After you have spent some time shopping, the articles of clothing you buy will show up in the dressing room.
THE ISLAND AND NAVIGATION
TDU does a great job at making the island of Oahu easily accessible. If you are familiar with some of the other open world driving games, particularly The Need For Speed: Most Wanted, then the navigation in TDU is a snap.. Since the island is so huge, you will want to get to the heart of races and challenges quickly. You can do so by simply pressing left on the D-Pad (as long as you arent in a race or mission). When you do so, the view will automatically zoom from your car straight up to an overview of the area you are in. When in this view, you can see either 1) the challenges, missions and races open to you at the time 2) places of interest, such as Car Dealerships, properties for sale, Real Estate Agencies, Motorcycle shops, MOD shops for specific cars or boutiques/clothing stores or 3) Bookmarked areas that youd like to visit on a regular basis. This can all be done with the shoulder triggers and buttons. When you see a location youd like to visit, move the curser over the area and an information screen will pop up telling you the specifics of that particular race, building, etc. The info screen also provides you with how much money can be won or markers received by taking the challenge. In an effort to make the game more accessible, you can instantly ward from location to location...for the most part. Ill explain: Many people have complained that its tedious to drive the island looking for races, etc. Well this is the case part of the time. Lets say you are downtown and a race opens up in the mountains. You mark the race in the mountains for instant transport; however, youll receive a message saying basically that if this is your first time to said location youll have to drive. No problem. Set the GPS and drive out there. Now this is where the usefulness comes in. By driving to that location from the city, you have in effect opened up challenges that pop up along the way. These can then be instantly accessed via the navigational system, without all the driving. You wont have to drive to that particular mountain location in the future anymore either, as now it is basically locked in for instant transport. Also by doing a bit of driving, you receive "achievement" for sightseeing certain miles, etc. So it pays a little to drive around.
THE OFFLINE CHALLENGES
I think TDU did a great job with these. Races are broken into various classes (G - A) and car types. In the beginning youll find youll need to have a class F car to do most of the available races. As you progress through the game more, other classes will open up progressively working down from G to A. Of course other classes are thrown in at varying times, but for explanation purposes well keep it simple and say classes G - A. The races are broken between standard races with up to about 8 cars, radar-like best time trials, beat the clock, "get 170 mph in traffic", etc. Nothing special or out of the ordinary here. The missions include "get the super model or hitchhiker from here to there". These individuals have their own criteria such as the make and model of car theyll be seen in, along with how many seats. These missions are actually interesting as you have to pay attention to certain conditions, such as a countdown timer, not hitting too many cars or running off the road. The rewards are decent, all helping you acquire new clothes. When you want to net loads of cash, look for transport missions. These one try events are great. They are one try if you succeed in winning them. If you lose, you can try again. The money you gain is huge. In the few I won, I netted 40 thousand and 80 thousand dollars respectively. They are also a great way to experience using another type of car that you may not have the funds to afford as of yet, such as the Enzo Ferrari mission where you have to deliver the car to point B without scratching it. Or perhaps the other Ferrari mission where you have to deliver a rental back to the dealer a) with minimal damage and b) with a strict time limit. Considering the game has only been out 3 days, Im sure there will be tons of other cool missions to find.
THE CARS
Although the cars may not look as good as some in PGR3, they sure are fantastic. A close connection is made between you and the car of your dreams because of the addition of being able to view the interior of the car. Yes, its nice to buy a 600K car and speed it around the streets, but its even nicer when you can almost feel like its real, due to viewing the seats, radio, nav system (in select models), carbon fiber, brushed aluminum or wood interiors, etc. from inside the car. I personally like to drive in bumper view when racing, but when just cruising around the streets, its nice to drive in the interior view and be able to look up-down-left and right, just like in any other car in the real world. Because of the detail, pricing, options and appeal of these cars, people just WANT to attain them. Its great to race all day and finally be able to drop a load of hard earned cash on that rare Noble M12 GTO-3R or Aston Martin or Lamborghini or whatever your heart desires...just to show it off in the on-line world. Speaking of which, if you spent a lot of time making your avatar closely resemble yourself, you might want to show it off in an expensive convertible. You know, so everyone will see you.
The handling of the cars feel very good as well. Unlike NFS:MW, where all of the cars could be broken down into feeling like just 4 differing groups, most of the cars in TDU have a very different feel and reaction to the driving conditions. You really have to take this into account when driving in certain areas such as on straight-aways or curvy winding roads or single laned highways. The strategies and approaches are endless.
THE MINUSs
While only a few, I thought Id list them here.
POLICE
Firstly, the voice acting is outrageous, in a bad way. With the superb voice acting found in NFS:MW, playing TDU and hearing theirs is such a shame. It sounds like they got a few people off the street to read cue cards, without any note of realism, or varying phrases. The cops in the game are a sorry addition. Not only are their verbal phrases annoying, they hamper a great driving experience. Ever get charged $16,000 for slightly rubbing2 cars? You will here if you dont high-tail it from the accident. Youre probably saying "well, you should out run the cops anyway". Well, yes you should, but the whole cop theme is so unbalanced, that after tapping just 3 cars, you can be looking at an astronomical fine. Tap one car, the cops come out, if you dont out run them for some reason (to much traffic or you bump them by accident) and you scrape another car, theyll really become aggressive. Hit a third and they send masses of cops. As they come for you, youll most like tap more cars. You may also hit a few of the police while avoiding their road blocks. After they inevitably catch you (by slamming into you), youll have such a high fine, all the work it took for you to gain x amount of dollars would have been in vain. It would be better for you to just shut down and restart the console then to try to out run the cops after a 3 shield level.
RACERS AI
This may only be my own gripe, but its amazing how easily the AI will do a pit maneuver on you and win a race, but you cant do one on them. For instance I had an all wheel drive, highly modified Audi and was pitted by a cheap, low end, Mustang. I figured "ok, no prob, Ill get him back". Well, low and behold, I tried to pit him in a twisty section of the race, did he spin out? No. Did he slow down? Of course not. Not only that, but after my feeble attempts at pitting him were unsuccessful, he accelerated to eventually win the race. Mind you, his top speed could be no more than 150ish. My Audi can do 167 easy. I could and had sped past him all day long. We were only a few feet apart in distance when I was trying to pit him. Should he theoretically have won? Of course this is just one area where Ive seen miraculous actions by the AI. When you get online, this "cheating" shouldnt be a problem.
Well, there you have it, a high level review of a game that was well worth the wait. With the online content to come out in the future (downloads, etc.),I think this game will have a very long console life.
One of the Best Racing Games Ever
On: 2006-10-04I am a big racing game fan- especially of Need For Speed games, of which I have all- but I recently got my 360 I decided to buy Test Drive and so far have been very impressed. This game really lives up to its name.
The best feature of the game is the graphics, which are by far some of the prettiest Ive seen on the 360, the game is the equivalent to or better than PGR3 in terms of visuals. Another excellent feature of the game is that you can roam around the ENTIRE island of Oahu, which is humongous; it could easily take you an hour to circle the entire island. This definitely beats out any other free roam game in terms of map size, and of course the world detail is nearly perfect.
The game has a very large selection of automobiles--bikes and cars--which can be purchased at dealerships throghout the island. The cars are absolutely gorgeous visually, and the bikes just as much so. I really like the nice touch of being able to shop for your vehicle- being able to walk into dealerships choose the options on your auto, and of course test drive it before you purchase. The physics model for most of the cars is okay, more so with traction control off.
There is one negative thing about this game. The car selection though humongous, does not include either BMW or Porsche (although Ruf cars will soon be available for download), which are must haves to ANY racing game. The game also leaves out all the Japanese brands, save for Nissan and Kawasaki; where is Honda, Yamaha, Mazda etc.?
Overall, in my book this game beats PGR3 hands down, and quite possible could be the best driving game of all time.
Great Game for the $$
On: 2006-10-04Game is addicting. I normally get tired of racers but this game has MUCH to do!! Never gets boring and for the Money$$, what more can you ask for?? Graphics and game play +++++++
Fantastic
On: 2006-10-04This game is amazing,the cars u have to play with are so freaking hot.Not to mention the places where u get to drive.this is the ultimate driving game of 2006 and 2007.
Great Game for the $$
On: 2006-10-03Game is addicting. I normally get tired of racers but this game has MUCH to do!! Never gets boring and for the Money$$, what more can you ask for?? Graphics and game play +++++++
The Future
On: 2006-09-27All I have to say is,"MOOR". "MOOR" racing,"MOOR" cars to buy and drive,"MOOR" online racing,and "MOOR" T.D.U. "A MUST HAVE GAME. GET WITH THE MOVEMENT OR GET LEFT BEHIND." The future of online gaming is here with ATARI and T.D.U...
Ultimate online racing
On: 2006-09-26This game is amazing. While the visuals are great, its really the online features that distinguish this game from any other game out there right now. While driving around the island, you can see other real-life people driving around. You flash your headlights at someone driving by and can instantly jump into a head to head race with that person. There are also tons of multi-player and single player races around the island. Every game should be doing online this way in the future.
this game rocks
On: 2006-09-26I think this game is amazing! The graphics are killer, and being able to race someone online is great! I suggest everyone buy this game :)
The Future
On: 2006-09-26All I have to say is,"MOOR". "MOOR" racing,"MOOR" cars to buy and drive,"MOOR" online racing,and "MOOR" T.D.U. "A MUST HAVE GAME. GET WITH THE MOVEMENT OR GET LEFT BEHIND." The future of online gaming is here with ATARI and T.D.U...
Sucks you in!
On: 2006-09-26What a fun game! I never was into driving games before but I have been reading a lot of reviews and I just had to see what everyone is talking about. And now I am addicted! The selection of cars and the scenery is just amazing. I spend 10 hours last weekend to get the cash to upgrade to a new car. Definitely one of my favorite purchases this year!
Great open ended racing game
On: 2006-09-26I tried the demo for this game the day it was released (the demo). The game looked nice but the controls were horrible and the GPS not very well done. After reading some reviews of the actual game and hearing about it from various sources I decided Id give it a try seeing as I was done with PGR3 and Need for Speed Most Wanted. Im now very glad I gave this game a second chance.
First the car controls are A LOT better in this final game than what they were in the demo. Its a case of night and day. The GPS is also a lot better, although this might just be me.
The amount of road is simply amazing. you can seriously drive anywhere on the island with roads that never seem to end. The island is very nicely detailed and beautifully rendered. The cars however, while they do look very nice, in my opinion do not look as good as in other 360 racing games. Dont get me wrong the cars look exactly like there real world counter parts, but graphically they could have been a bit better.
The map looks exactly like what youd see if you went to google map and looked at the sattelite shot. This is a cool feature, but again in my opinion I would have been quite happy with a fictitious island with a drawn map.
Something I;ve read in a lot of reviews is how the game lets you completly customize your character. I was actually quite disapointed in the very limited customization options, but then again...this is a racing game not the Simms.
I;ve also read mixed reviews about the amount of cars. some saying there are a lot, others saying 125 is not enough. I think there is a very wide array of cars to choose from, and lets face it, not many ppl will actually use every single car in this game. I think everyone out there will be able to find at least a handfull of cars they want to buy. Personally Im glad they have ferraris but even happier at the fact they have included a good selection of some very nice old american muscle cars.
There is a wide variety of races to participate in, most of which are original (to me anyways...). I;ve heard it said often this game is repetitive, but which racing game isnt?
It has been said very often, if you arent on live, you will be missing out on a lot in this game, but Ive found single player only very enjoyable. It is quite cool to be driving along and have another player blast by you in a high end car.
If your done with PGR3 and other such 360 racers, I highly recommend TDU. Don;t base your choice on the demo however.
Fun, Fun Fun
On: 2006-09-26Very addicting! I can play for 30 minutes or for hours... The graphics are beautiful!
First of its kind!
On: 2006-09-26I have never played a game that offers such a complete online experience in racing. Once completeing the many single player missions, I have spent countless hours playing online. The matchmaking is the best!
Ultimate online racing
On: 2006-09-25This game is amazing. While the visuals are great, its really the online features that distinguish this game from any other game out there right now. While driving around the island, you can see other real-life people driving around. You flash your headlights at someone driving by and can instantly jump into a head to head race with that person. There are also tons of multi-player and single player races around the island. Every game should be doing online this way in the future.
this game rocks
On: 2006-09-25I think this game is amazing! The graphics are killer, and being able to race someone online is great! I suggest everyone buy this game :)
This game is why the 360 was created!!
On: 2006-09-25Its an amazing game with impressive graphics, great play and the features such as creating clubs, racing friends with online play and the interactive extras make this most definitely the best game of the year! Atari has outdone themselves again and this is certain to be their best game ever. The appeal is the ability to make transactions at "dealerships", find, race and invite friends to join you in either races or building clubs (online feature) and even selling your properties. This includes houses and cars! I cant wait to get home from work every day to get on the 360 and do some damage!!
Sucks you in!
On: 2006-09-25What a fun game! I never was into driving games before but I have been reading a lot of reviews and I just had to see what everyone is talking about. And now I am addicted! The selection of cars and the scenery is just amazing. I spend 10 hours last weekend to get the cash to upgrade to a new car. Definitely one of my favorite purchases this year!
Overall, a fun racing game
On: 2006-09-25The visuals are pretty sharp, especially on HDTV. The online racing is a lot of fun (the more, the merrier) and the single-player missions are entertaining also. However, with the ability to leave the asphalt and the number of 4x4s in Hawaii, this game really needs to add some off-road vehicles to its repertoire.
Fun, Fun Fun
On: 2006-09-25Very addicting! I can play for 30 minutes or for hours... The graphics are beautiful!
First of its kind!
On: 2006-09-25I have never played a game that offers such a complete online experience in racing. Once completeing the many single player missions, I have spent countless hours playing online. The matchmaking is the best!
Buckle up for the ride of your life!
On: 2006-09-25Move over "Need for Speed" theres a new racing game in town that blows the doors off you and the rest of the competition. From the first time I played this game, I was like WOW, can they make it anymore realistic. The graphics are awesome, especially on a HDTV. You feel like youre in Hawaii in just seconds. I also love the soundtrack, the car selection and ease of playing this game. I promise you, play this game for 5 minutes and youll be as hooked as I am.
Awsome Game!!
On: 2006-09-25When I bought this game shortly after the release I was looking foward to a great game acoording to the reviews. And the reviews were right!!! I LOVE this game!! It is one of the first games on xbox 360 to really show some light on the "uncharted" areas of this beautiful console.
If your like me, I love freedom and space in video games. This game gives you a LOT of space. It takes at least 30 minutes to drive along one side of the awesome island following the speed limit. The cars are amazing! There are manufactuers from Ford to Audi to Ferrari. I could write 30 pages of features about this game. But I dont have that much time.
The only downside to this game is it gets very annoying to drive everywhere.
But other than that it is a very sweet game. For your sake please purchase this game!!!!
A Very Happy Gamer
AWESOME!
On: 2006-09-25The number of cars is totally crazy! The handling of each car is different and it makes the game different with each new car. I love it!
Test Drive Unlimited is the BEST driving game ever
On: 2006-09-22Let me begin by saying that I TOTALLY LOVE TEST DRIVE UNLIMITED!!!
TDU is the best and possibly the largest driving experience on Xbox 360. In terms of sheer ambition and potential - its number one. This is a true next generation game,
In TDU, the only time youre out of your car is in when youre featuring in a cut scene. You dont walk or run anywhere. You drive. Its Grant Theft Auto without the theft. Its World of Warcraft without the Warcraft (or nerds). And its Hawaii 5-0 with extra juice. Theres over 1000 miles of roads in this game, and if you want to be ranked up there with the best in the world, youll eventually cover every one of them.
As you may have gathered, this game is not your typical driving game. In TDU, you raise money to spend on cars, clothes, houses and motorbikes. Your goal - the hallowed rank of Champion. Getting there from lowly Rookie status doesnt just rely on accumulating cash, rather its tied elegantly to your Xbox 360 achievements. Win enough challenges, buy enough cars/bikes/accomodation, do enough missions, and travel enough miles, and you gradually unlock those precious points. And as long as youre connect to Xbox Live - all the while youre doing this, youre immersed in a virtual Oahu along with countless other racers.
Typically, successful games fall into two types. First, an outstanding execution of a single concept. They dont pretend to be all things to everyone. They ensure that they are maximum fun, and gain praise by being the best, or most rewarding in their field. The other type of successful game is the Big Idea. This type of game may not have the specific, focused excellence of the first type of game, but they do a lot of things, very well. Classic examples: Grand Theft Auto III onwards, World of Warcraft, and now - Test Drive Unlimited.
Ive been to Hawaii twice.... Once on vacation with a bunch of friends several years ago and once this past weekend. In short, the second time around was in TDU and it was even better than real life...
Test Drive Unlimited manages to deliver a fun racing game that combines a worthwhile single-player experience with an even better online multiplayer mode. While the cars dont control realistically and motorcycles feel slightly awkward, the wonderful terrain and the entertaining racing challenges make this an Xbox 360 game racing enthusiasts will definitely enjoy. It is easily one of the most creative introductions to what could be the start of a racing MMO, the online multiplayer aspect simply replaces AI with real players in the massive gaming world. You can challenge other gamers or compete in a ranked match. You can even host your own unique multiplayer challenge edited and created by you. In short, this is the reason youll start dreaming about burning rubber.
A must have for your 360...
On: 2006-09-22Test Drive Unlimited takes a new direction in the racing game genre. The many features, easy gameplay, and online options will keep you entertained for hours.
First Impressions: You start out on the island of Oahu, which is your gateway to all of the various features of Test Drive. From here, you can access different types of races, missions, car dealerships, and purchasable homes. Its a very unique way of accessing what the game has to offer, as opposed to the standard racing game: choose car, choose map, rinse, repeat.
Gameplay: Im not much a fan of racing games, but Test Drive had me hooked. I spent a good amount of time in the character editing mode, where you can edit your own personal avatar/driver. You can change their facial features, hair, and clothing to your liking. From here, you can visit all of the car dealerships and purchase a vehicle. If you are fortunate to have Xbox Live, the game has an online feature where you can buy, trade, or sell your cars. Once your avatar and car are set, you can drive around the island and find a race that suits you. If you do not want to race, you can try an escort mission, which involves you taking a car and driving it to a specific location in Oahu. I found this particular feature to be a lot of fun, and it earns you a fair amount of money in reward.
Controls: Ive always had problems with controls in racing games, but Test Drive is very easy once you get the feel of it. Driving around isnt as simple as jamming the button down and flying along the course. You need to learn to control your speed and apply the right pressure on your acceleration. Also, there are several camera angles at your disposal, so you can choose whatever you feel most comfortable with.
Graphics: One of the most appealing things about this game was the graphics. You can see the capabilities of the 360 in the details and shading of the cars, the various racing environments, and Oahu itself. The character models could have been better, but youll be too absorbed by the nice designs of the cars and environment to take much notice.
Sound: Pretty good. The cars and collisions sound quite realistic. The acceleration noise is a little awkward, but its not too distracting. Also, there is a radio option that allows you to browse and set stations to play while you drive.
Online Play: Playing Test Drive with Xbox live brings the best out of all of its features. Instead of AI being scattered throughout Oahu, other players will be driving around. You can join player-made races or create your own. If you happen to have a headset, you can even talk to other racers during a match, or hear them while you explore Oahu! You will not get the most of the game until you try it online.
Overall: If you own a 360, give Test Drive a try. It has plenty of replay value due to its wide selection of racing, missions, and online features. Fans of this genre will not be disappointed!
Great community
On: 2006-09-20The original Xbox is home to many an amazing racing game whether you like a straightforward racing simulator of the ToCA variety or an arcade-like racer of the Midnight Club family and so far the Xbox 360 is off to a good start. With Project Gotham Racing and a Ridge Racer game already available, it was only a matter of time before Ataris Test Drive series made it to our new console. Yet Test Drive Unlimited just didnt aim to bring the same old racing experience but put us in an open world where the lines between offline and online have merged into an experience that makes this a racer fans will certainly enjoy.
Test Drive Unlimited begins in an airport where you are given the choice of picking your avatar from a small list of nameless characters. It should be noted that no other modes, at this point, are available to you including the online multiplayer. After you made your choice your avatar reaches his or her destination of Oahu, a tropical Hawaiian paradise with impressive buildings as well as miles of beautiful green scenery that makes up the other of half of the island. Your first stop, aside from a car rental place, is the offices of a real estate agent where you will get to purchase (from a small selection) your home and then off to buy your first vehicle. Now its time for you to make a name for yourself in the Oahus racing circuit as well as unlock the online multiplayer portion as well as a few extra features.
From the very start, Oahu is open for you to explore and believe me when I say that there is a lot to explore seeing as the game managed to cram as much of the place as possible into the map. While you wont see pedestrians taking a stroll or crossing the street, there is traffic that makes the place feel alive. Oahus various locales are well represented in the game, changing the scenery dramatically as you move from the airport district to the city and finally off into the green fields. Youll be thankful for your GPS that is good at pointing out stores and other notable places like a dealership, detail shop and car rental lot (why buy an expensive car to beat a race that requires a specific car when you can rent it instead?).
The good news is that you will never be forced to follow a certain career path by going from major race to major race. You are given the freedom to take on any regulation race at any time and in any level as long as you meet the races requirements. Some races require you to go behind the wheel of a different class of vehicle and meet certain conditions during a race. Aside from the major qualifying races, there are extra racing challenges that earn you rewards after completing them successfully. For example, the Top Model challenges have you picking up pretty girls that ask you for a ride home in return for some valuable shopping coupons you can use to purchase new clothes and accessories (cute sunglasses and shoes) for your avatar. The catch is that you have to get from Point A to Point B before the timer runs out and without scaring your passenger.
The racing challenges are composed of official trophy races to Speed challenges that have you racing through the map past some stationary radar detectors in order to attain the highest possible average speed. Then theres Time Attack where you try to race to the finish line in the shortest time possible. The racing challenges are actually fun but when it comes to short but enjoyable thrills the Top Model, Courier (deliver a package to a far off destination) and Hitchhiker (like Top Model, you take your hitchhiker from Point A to Point B) are fun distractions that will have you ignoring the main races for awhile. Youll even encounter other racers just zipping through traffic, oftentimes slowing down when they reach you as if to taunt you into a quick race. You can drive up to a street racer and challenge them to a race where you decide where the race will start and where it will end on the map. This is great stuff, indeed.
Test Drive Unlimited also includes loads of hot cars and even some motorcycles. You can jump into a Dodge Viper SRT 10 as well as a Chevy Camaro Z-28. Fans of the Pierce Brosnan Bond films will like the fact that you can slip into an Aston Martin Vanquish while bike fans will have a blast riding on a Triumph Speed Triple or even a Ducati 999 R. Atari took the "test drive" aspect of the title literally since you can walk into a dealership, get into a car and open or close windows and doors, honk the horn and then take a test drive with the car salesman in the passenger seat.
The problem, unfortunately, is that the cars themselves just dont drive as smoothly or realistically for that matter. Slam into oncoming traffic (and you will do this a lot and not on purpose) and your car will not even suffer a single dent so go ahead and ram a rival car all you want. The controls arent horrible and they certainly are responsive enough, but they lack enough polish that would have made this an amazing racing game that can rival the likes of the Project Gotham Racing 3. Driving a motorcycle shouldnt be the same as driving a car, after all. Secondly, Oahu seems to swarm with cops when you break a few rules when oftentimes youll find it hard to spot at least one squad car. While racing from the cops would have been cool, it just becomes tedious here. Expect to be caught and pay a hefty fine each time you come under the police radar (which only seems to happen if you ram one too many cars).
While were concentrating on the negative, I should add that the game borders between beautiful to somewhat disappointing. Sure the game is about the hot cars that do look good and Oahu is just as beautiful in the game as it is in the real world but when it comes to displaying your avatar during cutscenes, the game just falls flat. In fact, the characters feel like they would feel right at home on the original Xbox and the same can be said about the lighting and smoke effects.
The games sound is also something of a letdown since the car engines really start sounding the same no matter when car youre driving. Car enthusiasts will find it hard to believe that a Ducati engine sounds exactly like the rumble of a Pontiac Firebird. Thats like saying Rod Stewart sounds like Frank Sinatra. Your car comes with a radio filled with different stations that play decent rock tunes and some from the likes of Queens of the Stone Age. While the variety isnt great (there is a good classical station) you can always use your own tunes.
While these things hold the game back from being true classic, its the games online component that makes up for some of the games shortcomings. Hoping online basically changes your rivals and thats about it. You will almost seamlessly jump back into the same map only instead of finding AI racers zooming past you or waiting for you in a trophy race, you will find actual gamers in their place. Its almost like a racing MMO game where youll be able to challenge anyone you come across on the streets. The other good news is that you can challenge others to accept a racing challenge of your own creation. You can unlock an editor that allows you to decide on the rules (motorcycles only or Class A vehicles only, if you wish) and where the race starts and finishes. Really, this is the reason you will still be playing this game long after you finish the single-player mode.
While it might not be the perfecting driving game or a strict racing game for the Xbox 360, Test Drive Unlimited is certainly a better alternative to the Ridge Racer series if youre looking for a game that blends offline and online play almost seamlessly. Its hard to dislike a game that tries to bring something different to the table and succeeds in putting gamers into an open world filled with plenty to do and the freedom to take on any race at any time. If youre a true racing fan or just a casual one you might want to seriously consider buying this game.
Great community
On: 2006-09-19The original Xbox is home to many an amazing racing game whether you like a straightforward racing simulator of the ToCA variety or an arcade-like racer of the Midnight Club family and so far the Xbox 360 is off to a good start. With Project Gotham Racing and a Ridge Racer game already available, it was only a matter of time before Ataris Test Drive series made it to our new console. Yet Test Drive Unlimited just didnt aim to bring the same old racing experience but put us in an open world where the lines between offline and online have merged into an experience that makes this a racer fans will certainly enjoy.
Test Drive Unlimited begins in an airport where you are given the choice of picking your avatar from a small list of nameless characters. It should be noted that no other modes, at this point, are available to you including the online multiplayer. After you made your choice your avatar reaches his or her destination of Oahu, a tropical Hawaiian paradise with impressive buildings as well as miles of beautiful green scenery that makes up the other of half of the island. Your first stop, aside from a car rental place, is the offices of a real estate agent where you will get to purchase (from a small selection) your home and then off to buy your first vehicle. Now its time for you to make a name for yourself in the Oahus racing circuit as well as unlock the online multiplayer portion as well as a few extra features.
From the very start, Oahu is open for you to explore and believe me when I say that there is a lot to explore seeing as the game managed to cram as much of the place as possible into the map. While you wont see pedestrians taking a stroll or crossing the street, there is traffic that makes the place feel alive. Oahus various locales are well represented in the game, changing the scenery dramatically as you move from the airport district to the city and finally off into the green fields. Youll be thankful for your GPS that is good at pointing out stores and other notable places like a dealership, detail shop and car rental lot (why buy an expensive car to beat a race that requires a specific car when you can rent it instead?).
The good news is that you will never be forced to follow a certain career path by going from major race to major race. You are given the freedom to take on any regulation race at any time and in any level as long as you meet the races requirements. Some races require you to go behind the wheel of a different class of vehicle and meet certain conditions during a race. Aside from the major qualifying races, there are extra racing challenges that earn you rewards after completing them successfully. For example, the Top Model challenges have you picking up pretty girls that ask you for a ride home in return for some valuable shopping coupons you can use to purchase new clothes and accessories (cute sunglasses and shoes) for your avatar. The catch is that you have to get from Point A to Point B before the timer runs out and without scaring your passenger.
The racing challenges are composed of official trophy races to Speed challenges that have you racing through the map past some stationary radar detectors in order to attain the highest possible average speed. Then theres Time Attack where you try to race to the finish line in the shortest time possible. The racing challenges are actually fun but when it comes to short but enjoyable thrills the Top Model, Courier (deliver a package to a far off destination) and Hitchhiker (like Top Model, you take your hitchhiker from Point A to Point B) are fun distractions that will have you ignoring the main races for awhile. Youll even encounter other racers just zipping through traffic, oftentimes slowing down when they reach you as if to taunt you into a quick race. You can drive up to a street racer and challenge them to a race where you decide where the race will start and where it will end on the map. This is great stuff, indeed.
Test Drive Unlimited also includes loads of hot cars and even some motorcycles. You can jump into a Dodge Viper SRT 10 as well as a Chevy Camaro Z-28. Fans of the Pierce Brosnan Bond films will like the fact that you can slip into an Aston Martin Vanquish while bike fans will have a blast riding on a Triumph Speed Triple or even a Ducati 999 R. Atari took the "test drive" aspect of the title literally since you can walk into a dealership, get into a car and open or close windows and doors, honk the horn and then take a test drive with the car salesman in the passenger seat.
The problem, unfortunately, is that the cars themselves just dont drive as smoothly or realistically for that matter. Slam into oncoming traffic (and you will do this a lot and not on purpose) and your car will not even suffer a single dent so go ahead and ram a rival car all you want. The controls arent horrible and they certainly are responsive enough, but they lack enough polish that would have made this an amazing racing game that can rival the likes of the Project Gotham Racing 3. Driving a motorcycle shouldnt be the same as driving a car, after all. Secondly, Oahu seems to swarm with cops when you break a few rules when oftentimes youll find it hard to spot at least one squad car. While racing from the cops would have been cool, it just becomes tedious here. Expect to be caught and pay a hefty fine each time you come under the police radar (which only seems to happen if you ram one too many cars).
While were concentrating on the negative, I should add that the game borders between beautiful to somewhat disappointing. Sure the game is about the hot cars that do look good and Oahu is just as beautiful in the game as it is in the real world but when it comes to displaying your avatar during cutscenes, the game just falls flat. In fact, the characters feel like they would feel right at home on the original Xbox and the same can be said about the lighting and smoke effects.
The games sound is also something of a letdown since the car engines really start sounding the same no matter when car youre driving. Car enthusiasts will find it hard to believe that a Ducati engine sounds exactly like the rumble of a Pontiac Firebird. Thats like saying Rod Stewart sounds like Frank Sinatra. Your car comes with a radio filled with different stations that play decent rock tunes and some from the likes of Queens of the Stone Age. While the variety isnt great (there is a good classical station) you can always use your own tunes.
While these things hold the game back from being true classic, its the games online component that makes up for some of the games shortcomings. Hoping online basically changes your rivals and thats about it. You will almost seamlessly jump back into the same map only instead of finding AI racers zooming past you or waiting for you in a trophy race, you will find actual gamers in their place. Its almost like a racing MMO game where youll be able to challenge anyone you come across on the streets. The other good news is that you can challenge others to accept a racing challenge of your own creation. You can unlock an editor that allows you to decide on the rules (motorcycles only or Class A vehicles only, if you wish) and where the race starts and finishes. Really, this is the reason you will still be playing this game long after you finish the single-player mode.
While it might not be the perfecting driving game or a strict racing game for the Xbox 360, Test Drive Unlimited is certainly a better alternative to the Ridge Racer series if youre looking for a game that blends offline and online play almost seamlessly. Its hard to dislike a game that tries to bring something different to the table and succeeds in putting gamers into an open world filled with plenty to do and the freedom to take on any race at any time. If youre a true racing fan or just a casual one you might want to seriously consider buying this game.
Seriously FUN
On: 2006-09-18Test Drive Unlimited is a very fun game, definitely my favorite game on the Xbox360 so far. I love the openness of the game and how there is so much to explore and so many races to compete in. Ive already bought a bunch of amazing cars and cant stop playing. I cant wait until Atari starts releasing the new car packs too! This game rocks!
i beg to differ
On: 2006-09-18i live on oahu, and was very excited to hear about the game. i even live off one of the major highways in the game....but after i played TDU i was very disapointed that it LOOKS NOTHING AT ALL LIKE OAHU! i mean all the buildings and houses, are gone! there are way more trees, and even the sea life park(featured in 50 first dates) was not there! the roads surrounding it were there, but they put some houses instead. is it so hard to at least program some of the major sites if they are boasting about how the map of the island is accurate? that aside, it is not even that great of a racing game, i would recommend need for speed most wanted instead.
i beg to differ
On: 2006-09-17i live on oahu, and was very excited to hear about the game. i even live off one of the major highways in the game....but after i played TDU i was very disapointed that it LOOKS NOTHING AT ALL LIKE OAHU! i mean all the buildings and houses, are gone! there are way more trees, and even the sea life park(featured in 50 first dates) was not there! the roads surrounding it were there, but they put some houses instead. is it so hard to at least program some of the major sites if they are boasting about how the map of the island is accurate? that aside, it is not even that great of a racing game, i would recommend need for speed most wanted instead.
The beginning of virtual tourism?
On: 2006-09-16The real star of this game is the island of Oahu. The whole thing, with terrain and streets modeled down to the meter. Mountain passes, ocean drives, back streets, its all there. You can even refer to online maps to find your way around the virtual version. Theres plenty of eye candy for the sightseer. Lush forests, beaches, rock formations, plantations, private homes, and just enough traffic to make it feel populated. Its surprisingly fun to just pick a luxury car and go for a Sunday drive. And its not even wasted time, because you get achievements for exploration.
Of course, nearly every mile of roadway is incorporated into one of the pre-planned races and missions, so you will see most of the sights just playing those through. One race in particular takes a 118 mile loop around the entire island. And racing and completing time trials earns money that can be used to buy more cars and homes to store them in.
The selection of vehicles is disappointing, no doubt due to licensing issues. There are plenty of supercars, and the American major manufacturers are all well-represented, but there are no Japanese brands besides Nissan, which only offers two versions of the 350Z. BMW and Porsche are also missing. Customization is limited to a choice of wheels, paint, and pre-set performance levels. As a result, the cars all feel somewhat interchangeable, with little reason to pick one high-downforce, 200MPH+ monster over another.
The cars that made it into the game are nicely modeled, however, and some of the older models do have some character. The option to set seat position for the inside view is a nice touch that makes it feel more realistic. The physics model seems decent, especially with the traction control turned off.
I doubt Ill end up buying every car in the game, but I may pick up the achievement for exploring the entire island. And if I really need to take a Porsche through Kolekole Pass, I might just have to book a trip to Hawaii and do it for real.
The beginning of virtual tourism?
On: 2006-09-15<