XBOX 360
Driven
Oahu is the backdrop for Atari's new "Test Drive Unlimited" online game
LOG ON, strap in and get ready - Atari's new "Test Drive Unlimited" has taken online gaming to the next level, with the island of Oahu as its backdrop. The game was released yesterday, utilizing Microsoft's XBox 360 console and the XBox Live online service to deliver an experience that takes the best qualities of traditional driving simulators and meshes it with the excitement and interactivity that comes with duking it out in real-time with other gamers around the world.
Over the course of about 10 hours on Wednesday, I bought the game, signed up for a free one-month subscription to XBox Live, acquired two virtual vehicles and drove close to 2,500 virtual miles on the roads of Honolulu. And I've only barely scratched the surface.
WHEN YOU start a new game in "Test Drive Unlimited," you're treated to a short movie that doubles as an opportunity to pick your character.
The storyline goes like this: You're boarding a flight to Oahu, where the first order of business is to find a rental car and a place to live. You have limited funds at first, but that's where the driving aspect comes in.
Win enough races, and you'll have the cash to buy a better car and bigger house. And everything is customizable, from the color of your ride to the clothes on your back.
You can also give rides to hitchhikers, which challenges your driving skills by requiring you to get to a certain point within a certain amount of time. Another way to earn money is by making vehicle deliveries. Drive a car from Point A to Point B without damaging it, and the cash is yours.
If cruising around is more your thing, "Test Drive Unlimited" shines as a traditional driving simulator. Atari was smart to partner with just about every major auto manufacturer in order to get a wide variety of vehicles into the game. Motorcycles are also available.
But here's where it gets a little confusing. The game's developers worked hard to transform Oahu's roadways into virtual reality, and they've succeeded for the most part. What makes things tough is that everything seems to be laid out correctly, although the surrounding landmarks aren't always as they appear in real life.
Sure, Diamond Head and Aloha Tower are easily distinguishable. And if you're paying attention, Waterfront Towers and the Century Center are exactly where they should be.
But the developers didn't have the time (or budget) to work every little detail into the game. Landmarks such as Ala Moana Center or Rainbow Drive-In aren't there. The H-1 freeway's off-ramps don't appear exactly as they do in real life. Drive down what is supposed to be Kalakaua Avenue, and you won't see the Honolulu Police Department's substation -- or the statue of Duke Kahanamoku, either.
THAT SAID, once you're connected via XBox Live, minor details like the scenery take a backseat to the actual driving action.
"Test Drive Unlimited" is the most fun in multiplayer mode, with other users showing up seamlessly among the computer-generated cars roaming the streets. If you're looking for someone to race, all it takes is a flash of your headlights and it's on -- an "instant challenge" is issued, and you can even pick your own course layout on the spot.
Drivers are also able to sign up for group races, and once you've earned enough cash it's possible to join a car club and take on other crews. The longer you spend playing online, the more things you'll find to do.
At first, I tried to keep it real, moving into an apartment near Ala Moana and picking up an Audi TT Quattro Sport from the dealership. For the first few hours playing, I was content to cruise around the island, driving from Hawaii Kai to Waianae and back again.
Soon, I found myself surrounded by high-powered luxury cars that other players had bought online. After winning a few races and completing a few challenges, I managed to buy myself a brand new Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa and some crocodile-skin shoes, driving gloves and sunglasses to match.
Interestingly, ripping it at such high speeds online also drove home the point that people really have no business driving this way in real life.
Sure, it's fun to carve through traffic on the H-1 at 120 miles per hour. But it's also sobering to see how realistic things look in the game when you clip the side of a car you're trying to pass and plow into the back bumper of a school bus before careening into a wall.
