It's been years in the making, but Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is finally here. More than a decade since the franchise was last seen, KT Racing has revived the open-world racer just at the right time.
With Forza Horizon 5 nearly three years old and other open-world racers falling short of expectations, there is a gap in the market and TDU is taking it like a true racer.
So can this revival find a home among racing fans? Absolutely it can.
Reviewed on PC, publisher provided review copy.
Jewel in the crown
TDU opens in the traditional way for racing games. You get to take a super-expensive car for a little cruise around parts of the map to get started and then are quickly given a choice of three basic cars as your starting ride. We took the Alpine A110 and set off around Hong Kong Island.
KT Racing, formerly the home of the WRC series, has a long background in sim-style racing and that shines through in how the cars not only handle but also sound.
On both controller and wheel the cars feel natural to drive. There's no arcadey sliding, or just keeping the throttle mashed down. Instead, you can feel the grip, even on controller, and when it runs out good luck saving it!
Off-roading is punishing in the wrong car and a joy in the right one, unlike other open-worlds that just let you go for it regardless.
While the engine sound doesn't alter too much based on camera, the backfires and tunnel blasting really bring you into the world of driving some wonderful machines.
A vivid world
The Hong Kong Island map is wonderful to explore. From winding mountain roads to wide-open highways and gorgeous shorelines, there is plenty to see and explore.
The city areas aren't quite as dense and populated as you might like, but it does mean you can drive around without sitting in traffic. Out in the country, the roads are broad and sweeping, letting you carry speed but also just enjoy the vistas. There are countless reputation and money boosts to find, encouraging you to explore back roads, parking garages, and alleyways.
Then there are the wrecks. These are similar to barn finds in Forza Horizon and are free cars dotted around the map. You get a little warning when you are nearby, again encouraging you to stop and investigate the area rather than just blast through.
Even the way you buy cars encourages exploration. You have to go to dealerships and showrooms physically to buy new cars. Sure you can fast travel to them, but you have to at least find them first and they are spread across the map rather than all just housed in one area.
This is all to the game's credit, as the map really shines through with its diversity of environments and sweeping views.
Rich racing, thin clans
The story of Solar Crown is pretty by the numbers. It's a festival of racing with two rival factions, but the rivalry is pretty surface-level. We've got a bit more to bite into story-wise than Horizon, but there's not a bitter enemy or villain like there usually is in Need for Speed.
Each clan has its own base and wants to recruit you to their cause once you hit a certain reputation level.
These HQs feel a little underbaked and could really have been something special. You can't interact with much in them, despite the volume of NPCs and the clear care that went into making them. Instead, there are just a few other clan members that you can challenge to race, but again only when you hit a certain clan level.
Perhaps there is more to this when you get deeper into the game, but with the time available to us there really hasn't been much meaningful interaction from the clans other than to offer some additional races.
Within each race, the AI opponents are solid and a decent challenge. Issues may arise when real opponents replace them once everyone is online though.
Verdict
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is a wonderful new game that any racing fan should grab.
KT Racing has brought its high-quality driving physics into an approachable and newbie-friendly world. They've combined a vibrant open-world environment with great car models, fun driving, and a sense of exploration.
While story and narrative are thin on the ground and older TDU fans may notice a few things missing, when you take this game for what it is TDU Solar Crown is a great success.
It's already a game I'm excited to dive into, to earn more cars and explore the world further. With a whole year 1 roadmap already planned out, inlcuding a new Ibiza map, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown will be a fixture for a long time.
The only drawback is that it's always online, so when the servers are down you can't play. Hopefully this doesn't mean its another game that will disappear in a few years.
