Racing games are an integral part of video games, but for years they have remained stuck in the endless rut of sequels, without ever offering anything truly new. Need for Speed, GT, Forza Or whatever their names are, without exception they all remain true to their credo. Even The Crew It had ultimately failed to escape this, although the approaches at the time were quite promising.
All the more reason to look forward to the long-awaited sequel. Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown I'm excited that 2022 will bring a breath of fresh air to the genre. This time under the banner of KT-Racing and Nacon, who have truly earned their stripes in recent years. The combination of racing and lifestyle elements is exactly what the genre has been missing and what captivated players for months back then. Certainly, Test Drive UnlimitedDeveloped at the time by Atari and Eden Games, it was never perfect, but nevertheless exerted a fascination that remains positively in memory to this day.
Racing meets Lifestyle
What I personally always find a bit tiring about racing games is that one pure race after another simply gets boring. Open-world concepts like The Crew or Need for Speed While they did add some depth to the whole thing, in the end it was just a series of races, cups, events, etc., which were perhaps spiced up here and there with story elements, but were often more mediocre than truly captivating.
This is precisely where the difference lies. Test Drive Unlimited, which will also be the case with the upcoming spin-off Solar Crown the Test Drive-DNA embodied within. At least, that's the promise of KT-Racing. In other words, racing is just one part of the whole package, while on the other hand, you enjoy the finer things in life – and in this case, that means pure luxury. Parties, gambling, expensive apartments, and personal style & look – all this awaits you off the track. And you can already be sure that this, too, will keep you in the game for a long time to come. Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown captivate and occupy.
Hong Kong: the city that never sleeps
I don't even know how many hours I spent on the island of Oʻahu back then. Test Drive Unlimited I spent time exploring every inch of the island, buying chic houses and apartments in every direction, and parking my collection of luxury sports cars there. I also occasionally popped into the casino to blow my money or treat myself to some stylish new clothes and a change of style. A particular highlight of Test Drive Unlimited However, there was also the option of simply getting behind the wheel and driving around the island while relaxing with the radio on. For once, you happily ignored the fast travel function. Due to the original scale, this could sometimes take a whole hour, which was probably also in Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown It will be no different. Here too, they promise to implement the original 1:1 scale. This already means extensive tours in the world's most expensive cars.
Because this deployment can manifest itself in Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown It also showcases what Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Audi, Mercedes, BMW, Ferrari, Porsche, Range Rover, Koenigsegg, Apollo, Bugatti, and many more represent. Where else can you find so much luxury under one roof?
It seems that fans of Need for Speed-not to forget games, because how the current promotional trailer As revealed, Hong Kong becomes a true paradise for motorsport enthusiasts, especially at night when the metropolis is bathed in colorful lights and neon. Such a big-city setting is certainly new for the Test Drive UnlimitedThe series also promises expansive areas on the beach, in the mountains, and in the surrounding forests. So there's plenty on offer here, hopefully to suit every taste.
MMO on a new racing level
The MMO aspect is likely to reach a new level two generations later, where you'll probably find hundreds of players in Hong Kong who are always ready to challenge you or invite you on a tour. With the Streets and Sharps also seems to be replacing the Car Club feature somewhat, where you compete against rival clans and have to push them back.
As far as the technical aspect is concerned, KT-Racing probably doesn't have much to worry about at the moment, at the latest with the WRC series and have proven with the new KT engine that they can stand out from the previous mediocrity. If now there are more than just two voice actors, as was recently the case in... TDU2With the use of instruments that have been brutally processed by the synthesizer, Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown is likely to be the long-awaited surprise hit next year.
Drive Unlimited Solar Crown review Released on September 22, 2022.
Please don't let this article be an advertisement... If any game has shown what variety in a racing game means, it's probably The Crew 2... The problem of excessive distractions from the actual racing (clothes and other nonsense) was recently seen in NFS Heat and, of course, in Forza Horizon. Absolutely embarrassing.
I recently enjoyed playing Wreckfest and got the Platinum trophy. It was fantastic. The events were well-structured and always offered a great level of difficulty without being overpowered.
I played Test Drive Unlimited for an entire summer back then. But these days I don't have the time to deal with such trivialities besides the races.