- For other games in the Test Drive Unlimited subseries, see - Test Drive Unlimited (Subseries)
Test Drive Unlimited (abbreviated as TDU) is a 2006 open-world arcade-style racing game developed by Eden Games. It is the eigth main installment of the Test Drive series, one of the longest running racing game franchises, and the first entry in the series' open world Unlimited franchise.
Featuring over 125 licensed sports cars and motorcycles, the game takes place in a terrain modelled after the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu, featuring around 1,600 km – 1,000 miles – of roads and highways.
A sequel titled Test Drive Unlimited 2 would be made available on February 8, 2011.
Gameplay[]
Players begin by choosing their character, and upon their arrival on O'ahu, the game begins by purchasing a car and a house, with players being free to explore the island afterwards. As the player explores it and discovers new points of interest, key locations on the map are revealed, which include locations and challenges.
These include places such as Car and Bike dealerships, car rental agencies, tuning shops, paint shops, as well as challenges such as Time challenges, Courier, Vehicle transportation, Hitchhikers and more.
Multiplayer[]
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.
Additional challenges are also only available in multiplayer;
- Race vs other players
- Challenge players to complete tasks
- Attempt other player's challenges
Racing against other players works by using the player match/ranked match system employed by Xbox Live, in addition to innovative custom services created by Eden Games using the XLSP gateways whilst the Microsoft Windows version uses the GameSpy network sign-in and the same custom services. It is also possible to create an immediate race against another player upon flashing headlights at their vehicle.
A specific server extension done for the Xboxlive & PC was allowing both realtime player activity.
Tracking and a unique geolocalized Match Making.
Players may create and join "clubs" which help organising player events, and vehicles may also be traded between players.
It is also possible to play online on the PlayStation 2 with the addition of a network adapter, and via Infrastructure Mode on the PlayStation Portable.
The PC and Xbox 360 servers extensions were shut down on September 29, 2012, following the PS2 and PSP servers that shut down in 2009.
Challenges[]
- Main article: Test Drive Unlimited/Challenges
Various challenges disciplines are available including Race, Speed and Time. Success in these challenges is rewarded with in-game money which may be spent on buying new vehicles, renting cars, upgrading cars and buying houses.
Also available are extra challenges including Courier and Vehicle Transport, which rewards with money, and Hitchhiker and Top Model challenges, which rewards coupons. Using coupons players can buy clothing for their character at the many branded clothes shops on the island.
Levels[]
- Main article: Test Drive Unlimited/Levels
Progress is determined by levels, with players starting as "Rookie" and having to earn points to reach and upgrade their character to a higher level. Challenges are unlocked depending on the levels players has reached.
Traffic and Police[]
If players continuously hit traffic vehicles it will trigger a police chase. Pursuit has three levels, which can escalate depending on the players' traffic offenses, or de escalate if they manage to evade cops. If caught, players will have to pay a fee or wait in prison if short on money.
Avatar[]
The player's avatar can be altered by changing their clothes, as well as facial features.
Location[]
- See also: Oʻahu
In the world of Test Drive Unlimited, players are able to drive both on-road and off-road in free-roam mode, challenging any real life racers which they encounter. The roads are modelled after satellite images of the Hawaiian island of Oʻahu, with its terrain differing from rainforest and mountains to sandy beaches and Hawaiʻi's capital city, Honolulu.
Although advertising material for the game suggests it to be an exact depiction of the Hawaiian island, the game's map has the approach of an adaptation rather than a replica. Numerous government buildings, - including those on Pearl Harbor, Camp H. M. Smith, Hickam Air Force Base - commercial buildings, - Ala Moana Center, the convention center, Pearl City's commercial strip and the Pearlridge Center - and notable landmarks - including statue of King Kamehameha I, and USS Missouri - are not present in the game. Many roads and highways are also absent or placed far from their real-life counterparts. The ships docked in Pearl Harbor also do not represent any active or retired USNvessel.
GPS[]
Players can use a GPS to see key locations, follow a specific route, set a target destination, and obtain a wide variety of information. It also shows the distance between their current location and a given destination.
Players are required to first discover roads and spots upon driving to them to be able to teleport to these previously accessed places in the map, which are roads highlighted in a bright colour. In the map, blue icons represent solo races, whilst orange icons represent multiplayer races.
Houses[]
- Main article: Test Drive Unlimited/House
Players has to purchase houses in which they can store their vehicles, as well as accessing a number of options, including photo album, character clothes, and car transactions. Various types of houses are available in the island.
Key Locations[]
- Main article: Test Drive Unlimited/Key Locations
Vehicles[]
- Main article: Test Drive Unlimited/Vehicles
Players can acquire sports cars from various manufacturers, including a Ferrari 575M Maranello, the AC Cobra 289, the Maserati 3500 GT and the Pontiac Firebird. Downloadable content at the Xbox Live Marketplace, as well as the Megapack for PC included over 45 additional vehicles, such as the Efijy Concept, the Ferrari 512 TR and the Nissan Skyline GT-R.
Purchase[]
Each vehicle is available in their respective dealerships, and players can choose various details whilst purchasing their new vehicle, including wheels, body colour, and interior colour. New dealerships has cars readly available, opposed to classic car dealers.
Vehicles may also be traded between players through a central "clearing house"-styled interface which lists the vehicles for sale along with class, mileage, specification, and price information.
Customisation[]
The player's vehicles can have their paint changed if a paint shop is located on the map. Players can also upgrade their vehicle's performance at Tuning stores.
Downloadable Content[]
- Main article: Test Drive Unlimited/Downloadable Content
Xbox 360[]
In the Xbox 360, new cars can be downloaded via Xbox Live. Some individual cars are available to download for free, whilst others must be purchased with Microsoft Points as part of a pack. All downloaded cars still need to be purchased with in-game money at their respective dealerships before they can be used.
Also available is a downloadable mode called "hardcore mode" which makes the game experience more realistic. It was designed for players with an Xbox 360 Racing Wheel controller. However, the hardcore mode is free in the PC version, and can be unlocked upon achieving a higher specific rank.
The Xbox 360 version supported steering wheel controllers since launch, although following the third free update, the game supports force feedback wheel controllers such as Microsoft's Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel.
Microsoft Windows[]
There has been one patch for the PC version of Test Drive Unlimited. As part of this patch the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 and Audi RS4 quattro Saloon (B7) were made available for free. Fixes were also available, including fewer issues with freezing during saving points for Windows Vista users with the 32-bit platform installed.
Also made available was the "Megapack" DLC pack which PC users can purchase, featuring 45 cars, 1 bike and a number of fixes. These include the limited edition exclusive cars available for the Xbox 360 as well as the contents of the first 5 DLC packs previously released over Xbox Live.
Pre Order Bonuses[]
On the Xbox 360 version, downloadable cars were made available with an exclusive code from the pre-order of the game.
- Lamborghini Gallardo Coupé
- McLaren F1 LM
- Pagani Zonda C12S Roadster
- Spyker C8 Spyder
Soundtrack[]
- Main article: Test Drive Unlimited/Soundtrack
Test Drive Unlimited features various in-game radios, each broadcasting a different music genre.
Achievements[]
- Main article: Test Drive Unlimited/Achievements
Title Differences[]
- Main article: Test Drive Unlimited/Differences
Test Drive Unlimited was developed by Eden games for Xbox 360, with this iteration also being made available for Windows. A second iteration, developed by Melbourne House, would be made available for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable featuring content differences as well as graphical differences due to different hardware.
Media[]
| Test Drive Series | |
|---|---|
| Mainline Entries | Test Drive · The Duel: Test Drive II · Test Drive III: The Passion · Test Drive 4 · Test Drive 5 · Test Drive 6 · Test Drive: Overdrive · Test Drive Unlimited · Test Drive Unlimited 2 · Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends · Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown |
| Off-Road Series | Test Drive Off-Road · Test Drive Off-Road 2 · Test Drive Off-Road 3 · Test Drive Off-Road Wide Open |
| Other Games | Test Drive Le Mans (1999) · Test Drive Le Mans (2000) · Test Drive Cycles · Test Drive 2001 · Test Drive: Eve of Destruction |