Video Game Vintage Title: Test Drive Unlimited

Test Drive Unlimited

Test Drive Unlimited is a 2006 open-world arcade-style racing game, featuring over 125 licensed sports cars and motorcycles. The terrain is modeled after the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu that features some 1,000 miles of roads and highways. Test Drive Unlimited is the ninth main installment of Test Drive, one of the longest running racing game franchises. A sequel, entitled Test Drive Unlimited 2, was released on February 8, 2011. The lead design team for TDU has been hired by Ubisoft for creation of The Crew, a new racing game.

Test Drive Unlimited Gameplay

In the world of Test Drive Unlimited, the player is able to drive both on-road and off-road in free-roam mode, challenging any real life racers they encounter. The roads are modeled after satellite images of the island of Oʻahu. The terrain differs from rainforest and mountains to sandy beaches and Hawaiʻi's capital city, Honolulu. It is worth noting however, that other built-up areas on the island are not represented. It is possible to drive on small islands outside of the main island, and even drive underwater (using glitches or mods) The latter requires the use of a known exploit in the game. The Xbox 360 version has supported steering wheel controllers since launch. Following the third free update, Test Drive Unlimited supports force feedback wheel controllers such as Microsoft's Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel.

Although advertising material for the game suggests it to be an exact depiction of the Hawaiian island, numerous government buildings (such as those on Pearl Harbor, Camp H. M. Smith, Hickam Air Force Base), commercial buildings (Ala Moana Center, the convention center, the entire commercial strip in Pearl City and the Pearlridge Center), and notable landmarks (statue of King Kamehameha I, USS Missouri, etc.) are not present in the game. Many roads and highways are also missing or placed far from their real-life counterparts. The ships docked in Pearl Harbor are also in very low detail and do not represent any active or retired USN vessel at all.

Reception
Test Drive Unlimited was met with positive reviews. Aggregating review websites GameRankings and Metacritic gave the Xbox 360 version 82.45% and 82/100, the PC version 80.17% and 79/100 the PlayStation Portable version 80.12% and 80/100 and the PlayStation 2 version 75.70% and 75/100.