Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Review

A full review of Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, tested on both PlayStation 5 and PC, online multiplayer and main career modes.

Created by KT Racing and published by Nacon, Solar Crown will be released on 12th September 2024 (with some early access from the 5th) for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

In our testing, we enjoyed the progression systems, the engine sounds and the environment. We were less enthused about the visual fidelity and event structure. However, that’s just our opinion, let us know yours in the comments below!

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#SimRacing #TestDriveUnlimitedSolarCrown #TDUSC

[falmatrixr]

another game that gives the "it'll be better after a few patches in a year" kinda feeling....sadly

[Muhluri]

Not as bad as I expected. The lack of event variety is a shame. The original TDU had:
- sprint races
- circuit races
- time trials
- speed trap races
- car deliveries
- taxi driving
etc...

[mrnrfan]

I’ve tried to convince myself that I’m cool with a mid level game so long as it was fun and did the racing justice. But I can’t help but notice how clunky the racing looks, how abruptly cars slow down while hitting breakable fences / posts and how empty the world feels. I just can’t convince myself to buy it.

This game clearly needs more time. And don’t be fooled by the year one roadmap. The developer is literally acknowledging the game is not done. Somehow people just accept that they’re getting an unfinished game and are praising the developers for their transparency…

And why are Mazda, Honda and Subaru (among others) absent? No Miatas (great small road driving), no Civic Type R’s, and no STI’s? When I think early career cars to have fun with, it’s those.

I don’t know…maybe when it’s $20.

[rainiernqc]

"Is it actually finished?" No. And the devs are not working, because Nacom joined the strike. There is no one to fix launch bugs or finish things. Definitely does not worth 100 Euros

[ralphharrison]

sad to see yet another classic title fall victim to season and pass crap. always online, unfinished, unrefined, but yet, still full price. literally charging players to play test an unfinished product. im patient enough to wait for a complete title. older tdu games had their flaws, sure, but atleast they were complete. at this rate, im going to fill my ps5 with 00 buckshot, and be done with gaming. ive played since the atari 2600, and i doubt things will get any better.

[tonyfabiano]

Screw them for making this an MMO and not allowing to exclusively play against A.I. if I want. I don't have time to "get gud" against teenagers. I want to just enjoy the game by myself. I despise online gaming.

[V-Racing]

why! why is it that every time a racing game is released, it is never finished, there's always missing things and broken things, it never comes out as completed. i really hope Assetto Corsa EVO isn't the same....

[bernardoberner]

Actually, the constant and frankly infuriating constant rewards FH5 gives you DOES take away the sense of achievememt, completely.

I remember when FH2 launched, it was such a grind to get my first hypercar, think it was either a La Ferrari, McLaren P1 or Koenigsegg Agera, cant quite remember, I had to complete the Goliath and virtually, complete, the game to be able to afford one, it took me idk 30 hours, maybe less maybe more, but it was a while and it was SO rewarding.

That reflects in the play time, I dont think I played even 300 hours of FH5, whereas FH2 I stacked up 1000+ hours

[BoxBoxBoxGaming]

YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THE CHOSEN ONE

[john_ngn]

Forza is a good exemple of how multiplayer should be treated. You start the game and it puts you in an online loby and if you dont want you can chose to play on a solo wolrd. Same for races.
In this game, if all the reces are online, be ready to lose. The slow progress means that alot of the time your car will have a lower performance level than others. Playing the beta i won a single race out of 10. Every oponent that i played against was at leat 50 performance point ahead of me.
Or you can just buy the ultimate or deluxe edition and get op cars from the begening

[-lj]

Game looks awfull so lifeless and flat only people defending this are the ones that bought it full price and need to justify their decision

[weatherfox]

I don't care about graphics if it's fun. But online only could be a deal breaker

[Kortex_Racing]

So the whole review is a 7/10. A good game with rough edges, with more time he believes it'll get better.

[j.d.s.]

Why "always online"? Just make an offline option!

Or are they just going to steal a game you paid 60$ for, like Ubislop with The Crew?

[manygatos]

I’m so glad I still can play TDU & TDU 2 on steam both Classics!

Maybe TDU 3 will be made one day

[FlorianT.]

I've played the 2nd closed beta, it was really empty back then but i still enjoyed it 'cause it had already fulfilled my simcade and graphical expectations. I pre-ordered the gold edition knowing there will be rough edges and mixed reviews at launch, but also that the game will age like fine wine in the time like No Man's Sky did. KT Racing won't let this game die, trust me...

[steppinonastoop]

People had such impossible expectations for this game. I expected a solid racer and its exactly that, well worth the money

[Xerra]

Looking into the car list, there seems to be a huge lack of Japanese car brands other than the 370Z and the GT-R... I hope they add more soon because that's quite the kick in the gut knowing we can pick 370Z as our first car.

[tawfeeqsh]

So this is yet another online only racing game with a battle pass and the TDU name slapped right on it, got it

[Exio]

Funniest thing about this is if it had forza in the title but same exact game everyone would be ripping it to shreds 😂