'Test Drive Unlimited 2': More driving and socializing than racing
By Larry Frum, Special to CNN
The vehicles in "Test Drive Unlimited 2" have a decent feel to them while on the road.
(CNN) -- A new driving game attempts to tap into the thrill of driving on the open road in scenic areas with not a care in the world. Until, that is, you decide to sign up for that dirt race across mountainous roads with switchback curves and no pavement.
"Test Drive Unlimited 2" (Eden Games, Atari) breaks out of the mold for "driving as racing" games and introduces social and exploration skills as part of their "MOOR" -- massively open online racing -- game.
It is more about the driving experience than constantly racing others for wins and points.
Starting off as a valet at a hotel on the island of Ibiza (off the coast of Spain), I was quickly recruited to participate in a television show that features racing around the streets of a resort city. But once I got my license, car and first win, I quickly found out that there is more than racing to this game.
To raise my level in the game, I needed to do more than win championships (which unlocks other championship competitions). I needed to explore, collect and socialize with other players to increase my skills and get to higher levels.
But, first things first. The vehicles.
The selection of cars is extensive but not overwhelming. Nearly 100 cars can be won or purchased once you earn enough in-game money.
There is some customization of the vehicles at body shops, but most of it is just cosmetic.
This isn't a game designed for gear heads. New and better engines, brakes and the like can be bought, with no tuning or other tinkering required of the player.
"Test Drive Unlimited 2" is not a straight-up simulation game, but it's not arcade-style either. The vehicles have a decent feel to them while driving, and there is a consistency of physics to their reactions on the roads. Heavier vehicles take longer to accelerate and stop, while smaller cars feel more nimble.
They aren't difficult to drive, but my '68 Mustang Fastback definitely needed new tires, with better grip, from the get-go.
Racing championships are held in six stages that involve timed events, elimination races, radar events and door-to-door racing.
Finish high enough and accumulate enough points to win, and you unlock the next championship.
"Exploration" levels and "collection" levels keep track of how many new roads you've discovered, how many scenic locations you can photograph and how many old wrecks you can find hidden in the off-road areas.
Designers clearly wanted to keep the environment lively, so there is plenty to look at as you explore the different islands in the game. Whether you stay on the asphalt or decide to head for the off-road hills, each contains enough signature places to hold your interest while you rack up the miles.
Also, you can find points of interest along the way that will invite you to join in a group race, transport someone to another location ... or even get your hair done.
It is in the social aspect where "TDU2" really wants to shine. Other players populate the island at the same time as you, and you can interact with them when you cross paths.
They can challenge you to an instant race between just the two of you, help create a group of drivers for a special challenge or even help complete individual tasks.
Developers say they're ready to support thousands of players in the game world, but because of graphics limits, they're attempting to manage how many players are shown at any one time.
This can sometimes lead to what I call ghost car syndrome -- driving up on an intersection to see a car stopped at a red light, only to pass right through that car instead of colliding with it. Or, the car will simply disappear from view as if it never existed.
It's a minor thing when compared with the expansive areas and number of players they want to populate the game. But it does take away from the game's immersion factor.
"Test Drive Unlimited 2" does have some more pressing issues than ghost cars, though.
The voice acting is terrible. The script is so over-the-top outrageous that I began to wonder if they were actually poking fun at video game characters and their dialogue.
The characters aren't very exciting. You can change how you look once you find a plastic surgeon, but lots of players end up looking a lot like each other. Or maybe my avatar just had a lot of identical brothers on the island.
Despite the points of interest and expansive layout, most of the off-road environments were of the copy-and-paste variety.
However, designers did create floating icons over the points of interest so that they could be easily spotted at 110 mph, which was very helpful.
Overall, "Test Drive Unlimited 2" is not the game for you if you're just looking to go racing. It is a game designed to let you go sightseeing with your friends and enjoy a picturesque sunset off the shores of Hawaii.
The social aspects and leveling requirements are interesting for a console game. There is a feeling of being able to do whatever you want, but only if you aren't interested in advancing in more traditional gameplay terms.
Using the game creators' term, it is a "MOOR" with only a fraction of its energies dedicated to the "R."
But in the end, that seems to be exactly what they wanted it to be.
"Test Drive Unlimited 2" is rated "T for Teens" (lyrics, mild suggestive themes, simulated gambling) and is available now on the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. This review was done using a preview version of the Xbox 360 game.
Credit: CNN (www.cnn.com)
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