Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Review (Xbox) – Not Hot Enough

Driving games are as susceptible to any changing tides as much as any other genre. To me, Test Drive was one of the pinnacle contenders, back in the day. Yet since that, we’ve had Gran Turismo, Forza and err, Driveclub. The last “proper” Test Drive, Test Drive Unlimited 2 was released back in 2011 (coincidentally, when the first Space Marine came about). But now that’s changing, with Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown.

Back now, having changed a few hands and developers, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown looks to race to the top. Featuring a more “modern” story, a new locale and all the top spec motors, it’s looking promising.

But looks can be one thing, it’s what’s under the hood that counts. Does Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown have what it takes to keep up, or should it be scrapped and sold for parts? Let’s find out.

Race Into The Future

It still honestly feels weird writing about a story in racing games. There was a time, believe it or not, when we’d just pick our cars and start a “career mode” based on races, pole positions and… that was it. Alas now we have to have substance, for better or worse, and that’s where narrative comes into play.

Don’t worry, it’s not exactly anything mind blowing. No Inception-levels of depth here, thankfully. No, it’s actually quite an easy one: you, the player, are a well-good driver. Poached for an opportunity to enter the Solar Crown event, that’s… literally all you have to do: race well.

Hired by Vivian, our guide to all things Solar Crown, players are expected to do well in a few races on a tiny part of Hong Kong’s smaller isles. Once they’ve trumped the laughably easy qualifiers, it’s off to the big time.

Hi, Tech

I know it seems weird giving a second section to the story, seeing as it is a racing game about being good at racing. But this really deserved a mention because of how unnecessary it is.

You see, the Solar Crown event is set on a faithful recreation of Hong Kong island. Fine, we like a bit of realism. But what makes me think Test Drive are trying too hard is the over the top, Fast & Furious levels of techno-guff to make it seem cooler.

I thought I was lost at the Great Glass Elevator-style flying drones, but no. Everything’s all high tech, with a degree of clinical sterility to everything. Like what we thought the future looked like at the turn of the century. Or like Michael Bay did with The Island.

The Future Is Too Bright

So, before we get into the racing side, let’s continue with the look of the thing. When it comes to racing games, it’s hard to pin down exactly what people want in terms of graphics. Some want ultra-realistic cars, like Gran Turismo, whilst others want faithfully recreated tracks and locales.

The Solar Crown has… well, some of those aspects. All the cars are like their real world counterparts, from your Alpine’s to your Konisegg’s. All the bells and whistles are there to spray paint over or add different liveries to. Or make your own, if you’re a creative type.

But the environments themselves, they don’t scream realism. Granted, they look pretty in all the marketing screenshots, and in some areas they shine. But not many, and you’d have to go out of your way for them. They yell early Dreamcast title, if anything. The too-often popping in of textures didn’t help, nor does the barely-30fps if one plays on quality mode. Performance has it up to 60fps, which smooths things other slightly, but it’s still not the most pleasant of “next gen” games after thirteen years of polish.

No, We Can’t Call It “Race Wars”

So, the actual driving then. Well, I’m going to be blase about this, but it’s actually alright. As in, cars handle well enough and it has a Forza-style car assists slider for those that like to fiddle with their ABS assist. That component of it, can’t really knock.

Races are decently proportioned, offering lap-based or sprints, time trials and the like. Dotted around the map, these all utilise the city’s streets much like Midnight Club back in the day. But be warned, there’s no invisible walls to bounce off. You’ll have to actually pay attention to the corners.

In my time, I didn’t really experience any rubber-banding (that thing where the AI makes the opposition catch up at insane speeds off-camera). However, those easy qualifying races I mentioned? Yeah, don’t expect that level of leniency once it starts.

And that’s without the human element…

Open Fast Lane

Much like the last one, and its contemporaries since, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is a live-service game. That is, it’s an open world with its multiplayer/open world components integrated. So at any time, players will come across other players as they cruise around the landscape. Or bump into their avatars as they go car shopping, for the sake of “immersion”. In itself, it’s harmless.

Yet when it comes to racing, it’s more insipid (depending on how you play). Me, personally, I like to have my single and multi player modes separate, whilst others might like it. If you’re in camp latter, you’ll appreciate that other live racers can join any career race you join if their car matches spec. However, it doesn’t whittle out the sandbaggers, so you might find yourself massively outmatched in earlier races.

If there are casual players out there, I can see this being off-putting if they know they’ll never get first place amid the seas of those that take it way too seriously. Personally, I’m in that camp. I felt like I was just doing races for the sake of my growing reputation level, yet not actually doing very well at all. Which is Solar Crown’s other problem.

It’s Not About Winning, But The Taking Part… Apparently

When I reviewed Trials Rising (sadly lost in the Great Finger Guns Hack), I was disappointed that progress was level-based rather than medals. You know, that thing that every Trials game did beforehand. I said it sapped the momentum if players are having to revisit the same tracks just to grind experience, rather than how many golds they’ve unlocked. Well, the team behind Solar Crown obviously aren’t old school Finger Guns fans.

Unlocking new events, or bulletins, or Vivian spurring you on, is all based on a reputation level. Obviously, if players are smashing races, they’ll be flying ahead and cruising through the events. If you’re like me, just trying to unlock events at a natural pace, you’ll be doing the repetitive bit more than you’d like to.

Yes, admittedly racing games are more often than not doing the same, or similar, tracks again. But usually the criteria changes. Having to grind the same low-level races because your experience bar isn’t quite there yet is not an immersive experience. It genuinely killed any incentive for me to continue, and I’m supposed to for review purposes.

Back To The Pits

Which, rather fittingly, leaves me to conclude. If I’ve sounded rather nonplussed about Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, it’s because honestly, I am. If we didn’t have the likes of Forza Horizon showing us how it’s done, this might have made an impact. Well, an impact if it weren’t released thirteen years too late. Everything in here, from the car “grading” through upgrades, to the open world elements have just been done better.

There’s always that slither of hope that time can be a healer, and that Nacon can support this and maybe make a decent experience out of it. But as it stands, it’s just a very bland looking racer with a broken progression system. The story element is nothing special, despite it going for the slick, futuristic element. The racing is again, nothing really that needs shouting about. I took a test drive (no pun intended) in one of the high spec cars and it felt no different than my starter car.

As it stands, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown isn’t ready to take on the others. It’s a safety car, meandering about whilst the pros are miles ahead. If you’re into racers with a cruising about element, then this might scratch that rather particular niche. But for now, there’s just better games available.

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is available from 12th September on Xbox Series S|X (reviewed on Series S), PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam.

Developer: Kylotonn
Publisher: Nacon

Disclaimer: In order to complete this review, we were provided with a promotional copy of the game. For our full review policy, please go here.

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