Test Drive Unlimited

Last year Atari unleashed the X-Box 360 version of Test Drive Unlimited and it's fair to say that it surprised and delighted both journalists and gamers alike. The reasons for this were varied but one thing above all that stood out was the huge driving area available. The developers constructed a vast and beautiful island for gamers to race around. In addition, there was the constant feeling that you were sharing a pixilated world with other people. While you could race against computer-controlled opponents, you could also challenge a 'real' person thanks to the on-line play. To bring all this to the PSP must have seemed a daunting task to Melbourne. The question is, did they succeed?

Unusually for a racer, Test Drive Unlimited attempts to inject a plot into the proceedings. Things start out with a lengthy FMV where you board a plane at an airport in order to fly out to the picturesque island of Oahu for a series of races. You play the role of a generic male, so unlike the console versions where you can select from several participants, you are stuck with him. On landing you can purchase a car from the dealership and a home that acts as your hub. Both of these can be upgraded but you will have to earn some cash first and the best way to do this is win races.

The whole thing takes on a bit of an open-ended formula from then on and while your GPS will be constantly shouting instructions, you can choose to ignore it and simply drive around the vast island. Stopping at key points will allow you to enter races although you will occasionally find that you don't have the correct car to enter so you have to purchase another one. The races themselves vary from first across the finish line to timed and also include the odd checkpoint pursuit. You'll also have the opportunity to join one of the many car clubs dotted throughout the island although entry is allowed to drivers who can beat all members of the club, including the president who generally has a top of the range car.

The game works well either on or off line but indulging in the online part of Unlimited opens up a whole new world. You can still indulge in single player races but you can also challenge other gamers to a race by simply flashing your headlights at them. You can even head for one of the many meeting points where you'll meet other on-line gamers for one of the major races. It's all a bit limiting though, as outside of racing there's little else to do, but given the endless possibilities of this section of the game, it's difficult to complain.

Visually Test Drive Unlimited is stunning. This is one title where you'll almost certainly want to indulge in the 'free roaming' side of things in order to explore the whole island. It's worth stopping at some of the more detailed environments too, just to admire the amount of work the designers have put into the construction of the scenery. There is the odd jagged edge but never enough to spoil the experience. You'd think though, that with this level of attention to detail the various cars would follow suit but while they're all reasonably well modeled they don't suffer any damage regardless of what you do to them. This obviously allows you to be somewhat reckless with your valuable vehicle, which does alter the game’s dynamic. The audio doesn't disappoint either and the majority of the soundtrack provides pleasant listening whilst you are cruising around the roads. There's also a fair bit of voice acting, which is well above average even if your GPS is still decidedly monotonal.

If you are a driver you'll be well aware that all cars control very differently and driving based games are very similar. Unlimited's controls fall squarely on the simulation side of things although you can constantly alter and upgrade your vehicle in order to suit your needs. Even once you've mastered your car though, you’ll find the various AI controlled cars can occasionally be very unpredictable. While they are obviously programmed to win the race, they are prone to crashing in to you in an attempt to force you off the road which does seem rather unsporting.

Even with some cut backs, Test Drive Unlimited comes very close to providing the same experience as the console versions in a handheld format. The racing is engaging, the island looks incredible and the on-line aspect is one of the best yet. In fact it's this blurring of the single and multiplayer that makes Unlimited so satisfying and the ability to jump into a race with a group of friends almost immediately after competing in a computer controlled competition is something which many gamers would no doubt like to see explored in much greater depth. Overall this is one of the better racing titles on the PSP and unlike many other console conversions which have made it to Sony's handheld, you don't feel like you've been shortchanged.