6.5

Review: Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is the long-awaited return of the iconic racing franchise, developed by KT Racing and issued by Nacon. After an interruption of 13 years since the last unlimited title, this latest iteration brings players to a detailed recreation of Hong Kong where they can participate in the prestigious Solar Crown competition

Gameplay and World Design

The game offers an open world experience in Hong Kong, albeit with a modest size of about 78 square kilometers, which is smaller than the worlds in earlier parts. A unique challenge for many players is to drive left, which is in line with local traffic rules. Players can choose from an impressive line-up of about 100 vehicles from renowned brands such as Audi, Lamborghini and Ferrari. These cars can be extensively adapted and personalised, both in appearance and performance.

At its launch in September 2024 the game was plagued by various technical problems. Players reported server problems, bugs that prevented saving progress, and inconsistencies in AI behaviors during races. Graphically, the game offers detailed vehicle models and environments, but there are reports of suboptimal performance, even on high end PCs, with framerates that struggle to stay stable. A large patch at the end of September 2024 was intended to tackle over 300 bugs, but many problems persisted, leading to persistent complaints within the community.

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown requires a constant internet connection, even for single-player content. This requirement, combined with the persistent server problems, has led to frustration among players who struggled to experience stable online sessions. The game introduces a social aspect in which players can join different clans within the game world, each with their own preferences and styles, adding an extra layer of engagement.

The game's soundtrack includes a varied selection of songs by artists such as Yuksek and Neon Beach, which contributes to the atmosphere while driving. However, voting is criticised for unnatural dialogues and poor lip synchronization, which undermines the immersion.