| Test Drive Unlimited | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) |
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| Publisher(s) | Atari |
| Director(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Composer(s) |
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| Series | Test Drive |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | Xbox 360PlayStation 2,WindowsPlayStation Portable |
| Genre(s) | Racing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player,multiplayer |
Test Drive Unlimited is a 2006racing video game developed byEden Games and published byAtari forXbox 360 andMicrosoft Windows.Atari Melbourne House developed thePlayStation 2 andPlayStation Portable versions. Being the eighteenth entry in theTest Drive series,Unlimited serves as areboot of the franchise, discarding the continuity of the previous games. The game features over 125 licensedsports cars and motorcycles and the terrain is modeled after theHawaiian island ofOʻahu that features over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of roads and highways.[1]
It was soon followed by its sequel,Test Drive Unlimited 2 in 2011. A third game and softreboot,Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, was released in 2024.
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In the online world ofTest Drive Unlimited, players are able to drive both on-road and off-road infree-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 supportedsteering wheel controllers since launch. Following the third free update,Test Drive Unlimited supportsforce feedback wheel controllers such as Microsoft's Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel.
The roads are modeled after satellite images of the island ofOʻahu.[1] There is a spectrum of different terrains including rain forests, mountains, sandy beaches and urbanized areas (featuring the city ofHonolulu).
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.
The multiplayer component (branded as M.O.O.R. orMassively 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.On Xbox 360, Eden Games was allowed to add unique features to the Xboxlive in order to bring a new seamless Online experience.
The following challenges are also available in multiplayer only:
Custom services, added to the XboxLive by Eden Games:
There were 1500 totalbeta testers in Atari's closed beta forTest 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 ofTest Drive Unlimited. These 30 beta testers were allowed to name one of thenon-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]
Beginning development circa 2003, the game's budget was between $15 million and $25 million.[4]
| Aggregator | Score | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC | PS2 | PSP | Xbox 360 | |
| Metacritic | 79/100[33] | 75/100[34] | 80/100[35] | 82/100[36] |
| Publication | Score | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC | PS2 | PSP | Xbox 360 | |
| Edge | N/A | N/A | N/A | 8.5/10[5] |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | N/A | N/A | N/A | 8.5/10[6] |
| Eurogamer | N/A | 9/10[8] | N/A | 8.5/10[9] |
| Famitsu | N/A | N/A | N/A | 34/40[7] |
| Game Informer | N/A | N/A | N/A | 8.35/10[10] |
| GameRevolution | N/A | N/A | N/A | B+[11] |
| GameSpot | 8.5/10[12] | 7.5/10[13] | 8.7/10[14] | 8.5/10[15] |
| GameSpy |    [16] | [17] | N/A | [18] |
| GameTrailers | N/A | N/A | N/A | 8.5/10[19] |
| GameZone | 8.5/10[20] | 8.5/10[21] | 8/10[22] | 8.8/10[23] |
| IGN | 8/10[24] | 7.3/10[25] | 7.8/10[26] | 8/10[27] |
| Official Xbox Magazine (US) | N/A | N/A | N/A | 8.5/10[28] |
| PC Gamer (US) | 80%[29] | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| PlayStation: The Official Magazine | N/A | 8/10[30] | 8.5/10[30] | N/A |
| The Sydney Morning Herald | N/A | N/A | N/A | [31] |
| The Times | N/A | N/A | N/A | [32] |
Test Drive Unlimited received "generally favorable" reviews, according toreview aggregatorMetacritic.[36][35][33][34]
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."[37]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."[31]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."[32] In Japan, where the Xbox 360 version was ported and published byMicrosoft on 26 April 2007,Famitsu gave the game a score of 34 out of 40.[7]
TheAcademy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominatedTest Drive Unlimited for "Racing Game of the Year" at the10th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards.[38]
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