Test Drive Unlimited Review (X360)

Gameplay

One aspect of the game that needs to be addressed is the handling of the vehicles. If you have played the demos that were released on the Xbox Live Marketplace, you know that the cars don't seem to handle quite as well as they do in other racing games. At first it seems like a problem, but I think I know the reason for it. The island of Oahu in the game is designed to be just like its real life counterpart, and the fact is that most of these corners aren't meant to be taken at 175 MPH like you do in every other racing game. You have to actually slow down and drive somewhat realistically in order to navigate the turns. It gives the game a different feel and pace than other racers, and I have to say I like it quite a bit.

The motorcycles, on the other hand, just aren't all that fun to play. The same rules apply here - slow down when you take corners - but even going relatively slowly the bikes turn abnormally wide. You do get used to them after a while, but I'm not crazy about the bikes. I didn't particularly care for them in Midnight Club 3, either, just for the record.

Cruisin' Around Oahu

The real star of the show in Test Drive Unlimited is the island of Oahu itself. The island is absolutely huge and features more than 1000 miles of roads. One race tasks you to race around the entire island and it takes at least 45 minutes to complete which is just insane. Most of the roads are along the coastline, but there are some paths through the middle of the island as well. It is all absolutely gorgeous to look at and the terrain is surprisingly varied. You'll go from city streets to winding coastal roads to flat plains and more. One thing I really like is that the AI cars on the road actually behave fairly realistically. If you are in the left lane of the freeway, most of the other cars will move out of your way. And occasionally you'll have cars change lanes right in front of you or suddenly slam on their brakes and they will even get into massive accidents with other AI drivers. It really is cool to drive around and see the same mix of good and bad driving in the game that you see in real life. It makes the missions where you are penalized for damage all the more exciting and fun because you have to constantly be on the lookout for the other drivers.

Graphics and Sound

Graphically, Test Drive Unlimited is a very nice looking game. The island is amazing looking and is highlighted by great water and lighting effects. You'll see some pop up and other graphical glitches here and there, but TDU looks great most of the time. The cars also look phenomenal.

A highlight of TDU is that you can drive from a viewpoint inside the car and this is absolutely my preferred way to play. It looks and feels just right and really adds to the experience. The interiors of each car has been intricately detailed to look just like the real thing and you actually have more freedom to look around than you do in Project Gotham Racing 3. When you pick up a passenger, you can look over and see them sitting next to you. Very cool.

The sound is also very well done in Test Drive Unlimited. Each car makes a different sound and the squeals and slams of racing are well represented here. The soundtrack is a little weak, but that is easy enough to take care of on the Xbox 360.

Bottom Line

In the end, Test Drive Unlimited stands as one of the best racing games the Xbox 360 has to offer. It looks fantastic and offers a ton of stuff to do and it plays surprisingly well once you get used to it. I know some people were turned off a bit by the XBL Marketplace demos, but I really think it deserves another chance. The way it seamlessly combines the single-player and multiplayer aspects of the game is something that we can only hope other developers will implement in the future. It is also fun to just drive around and soak in your surroundings. This is a surprisingly laid back game in a genre filled with speed demons and I love the different feel and pacing that it offers. I highly recommend it for at least a rental, but for the low price of just $40 it is worth a purchase.