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Test Drive Unlimited
Published by: Atari |
Test Drive Unlimited - Game Review (PC)
By Flaviu Volosciuc
Published: March 29, 2007
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Like all the other versions of the game, Test Drive Unlimited is an arcade-racing game (a genre that is popular still today despite the lack of simulation). So if there is no simulation, the game must offer something that makes it worth buying:
1. The first thing that hits any gamer is the number of licensed vehicles brands, 34, including cars and motorcycles. At the moment the game has the most beautiful and wide collection of cars, from all the games on the market, including their biggest challenger Need for Speed. You can find here vintage models (Maserati 3500 GT, Lamborghini Miura, Mercedes Benz Gullwing, etc), exotic models (McLaren F1 GTR, Noble, Farboud, Saleen, Pagani Zonda, Koenigsseg, etc), and sport models (Jaguar XKR, Lamborghini Gallardo, Pontiac GTO, Ford Mustang, Alfa Romeo GTA, etc).
A plus for the game is the motorcycles category represented by Triumph, Ducati, MV Augusta, and Kawasaki. Not too many, but at least some brands that are considered at the top of the motorcycles industry.
As an addition, you will find on the map tuning and custom paintings shops. The problems is that you will find three tuning dealers around the island, and every dealer will upgrade only specific brands. The tuning consists in buying full packages which will increase your car specification, but no changes to the look. So in the end the car will look the same with some differences on handling and speed. There's no way you can compare the tuning process in this game with the one present in Need for Speed series. But it still exists.
2. The second thing that makes the game be wanted is the huge amount of roads and highways spread on almost 1000 miles. A huge area that can be explored without any loading screen, based only on streaming technology. To be as realistic as possible, the whole action of the game takes place on Oahu island, which was fully recreated within a meter of detail, based on satellite readings and scannings.
This is where the name of the game comes from, Test Drive Unlimited. You have a 90% freedom riding on this roads. Why not 100%? Because there are some closed zones, like the airport, or the race track, places where you could really test the car and see its real power. The terrain differs from mountain areas and rainforests to sandy beaches and cities including Honolulu. Despite the modeling precision, several important buildings are not present in the game: Pearl Harbor, the convention center, or Pearlridge Center, etc. The reason should be the legal concerns and the game engine limitations.
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| Atari Launches Test Drive Unlimited PC Megapack April 17, 2008 Test Drive Unlimited PC Megapack is available for download, including the patch, activation key and 46 immaculate dream machines [...] |
| (XB360) New downloadable pack for Test Drive Unlimited July 27, 2007 Man, this Xbox Live service sure doesn't know how to stop! There is so much downloadable content on it that you can buy a XBOX 360 console only to watch it and test it.
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| (XB360) New free cars for Test Drive Unlimited April 17, 2007 New free content for on XBOX Live for Test Drive Unlimited.
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| (XB360) New vehicles available for download April 13, 2007 Log in to Xbox Live Marketplace and download one of three car packs
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