Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown

Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown has hit the track with promises of being the Forza Horizon killer. But did it live up to the hype? Spoiler: Not exactly. Sure, the game tries, with that “ostentatious lifestyle” vibe, throwing you into the middle of a Hong Kong full of neon and supercars, but that tank ran out of gas, mate.

Right off the bat, the thing gives you that pat on the back, launching you as a rising runner. You start humbly, with a car that looks like it came out of a little walk weekend, but with the potential to become king of the streets.

The goal? Simple: tame the island of Hong Kong with insane maneuvers and drifts crazier than anything we saw in Need for Speed ​​Underground (we miss that!). And look, take it easy, because in TDU Solar Crown, each car is worth more than six months' salary. Here, each purchase is thought through, you'll have to really get attached to your vehicle, since the next one will only come with a lot of money and sweat on the tracks.

Simulation or Arcade? TDU Wants to Be Everything, But It Doesn't Always Succeed

Now, unlike that sly drift that we love in arcade games, like Forza Horizon, TDU Solar Crown wants to be a “simulation”. In other words, forget about doing that crazy wheelie without consequences. Here, any touch on the grass makes you spin beautifully. Want to take a shortcut? Forget it, my friend, the game doesn’t forgive even a ride in the mud, much less in the sand. All of this is enhanced by the DualSense controller that even tries to make you feel like you’re inside the machine, with the triggers vibrating madly with every sudden brake.

But let's be honest? There's no point in vibrating the controller if the overall performance of the game fails to deliver the promised excitement. Yes, we're talking about the FPS drops – something you’ll face more than you should on PS5, even in “performance” mode. Which is a mortal sin, since this type of game should be fast and fluid. Unfortunately, Hong Kong looks like a mirage, always a little out of focus, with buildings popping up on the horizon as if you downloaded textures in 2005.

Hong Kong is Cool… But Where Are the People?

The proposal of Hong Kong It's intriguing. You have mountain roads, narrow alleys, beaches, everything an island needs to be the perfect setting. But where are the people? Man, the island is empty, more deserted than a bankrupt MMO server. Even the famous Kowloon, which should shine on the horizon, is reduced to a dull shadow. And what about having a vibrant city with music, culture and life? Forget it too. The game has the vibe of a ghost town, with NPCs stuck in an eternal loop of crappy animations. Even the cars seem to be there just to fill the table, with little real interaction.

On the other hand, when you're racing, the game hits the nail on the head. The races are incredibly challenging, and the feeling of victory is real. Life isn't easy here, my friend. The AI ​​is fierce and the scenarios change so much that you go from dark alleys to treacherous mountain roads in minutes. The weather also plays against you: racing in the rain is almost as complicated as finding a PS5 at a fair price.

Upgrades, But Not Much Style

And if you think you're going to fill your cars with cool parts like in Forza or NFS, relax, my friend. The upgrade system is basic. You can even give the engine a little boost, change some wheels and put on a cool paint job, but don't expect anything revolutionary. At most, you can mess around with some poorly placed stickers that will make you feel like you're in Windows 98's Paint. The idea is simple: it makes the car go faster, but without much visual impact.

And, of course, the game’s famous “lifestyle” isn’t all that great either. Customizing your character is limited, with pretty standard hair and clothing options. Sure, you can mix things up, like styling your hair one way or another without being tied to a specific gender, but it lacks that “oomph”. There aren’t even any tattoos, man. It only gets better when you join one of the game’s two “gangs”: the Streets or the Sharps. If you’re into underground parties, go with the Streets; if you’re more into luxury, the Sharps are waiting for you with glasses of champagne in their hands.

Always Online… And Always Bugged

Now, let's talk about a very frustrating part. The game is always online, but it seems like the servers didn't get the memo. Every two or three races, there's a connection drop, or the game simply forgets to save your progress. Want to restart a race? Too bad for you, you have to wait for it to finish. And if someone calls at that time or knocks on the door, you have to deal with it. There's no pause, because the game “won't let you”. Maybe if the devs add an offline mode, things will improve, right?

Disappointing chart…

If you've seen the first trailers for the game, forget about it. The graphics of Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown leave a lot to be desired, especially when compared to newer racing games like Forza Horizon. While Force impresses with its lush visuals and detailed landscapes, Solar Crown fails to deliver a similar level of visual immersion. The rendering of distances is short, causing buildings and details to suddenly appear as you get closer, breaking the fluidity of exploration. The shadows and reflections are also of questionable quality, contributing to a somewhat dull overall look. In some situations, especially in urban areas, it seems like the city is an empty, lifeless backdrop, with little activity or detail, something that takes away a lot of the charm and immersion that a game of this style should provide. The game's visuals at night don't help either, everything looks dull. The most cool thing we have here are those puddles of water on the streets of Hong Kong and that's it.

Pros:

• Realistic and challenging direction
• Variety in the races
• Excellent tactile feedback

Cons:

• Frequent technical problems
• Hong Kong looks like a desert
• Lack of polish in graphics and sounds

Final Grade: 6/10

Almost There, But Left Behind!

Ultimately, Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown is the kind of game that had everything it needed to be the next big name in open-world racing simulators, but fell by the wayside. The controls are great, the island of Hong Kong is gigantic, and the races are challenging. But the technical issues, the lack of life in the scenery, and the performance drops take the shine off this experience. If you're a fan of the series or enjoy racing games with a focus on simulation, it's still worth giving it a chance, but be prepared to deal with some bugs and a lot of patience.