The Legend
The Test Drive series is another legendary video racer. It goes way back. I think the first Test Drive was released in 1987.
In Test Drive, the player typically uses one of several exotic performance cars to race to a finish line against opponents or in a time limit, while avoiding traffic and police.

About
Test Drive Unlimited is the 9th game of the series that features over 125 licensed sports cars. The roads are modelled after satellite images of the island of Oahu. The terrain differs from rain forest and mountains to sandy beaches and Hawaii’s capital city, Honolulu.

Game Story and Environment
Visual effects are fascinating. They are amazing, very realistic.
Test Drive Unlimited is the only game that puts you into the car and bike enthusiast lifestyle, with total freedom to race however and wherever you want within a huge on-line persistent environment. Visit the most sophisticated car and bike dealers to purchase new vehicles, collect and trade rare performance parts and customise each vehicle to make it one-of-a-kind. Test Drive Unlimited challenges players online to experience the most exotic and fastest vehicles on more than 1000 miles of diverse Hawaiian roads. Win races, challenges, missions and tournaments then purchase new cars, bikes, rare performance parts, clothes and apparel, homes and garages. With more than 95 licensed vehicles from exclusive manufacturers including Lamborghini, Ferrari, Ducati, Aston Martin, Mercedes, Saleen, McLaren, Shelby, and Jaguar.

Inputs
Its even better when you play in a race seat simulator. Much better actually. The only problem I had was the steering wheel. Mine was new and and only supported by PS3, so I had to find an older model Logitech wheel to try the game properly on PS2. With the simulator driving was times more exiting. Although I was only using an old wheel without 900 degree rotation and a force feed back from the stone age, the game felt astonishing. Even the graphics on my old PS2 were an absolute illumination. There is seriously no need to buy a PS3 and GT5 if you have the older console with not so up to date steering wheel. You will have to upgrade eventually, but with Test Drive Unlimited this day is just not now. There’s so much more time left for PS2 if they keep releasing games like that.

The Verdict
Brilliant racing game. They managed to keep the original spirit of the Test Drive series which makes the game special. Very special indeed.
Its a real shame we cant have it on Play Station 3.

Developer: Eden Games

Publisher: Atari

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox 360;

Release Dates: September 8, 2006