Test Drive Unlimited

Test Drive Unlimited is a 2006 racing video game developed by Eden Games and published by Atari for Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. Atari Melbourne House developed the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions. Being the eighteenth entry in the Test Drive series, Unlimited serves as a reboot of the franchise, discarding the continuity of the previous games. The game features over 125 licensed sports cars and motorcycles and the terrain is modeled after the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu that features some 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of roads and highways.[1]

Test Drive Unlimited
PAL region cover art featuring the Lamborghini Gallardo (left) and the Ford GT (right)
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)Atari
Director(s)
  • Stéphane Beley
  • Frédéric Jay
  • Pierre-Arnaud Lambert
Producer(s)
  • Ahmed Boukhelifa
  • Christophe Laboureau
Composer(s)
  • Gan Juan
  • Richard Aitken
SeriesTest Drive
Platform(s)
ReleaseXbox 360
  • NA: 5 September 2006
  • EU: 8 September 2006
  • AU: 21 September 2006
PlayStation 2, Windows
  • EU: 16 March 2007
  • NA: 20 March 2007
  • AU: 13 April 2007 (PS2)
PlayStation Portable
  • NA: 21 March 2007
  • EU: 30 March 2007
  • AU: 27 April 2007
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

It was soon followed by its sequel, Test Drive Unlimited 2 in 2011. A third game and soft reboot, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, is currently under development (with KT Racing and Nacon replacing Eden Games and Atari, respectively), which will release in 2024.

Gameplay

In the online world of Test Drive Unlimited, players are able to drive both on-road and off-road in free-roam mode, challenging other players in real-time anywhere on the drivable map. It is also possible to drive on small islands outside of the main island. The Xbox 360 version has supported steering wheel controllers since launch. Following the third free update, Test Drive Unlimited supports force feedback wheel controllers such as Microsoft's Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel.

The roads are modeled after satellite images of the island of Oʻahu.[1] There is a spectrum of different terrains including rain forests, mountains, sandy beaches and urbanized areas (featuring the city of Honolulu).

Single-player game

The game begins by purchasing a car and a house. The player is then free to explore the island; as this happens, key locations on the map are revealed.

Multiplayer game
Spyker C8 Spyder in Test Drive Unlimited (PC)

The multiplayer component (branded as M.O.O.R. or Massively Open Online Racing) works as an extra layer on top of the single-player game: all activities available in single-player are also available in multiplayer. The following challenges are also available in multiplayer only:

  • Race against other players
  • Challenge players to complete tasks
  • Attempt other player challenge

Special NPCs in PlayStation 2 version

There were 1500 total beta testers in Atari's closed beta for Test Drive Unlimited for PlayStation 2. At the end of the testing period, Atari awarded 30 of the most active testers with "immortality" in the PlayStation 2 version of Test Drive Unlimited. These 30 beta testers were allowed to name one of the non-playable characters (NPC) in the game. Some chose to use their first and last name; others chose to use their screen names. These 30 special NPCs can be found spread throughout the virtual island of only the PlayStation 2 version.[2] Atari and Melbourne House ensured the Beta Testers were given prominent positions as NPCs. Among the play testers were also friends and family of staff at Melbourne House, including staff members themselves, who are included within the different motoring clubs featured within the game. Most were granted President or Vice President status in the car clubs and were put in highly desirable performance cars.[3]

Reception

Test Drive Unlimited received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[7][6][4][5]

411Mania gave the Xbox 360 version a score of 8.6 out of 10 and stated: "Even if you own a next-gen racing game, this is a title that you MUST try out. This is such an open ended game that never actually ends ala [sic] World of Warcraft and feeling like you're a part of the Island with your homes, vehicles and club is too much of a cool thing to pass up."[36] The Sydney Morning Herald gave the same version a score of four stars out of five and called it "a car aficionado's paradise and a novel concept in driving games. Unlimited's online world is certain to be mimicked."[34] The Times also gave it four stars out of five and claimed that it "comes closer than most games to re-creating the freedom of real life."[35] In Japan, where the Xbox 360 version was ported and published by Microsoft on 26 April 2007, Famitsu gave the game a score of 34 out of 40.[12]

References
  1. "Experience Racing Reinvented on Xbox 360". GameSpot. CNET. 14 August 2006. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  2. "Gotakon- Avant Garde Musings from Hawaii: I'm Officially an NPC in Test Drive Unlimited PS2". Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2007.
  3. "Gotakon- Avant Garde Musings from Hawaii: I'm the Official President of the GT Racers Club of Oahu". Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
  4. "Test Drive Unlimited for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  5. "Test Drive Unlimited for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  6. "Test Drive Unlimited for PSP Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  7. "Test Drive Unlimited for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  8. Edge staff (October 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited (X360)". Edge. No. 167. Future plc. p. 82.
  9. EGM staff (November 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited (X360)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 209. Ziff Davis. p. 118.
  10. Whitehead, Dan (27 February 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited (PS2)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  11. Bramwell, Tom (8 September 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited (X360)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  12. "テストドライブ アンリミテッド (X360)". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  13. Zoss, Jeremy (November 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited (X360)". Game Informer. No. 163. GameStop. p. 136. Archived from the original on 30 July 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  14. Ferris, Duke (14 September 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited Review (X360)". Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  15. Navarro, Alex (28 March 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited Review (PC)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  16. Navarro, Alex (28 March 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited Review (PS2)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  17. Navarro, Alex (29 March 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited Review (PSP)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  18. Navarro, Alex (7 September 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited Review (X360)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  19. Kuo, Li C. (13 April 2007). "GameSpy: Test Drive Unlimited (PC)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  20. Steinberg, Steve (17 April 2007). "GameSpy: Test Drive Unlimited (PS2)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  21. Villoria, Gerald (11 September 2006). "GameSpy: Test Drive Unlimited (X360)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  22. "Test Drive Unlimited Review (X360)". GameTrailers. Viacom. 18 September 2006. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  23. Smith, Brock (2 May 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  24. Bedigian, Louis (18 April 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 25 December 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  25. Zacarias, Eduardo (15 April 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited - PSP - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  26. Romano, Natalie (12 September 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited - 360 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  27. Brudvig, Erik (3 April 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited Review (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  28. Brudvig, Erik (3 April 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited Review (PS2)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  29. Brudvig, Erik (4 April 2007). "Test Drive Unlimited Review (PSP)". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 10 April 2007. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  30. Brudvig, Erik (7 September 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited Review (X360)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  31. "Test Drive Unlimited". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. December 2006. p. 76.
  32. "Test Drive Unlimited". PC Gamer. Vol. 14, no. 7. Future US. July 2007. p. 56.
  33. "Review: Test Drive Unlimited". PSM. Future US. June 2007. p. 80.
  34. Hill, Jason (30 September 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited (Xbox 360)". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  35. Wells, Dominic (23 September 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited (Xbox 360)". The Times. Archived from the original on 29 September 2006. Retrieved 11 February 2019.(subscription required)
  36. Aranda, Ramon (12 September 2006). "Test Drive Unlimited (Xbox 360) Review". 411Mania. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
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