Introduction

Welcome to the world of Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, where you can finally pretend to be as cool as your car. Released on September 12, 2024, this game seeks to revive the glory of the Test Drive series, albeit amidst a smattering of mixed reviews. So buckle up, grab your favorite snack, and let’s see if this ride is a thrilling joyride or just a slow crawl in the wrong lane.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Solar Crown is like an open-world buffet where the main dish is frantic racing, but the sides are filled with endless tedious tasks that make you question your life choices faster than you can do a lap around Hong Kong Island. Seriously, they modeled Hong Kong in stunning detail, only for you to spend half your time cruising around looking for collectibles like some sort of vehicular scavenger hunt. Focus on the races, and sure, you’ll get a taste of the forbidden fruit known as competitive online racing, but just be prepared to throw your controller down in frustration more often than you’d like. At its core, the game is about proving your shred of social status by owning luxury vehicles and racing them like there’s no tomorrow for your bank account. You can tune, upgrade, and customize your ride to look as if it belongs on the front cover of a car magazine, so you can impress other drivers while completely ignoring the reality that cars won’t pay your rent. Co-op and multiplayer modes should offer some decent interaction to the otherwise solitary drives, but don’t worry if you find yourself alone in the game; the lack of AI taxis or pedestrians will make you feel like the world is a sad, empty shell, a bit like my love life. Or at least it would, if the driving physics didn’t make you miss the feeling of safely driving on your city roads.

Graphics

Graphically, Solar Crown is hitting the gym—it looks good, but it’s also wearing sunglasses indoors like it’s trying a bit too hard. Each pixel has been lovingly crafted to create stunning visuals that'll make you wish you could just stand still and appreciate them. The recreation of Hong Kong is lush and engaging until you realize it’s a bit empty like a soda can after a Saturday night. You’ll marvel at the shimmering skyscrapers and lush environments, then get disappointed when the physics engine proves that crashes are more comical than catastrophic. You’ll feel less like a street racer and more like a kid testing out a slot car track—frustrated yet giddy.

Conclusion

To sum it all up, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is like a sandwich that looks fantastic, but when you take a bite, you find out it’s filled with mayo and regret. It’s a game with potential and stunning graphics—if only ambition was enough to compensate for its shortcomings. Just like going to a party without knowing anyone, you might feel out of place, but it’s not the worst experience you’ve ever had. Is it worth your time and money? If you enjoy driving around beautiful places while feeling like a socialite, sure. But if you're looking for a gripping racing experience that’ll leave you breathless and in awe, maybe take a pass and stick to your real-life racing—at least you’ll only break a sweat instead of your bank account.

See Latest Prices for Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown on Xbox Series X/S on Amazon