After focusing on WRC games for years, KT Racing now presents its most ambitious project, the return of the Test Drive Unlimited series with Solar Crown, to prove its worth in the arcade driving open-world genre. While Forza Horizon may reign supreme, KT Racing believes it has something unique to offer to the gaming world.
Arcade open-world driving never gets old, but the progression design does
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown aims to establish itself in a genre popularized by Microsoft Gaming’s Forza Horizon series. While Playground Games has set a high standard for quality, KT Racing is attempting to differentiate itself by focusing on a different approach. With a strong emphasis on story and progression design, Test Drive Unlimited sets itself apart by incorporating a personal touch while still maintaining a satisfying driving system.
Although not as immediate as Forza Horizon, Test Drive Unlimited requires players to invest time in progressing through the narrative, unlocking better cars, and making improvements. The game’s slower pace and emphasis on effort in progression set it apart from its competitors, offering a deeper and more thoughtful experience for players.
A very weak technical aspect
While Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown offers an authentic and varied driving experience in Hong Kong, its technical quality leaves much to be desired. The game’s graphics quality on PlayStation 5 fluctuates significantly, with performance issues impacting gameplay. Despite offering multiple camera perspectives to cater to different player preferences, the game struggles with optimization and falls short in delivering a seamless experience.
With varying graphic quality and performance issues, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown fails to fully immerse players in its world, hindering the overall gaming experience. While efforts have been made to provide options for different player preferences, the game’s technical shortcomings detract from its potential.
Analysis of Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown demonstrates ambition from KT Racing, but technical weaknesses greatly hinder any intentions to differentiate their game in a genre dominated by giants. The popular saying that “I’ve had more fun with games rated 6 or 7 than with games rated 9 or 10” could even be applied to this effort, but when Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown has rivals like Forza Horizon 5 and The Crew Motorfest, it doesn’t even stand a chance. In this genre, where even Forza Horizon 2 from 2014 is still a joy to play, you either accelerate with strength and adrenaline or risk being left behind in the rearview mirror.
Pros and Cons
- Arcade Gameplay
- Some depth with car improvement and tuning
- Graphic Quality
- Performance
- Progression design that forces repeating events
- Fails to bring anything truly exciting in a genre with fierce competition
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