As a seasoned racer with decades spent behind the wheel and countless virtual miles under my belt, I must say that Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown has certainly piqued my interest in more ways than one. The lush landscapes of Hong Kong, combined with the immersive first-person exploration, truly harkens back to the days when I’d wander the streets of Vice City, lost in a world of endless adventure.
The duology of Test Drive Unlimited, with its blend of virtual travel, arcade racing, and open-world exploration, captured a significant fanbase over a decade ago. However, despite its clear popularity, it seemed to have been in a long hiatus. Thirteen years after the release of the last game, it’s making a comeback with Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown. But with games like Forza Horizon and The Crew, which have delivered similar experiences to what the Test Drive Unlimited series was known for, and have arguably done so more successfully (especially in the case of Forza Horizon), one might wonder about the success of the revival of the franchise with Solar Crown. Will it struggle under the pressure of resurrecting the series and competing against formidable peers, or will it thrive under the challenge and sprint to the finish line with grace and panache?
The response, as usual, leans towards the middle ground between the two options, although I’d be inclined to emphasize that the game is more successful than it isn’t. While it does have some technical and mechanical rough spots, which prevent it from reaching the peaks achieved by its contemporaries in recent years, it remains an enjoyable racing game with a thoughtfully designed open world map that offers delightful exploration, even if you’re not actively engaged in a race or event
“Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown offers an overwhelmingly enjoyable racing journey, boasting an intricately designed open-world landscape that’s equally delightful for leisurely cruises.”
You might not find it surprising that the standout feature of Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown lies in its stunningly realistic depiction of Hong Kong Island, a claim made by developer KT Racing. This virtual tourism aspect is a key element in open-world racing games that transport players to real-world locations or those inspired by them. Just like the earlier Test Drive Unlimited games did, Solar Crown excels in this regard, providing an immersive experience. From the bustling cityscape and verdant jungles to rolling hills and vast highways, pristine beaches, and beyond, the open world of Solar Crown’s Hong Kong offers awe-inspiring vistas that make exploration enjoyable and sightseeing engaging
The Solar Crown competition doesn’t quite evoke the immersive festival atmosphere found in other open-world racing games, such as Forza Horizon 5 in Mexico. However, it successfully transports players to the stunning, bustling, and vibrantly lit cityscape of Hong Kong. Moreover, the presence of two distinct clans – the Streets and the Sharps – significantly enhances the game’s visual aesthetic, each group bringing their unique style and opulence, a key focus of the game. Ultimately, this helps Solar Crown establish its own distinct identity rather than relying on imitation from competitors
Although Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown boasts an impressive map, the driving gameplay itself may sometimes prove challenging. Generally, the cars handle well, but occasional hiccups make for an uneven experience. For instance, minor collisions with destructible objects can lead to a significant reduction in speed, or the handling is too stiff for many of the vehicles in the game, which takes some getting accustomed to. This can be particularly bothersome, especially during races that demand quick maneuvers and tight turns
Regarding the on-road action, playing Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown can sometimes feel a bit challenging or annoying
In this game, Solar Crown, since it’s online-exclusive, lacks some common features you’d typically find in racing games. For instance, there’s no pause function during races and no rewind option, which means if things go wrong, your only choice is to start the race over from the beginning. This can be frustrating because you have to leave a race and then re-enter it instead of just restarting it within the game. Even in the tutorial, which is single-player, there’s no option to restart a race. It’s surprising that, being a racing MMO, Solar Crown needs a constant internet connection, but other similar games have offered solo modes for those who prefer them. Unfortunately, this feature isn’t available here
Regarding the specific competitions and activities within Solar Crown, there’s plenty to appreciate. It offers a blend of familiar elements like races, time trials, speed traps, and more, along with unique additions such as meeting spots for players, wreck sites to discover for classic car unlocks, workshops and dealerships for upgrades and new vehicle purchases, and so on. The Domination Races are particularly entertaining, where the aim is to pass through checkpoint gates before as many opponents as possible, with each gate awarding points based on your position, and the racer with the most points at the end winning the event. Notably, Solar Crown also features the Solar Hotel, a towering skyscraper serving as the central hub for the competition, allowing players to explore the environment in first-person perspective outside of their cars, similar to dealerships and workshops. Overall, there’s a wealth of activities to engage with in Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown’s Hong Kong setting, much of which is quite enjoyable
In the realm of progression, Solar Crown largely hits the mark. Experience points (XP) are transformed into reputation (rep) in this game, with an increase in reputation level unlocking fresh events and vehicle races, as well as new components to acquire and customize for your automobiles – parts that enhance both performance and aesthetics. This system is straightforward and easy to grasp, resulting in the game effectively maintaining player engagement by encouraging them to continually boost their reputation. Additionally, upgrading or purchasing better cars often results in noticeable changes in driving dynamics, which makes the rewards for enhancing your reputation feel significant
In essence, it’s important to note that advancement in Solar Crown moves at a more leisurely pace compared to other games. Being part of the open-world virtual tourism racing genre, players are encouraged to explore and experience the environment at their own speed without feeling rushed to progress in a strict manner. However, this slow progression can sometimes lead to a scarcity of events, making it seem like there aren’t enough points available to reach the next level for the unlocks you desire. This might result in having to repeat races (fortunately, repetition does boost your reputation), which is more noticeable during the initial stages of the game when fewer activities are available
Currently, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is generally enjoyable but may not reach the level of exceptional
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown has some technical hiccups that detract from its overall appeal. While it’s clear the game is visually appealing, with Hong Kong’s stunning vistas and sounds, there are technical shortcomings. For instance, there are blurry draw distances, texture pop-ins, and occasional visual or animation glitches, particularly when human characters appear instead of cars. These issues can be noticed both in cutscenes and during gameplay. Additionally, the game struggles with performance problems, even on the 60 FPS Performance Mode, which I’ve primarily used. During numerous races, I’ve experienced significant frame rate drops, a problematic issue for a racer, especially one that is always online. Here’s hoping KT Racing will work on refining and polishing the game in the upcoming months
Currently, the game Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown is still a strong contender in the gaming world. Admittedly, it may not reach the pinnacle of its genre, given the high standards that could be set unrealistically from the outset. However, for enthusiasts of similar games seeking another open-world metropolis to explore and drive through leisurely, this game offers numerous appealing features. There might be debates about whether it justifies the 13-year wait, but there’s no denying that on its own terms, Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown is an entertaining, if somewhat rough-edged, open-world racing game
This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.
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2024-09-04 18:14