After several years, the legendary driving franchise returns in September with many ideas that we outline below
Have passed 13 years old since Test Drive Unlimited 2, the game that could not replicate the success of its first part and left the saga in a complicated state, and now KT Racing, together with Nacon, come to revive it in style. I have been able to spend two hours behind the wheel of the new installment of this franchise, and Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown could be exactly what Test Drive needed.
Test Drive Unlimited is reborn with Solar Crown
It is evident that when we think about driving video games, especially those based on the real world, the first thing that comes to mind is cars. Compact, all-terrain, sports…no genre pays more homage to its central subject like this one, but there are ways to go further. TDU Solar Crown seeks to do something more: turn driving into a social and luxury lifestyle experience.
84 kilometers of open world are reason enough to want to get down to business in the video game
Still, first things first, what about racing? Good, Solar Crown takes us to Hong Kong, which has been recreated on a 1:1 scale with great detail. 84 kilometers of open world are reason enough to want to get down to business, and the truth is that in this aspect the game has not disappointed me at all. Following the basic structure of its predecessor, we can drive wherever we want and explore asian cityand this in itself is entertaining.
In the open world of the new Test Drive Unlimited there are not only races to participate in, but also hidden paths with rewards and places to go. The title itself rewards you with experience for driving through all its streets and roads, but in addition to that you will also find hidden detours that do not appear on the title map. In these you can get extra money, something that is not an incredible reward, but it is enough to, added to the fun of driving and investigating such a detailed world, feel like you have achieved something.
100 cars from more than 30 brands
As for racing and driving, Solar Crown boasts a wide range of cars that you can get. You start with only 3 options, but Kylotonn has promised a catalog of around 100 different models coming from some 30 official brands. Although it is true that these quantities are far from those that we could see in, for example, Forza Horizon 5 —of course this carries the legacy of its predecessors—, from KT Racing they want to focus on the personality and control of each of the vehicles. There is no point in having hundreds and hundreds of cars if there are no a tangible difference among them, and that is one of the most ambitious characteristics that Solar Crown boasts.
The return of Test Drive offers a solid driving experience
On a tangible level, this translates into a solid driving experience. On circuits with an urban feel, the cars have the weight and speed that could be expected from models like the Ford Mustang GT. Cars have weight, the tracks are as complex as you would expect from scenarios based on a real city, and in general the experience is neither too complex nor too simple. Of course, it should be noted that the session preview was not enough to test the 100 cars of which Kylotonn boasts, so we will have to wait for the final release of the game to know if the game fulfills this ambitious promise or not.
The other side of the gameplay comes from the management of our vehicles. Here, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown not only wants to continue offering a great experience, but it is a title that aims measure up to the industry’s greats. In the workshops, we will have the opportunity to, as expected, modify our cars, and this will be where the management experience offered by the game shines. You are going to be abler modify the aspects that would be expected of your car: engine, suspension, brakes, transmission, aerodynamics, tires and the ECU. In addition, obviously, you can also modify the appearance, both inside and out, to leave the car to your liking. If we talk about quantities, its director told me that we would see about 200 different piecesnot counting all the stickers available to give a little more variety to the exterior of the cars.
Multiplayer mood and lifestyle
Now this is a racing game, but so are its creators. They describe it as an MMO, and this is where a lot of the ambition that comes to the game lies. There is an emphasis on the social, on the multiplayer, that transcends “Let’s do such a race together.” To begin with, in the most classic part of the driving title, you can make groups – with integrated voice chat – to play with your friends and drive together, but it doesn’t stop here. Various locations in the title, such as the Solar Hotel, dealerships, workshops, and other social environments, will be physical locations where we will get out of the cars, control our avatar, and see other players with whom we can chat.
This emphasis on “existing” in a virtual world is such that, in places where we can see the other players’ cars Without being driven, we can observe in real time the modifications that other drivers are making to their cars and chat with them. The customization does not end here, and that is drivers also matter at TDU Solar Crown. As you play, you’ll be able to unlock more clothing options and accessories for your main character, and this is just the beginning. Of course, Solar Crown’s social ethos has the potential to elevate it into a category of its own.
At the core of Solar Crown is the premise of not only simulating the feeling of driving a car in street racing, but also of make us live our own fantasy of luxuries. The lifestyle without limits or ties that one would expect from high-status street racing featuring very expensive cars is one of the pillars of this title. Hotels, restaurants, nightclubs… Here your task will be to climb the ladder in this parallel society. For this you will need the help of the clans.
And in Hong Kong there are two groups of drivers with very different life philosophies that want to capture your attention. The Streets and the Sharps They are two families who are in a particular war to become the bosses of Hong Kong. The former call themselves provocateurs and rebels, and enjoy a more underground and wild culture, spending their free time in Hong Kong nightclubs. In contrast, the Sharps are luxury traditionalists. Demure in their ostentation, but refined and elegant, they seek a more sophisticated air than their rivals. As a player, you will have to join one of these – the one that best fits your vision of Hong Kong society – to defeat your rivals in races and be able to increase your respect on the streets and within your own clan.
Mime also in the graphics
On a graphic level, there is also ambition here. Hong Kong’s surroundings shine with their own light, especially on those puddled nights highlighted by neon. The title does not feature ray tracing, but still the lighting effects, shadows and reflections They are so worked out that a non-negligible amount of care behind them is noticeable. I know racing games aren’t usually the most immersive on the market, but still It’s nice to see a well-kept open world and enter through the eyes in this new installment of the franchise. The new generation is noticeable.
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown does not come to break the mold, it comes to bring all audiences closer to this winning formula. His emphasis on socialization and role play They give it a layer of accessibility to be appreciated by all those who are not hardcore fans of the engine, but who do want to get closer to the genre and be able to feel alive within its digital walls. Although the foundations of the game are solid, it makes the difference compared to the competition and can be one of its greatest tricks to attract players.
KT Racing wants to release new content every three months to keep the game alive for years
Outside of this, the title comes with promises of greatness and a solid launch lineup of cars. KT Racing has told us that they plan to release content updates every three months to keep the game alive over the years. With all these elements on the table, the new Nacon is prepared for become a heavyweight of the genre prepared for both fans of hardcore driving and for players looking for something different and even a little more arcadey.
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