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Xbox 360 Review by Tom Bramwell
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Speed camera challenges and the like will be familiar, meanwhile, but the free-roam aspect gives them variance. The only black mark against all this is that while you can switch cars at the start of a mission that demands a different class, you're forced to visit one of your homes to switch at other times. It makes sense, I suppose, but it's inconsistent. That said, you're not always driving your own car - some of the most hair-raising tasks are "once-only" affairs that involve delivering a car to the other side of the island - with bundles of cash lost forever if you fail.
Around now, with your first "big" car in the garage - probably the Ferrari 430, which proves rather tantalising once you top $150k - you'll feel more like taking on the world. Instant races are fine, but the game also has preset races dotted around, and if there are people waiting for them to kick off you can get in on that. You can also tackle tasks set by other people.
This element of TDU stretches the mission-creator idea of games like PGR in a way that makes them more appealing. Turn to a drive-in and you can view challenges posted by other players. These usually have to be bought into, and involve setting a time on a particular circuit or course during the window of play chosen by the original player. Once that's over, the person with the best time wins the cash. The next step is clubs, which are the game's version of clans, allowing you to band together with fellow Ferrari-lovers, for example, or other men called Steve, or whatever. Later you can write fan-fiction about the models. And of course TDU embraces the global leaderboard systems you'd expect, with one for every task in the game.
All good then. But conspicuously absent from the review so far is the answer to that question of whether the standard of racing experience lives up to all this bluster about structure. And so it will remain for at least one more paragraph.
The GPS system brings everything together simply and efficiently. And the zoom-in effect is quite neat.
Because I should certainly mention how it looks. The screenshots talk loudly of sexy cars and traditional settings. Lots of tarmac, buildings and trees. But there's a lot to be said for how these are delivered. Oahu isn't exactly OutRun2 - there's a consistency of tone throughout that becomes repetitious - but the versatility of lighting conditions and the superb ambiance goes some way to making up for this. The first time you peer closely at the GPS and spot a little plane cutting a path slowly over the island is nifty, but when you're attempting a race for the third time and you swing onto the coastal section to see a gigantic ferry plodding along next to the shore, oblivious to you, that sense of the environment is properly reinforced. It's a game that makes great use of a decent sound system too - the sense of speed is terrific on its own, but with the windows wound down as you pelt along a highway it's doubly imposing. Even a Sunday drive across the island ought to be compelling. At least for a while.
But despite an excellent engine and genuinely seamless integration with Xbox Live, TDU can still feel a bit sterile. Pelting along is less imposing when you realise you can't do much to dent your car. Exploring Oahu is only so varied, and long hauls to distant objectives that you can't beam to leave a big skidmark on your patience. And in many ways it's just too ambitious for its own good. The economics of levelling up and building a collection of supercars are a bit skewed. There are terrific amounts of money available too soon, and though you'll need to work long hours for some of the more desirable cars - particularly the concepts - you will discover that the actual racing model isn't quite there to make it worthwhile.
So in answer to the question I keep avoiding, it doesn't quite do it for me. Handling sort of straddles the line dividing PGR's slick-slidey pursuits and the less hospitable approach of something like Gran Turismo, and over the course of the game it's inconsistent. Some cars handle very nicely - that Ferrari I mentioned seems to have been given some love - but whereas PGR3's cars were a thrill to master, most of these aren't. Cars that should zip and squirm don't tend to, and the motorbikes, unlocked later, handle like an afterthought. You can tweak the steering sensitivity, but you can't do much to modify the cars from spec, and on the whole the driving doesn't really capture the imagination. The mud-wrestling fun of testing a new car in PGR3 is replaced with something more akin to yachting in a windy fjord.
He's alright, but I went for the perky girl with the wistful smile. I'm so predictable.
There are some other minor issues that work against it too. The general AI of other road-users is depressingly self-destructive, and your fellow racers are weak. The races against the clock are more engaging. And the local constabulary are a bit unfair on you. Initially little more than a passing threat, their interest in you grows, and a slight scratch on a highway can escalate into a full-blown roadblock if you continue to run into them, however innocently. Particularly frustrating in the middle of a race, it's almost worse if you're out and about, because diving into a task will force you to swallow a huge fine unless you've shaken them first. And no, the models can't flash the coppers to get you out of it.
Even so, TDU is a game you'll probably want to play. As an example of how Xbox Live can be put to use in the racing genre, it's unmatched. Were it not for inconsistent handling, it'd score higher - and even at that it still deserves a lot of credit. It's just that it's up against PGR3, and the thought of how good this would've been with Bizarre behind the steering wheel haunted me throughout. An unfair comment really, since Eden's done bloody well here - but then God always was a bit unfair when it came to Eden.
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reality_cheque
08/09/06 @ 12:14
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Can I give Paris Hilton a lift to the burger bar? :D
One for when I finish NFS I think, this looks good! |
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deathgibbon
08/09/06 @ 12:17
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I thought both demos were horrible. Guess I must be missing something with it.
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gamingdave
08/09/06 @ 12:19
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Got this yesterday, loving it so far, much much better than the demos, they are a very poor reflection of it.
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greggywocky
08/09/06 @ 12:25
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All the comment I've read says the game is superior to the demos, though I can't add to that as I'm still at work at haven't tried it myself yet. Bought this and Dead Rising on my lunch break - can't be bad. :-)
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I'd give it a 6 or 7 based on the demos. And I was looking forward to it. If I had the time to invest in the game I'm sure it would pay off and be worth an 8 or 9 out of ten.
It seems 8 is the new 9 anyway now that quality bars are going up (can't wait for the first real 2nd wave / next gen 10/10... Gears Of War? ) |
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I must admit the demos of this have really grown on me the more I play them. Initially I thought the graphics were polished but a bit 'sterile' as you say, I thought the handling was a bit 'meh', and the lack of damage to your vehicle was a big problem. However after a while I realised that I was playing the demo a lot more than I expected, and that the game is just good fun despite its many flaws.
The only thing that still really annoys me, is the way the racing is all checkpoint based. There's nothing worse than haring round the track, challenging for a high position in a multiplayer race, only to discover that at the previous corner you drifted a little bit too wide and missed the checkpoint (often without even noticing). You're then told a little while later that you are going the wrong way and that you have to turn round and go back to the checkpoint, end of race. Not only is it annoying to effectively end your chances in the race, but it also means that lots of races end up with you facing racers coming straight at you in the other direction, not because they are being arseholes like players in every other racing game, but instead because the game is forcing them to do so. However despite all that I'll still probably pick up a copy this weekend. |
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lordofdeadside
08/09/06 @ 12:26
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does it still look poor on a normal tv? presumably the review was done running in HD.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 08/09/06 @ 13:27
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This is what I said about it on UGVX last night:
Played for about 5 hours today, impossible to put down. Hard to describe what feels so good about it, but it just feels right. It is the first attempt at a genuine game world, with the exception of Shenmue, that has actually felt real. The traffic behaves like it would, all the roads feel just right, there's something strange about driving around town for a bit and then following a few road signs onto a big triple-carriageway motorway. Plus the world aspect makes the mundane things seem somehow fun. Yes you can bring up the map and do everything GT4 style from menus, but it's strangely satisfying to just be cruising along, notice an Audi garage on the corner, pop in, have a look at the inside and outside of a few cars in the showroom, take a couple for a test drive and buy one. The whole thing just feels right. And the handling is utterly sublime, it just takes a little getting used to. Spent the first couple of hours going around doing challenges, then after one challenge about four hours in I noticed an Aston garage. Had a bit of money from all the challenges, popped in, took a few cars for a spin and bought a V8 Vantage, then spent an hour cruising around and randomly challenging people online to races as and when I came across them. In a nutshell, it's glorious. |
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KillahSouljah
08/09/06 @ 12:47
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"Like PGR, there's a photo mode. And this game can look goo-ood."
more like: "Like Gran Turismo 4 on PS2, there's a photo mode. And this game can look goo-ood." |
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Fatallyflawed
08/09/06 @ 12:54
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GT introduced the world to boring boring races that because you had upgraded so much were not in the least bit challenging. Sadly Forza and PGR didn't steal that idea :)
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Photo Mode in this is crap, it must be said. The flexibility of the camera movement is nothing like as good as PGR3, the techy camera stuff is simplistically crap (the background blur is terribly unsubtle, even on the lowest setting) and the sepia filter is hideous beyond belief. If you want to do artistic stuff then stay clear, but it does the job at catching those moments where you smash into a van and its bonnet is flying through the air, but it only looks good if you have it as you see it, any effects will just arse it up, frankly.
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Thanks god this has got a bad driving model.
As a 56k petrolhead I would have hated to be confined to dumb AI races on the most promising driving and racing game ever made... now I can resist this knowing that I would not stand a bad driving model for long. Still, I'll give it a rental when it arrives at my local Blockbuster... |
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"the thought of how good this would've been with Bizarre behind the steering wheel haunted me throughout"
To suggest how good this game might have been had another developer been in control is hugely unfair to the point of criminal and eluding to that in your review simply doesn't wash - if you think it then don't write it. Just imagine how good your review could have been had someone competent written it? Not nice, or fair, is it? But this title is the endeavour of many passionate people, over many man-years - not a winsome collection of anecdotes from six to ten hours mucking about on a console game. This game is an original, exploratory new title, not the high def 3rd iteration of an existing premise - as is PGR, as high quality as that title is. There is a genuine attempt to deliver something new here that could certainly be considered "next gen". I like PGR3 a ton, even given it's formulaic approach but this title is very, very good. By the way, I no have connections to neither, to Eden or Atari. I'm from a seperate indy developer who's just read one too many comments in reviews suggesting how things should or should not be made - and by whom. My point is that there are a lot of throwaway comments used in reviews to describe developers, development studios, how they work, how lazy they are and whatever else. Unless you are one, have been one or fundamentally understand how they go about their business then just refrain from talking like you know what goes on and how it could have been better other than the perception from an inexperienced brain. Once more, to suggest that this product is quality, but would probably have scored more in your review had someone else develop it is disturbing and an insult to those who worked on this title. As for Bizzare, they didn't have the foresight (although I imagine it's more likely opportunity) to deliver what Eden Studios have done right off the bat. Kudos, ironically, to them then. |
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Eighthours
08/09/06 @ 13:20
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To suggest how good this game might have been had another developer been in control is hugely unfair to the point of criminal and eluding to that in your review simply doesn't wash - if you think it then don't write it.
Just imagine how good your review could have been had someone competent written it? Not nice, or fair, is it? But this title is the endeavour of many passionate people, over many man-years - not a winsome collection of anecdotes from six to ten hours mucking about on a console game. Tom was bang on the money though. The idea of this game with PGR3-style handling makes me moist. The handling is the weakest link, and in a driving game it should surely be near top of the list. |
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KillahSouljah
08/09/06 @ 13:26
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Well Sony is leading the Gaming Industry, whatever Sony does Microsoft does.
Microsoft is like Sonys anoying little brother that wants to be like him but then finds outs thats not him that instead he's gay, to Micorsoft that would mean there not suited for the gaming industry... |
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I think you've totally missed the point I have made, really.
What's next, X album would have been better had the guitarist from Y done a riff in the chorus? What's wrong for reviewing it for what it is? Not what it could have been or might have been given the figment of someone's imagination. I just think it's a bit of a insult to the team at Eden to suggest that it'd have been great had the Bizarre lads handled it. You have probably no idea how people feel when they read stuff like that after being involved with it - and I have no connection with either, I can just imagine the rage. |
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The reviewer realises its a harsh comment before he finishes, but I can see your point of view.
The problem with this game, and all the other recent Xbox 360 reviews, is that they are not quite getting from 'good' to being 'great'. And at £40, I feel I am wasting money for just a 'good' game. So I for one will not be buying it. Edit - And lets not forget that its been priced significantly lower in America compared to other 360 titles. Maybe a sequel could expand on the innovative concept and refine the driving model more.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 08/09/06 @ 14:39
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LOL @ KillahSouljah! Oh deary me, you're either a complete and utter retard or are joking, right? Name any idea that Sony had first, ever.
Let's see: CD drive: Philips Analogue: Atari, made popular by Nintendo HD: Dreamcast Camera: Dreamcast Online: Dreamcast, but the PS3's online is a duplicate of Xbox Live Wireless controllers as standard: Microsoft Tilt-sensing controllers: Microsoft Depth-sensing controllers: Nintendo Multi-tap: Sega In fact, the only thing I can think of that Sony might have done first is the necessity to buy an extra piece of equipment to save game data. What a great contribution! But yes, Sony is leading the games industry by hyping everything up with lies so clueless little retards buy a PS2 and copies of the 50 Cent and Matrix games to go with it because they would rather the character had a gold chain than controlled properly. |
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Gotta agree with Spadge (and not just because I was fan of "their" Amiga games). It's not that a reviewer can't use imagination and hope for future titles, and what combinations of games would make their personal "ideal game" but when professionally reviewing a title you really should stick to the game in question.
I love PGR3 (moreso than the demos of TDU which I do like though), and Bizzare have done amazing stuff with their cars, but then they have them in locked down, bite sizes circuits. TDU on the other hand is attempting something completely different. Maybe Eden themselves knew that they would like to compete with PGR on some levels but had to make ommisions for the sake of all the new stuff they added instead (The open environment and the online stuff). The cars in the showroom look better than the PGR cars but out on the road they don't quite look or feel as good as PGR3. So, I think it's perfectly valid to say "Great game but handling should be better" but by namechecking a competing developer it is a bit of a kick in the teeth for those hardworking devs (many of whom work hours that "normal" people wouldn't tolerate, I used to work in the retail industry in development and I know no-one takes it lightly).
Edited 2 times,
most recently on 08/09/06 @ 14:43
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Edit: sharpfish beat me to it. Agree with him :).
Eighthours: If I get Spadge right it's the part of the game being better if Bizzare did it that upsets him, not that the game could have been better with PGR-type of steering. The former implies the developer is not competent enough while the latter just asks for another feature. Or something like that. Could have missunderstood though. To me it's a different type of game than PGR3. But I guess it depends on how you play them. PGR3 for me is just racing (great racing but just racing non-the-less) while TUD is more. Kind of a sandbox racing game. I spent an hour yesterday just driving around looking at new places, racing a bit and having fun. KillahSouljah must be a troll. No-one can seriously be that daft.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 08/09/06 @ 14:47
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Swedbear, that's right.
Suggesting the handling could have been better is fine, you expect comments like that in subjective reviews. However, to suggest it would have been better had another developer done it (and name them) is extremely, in my fairly humble, experienced opinion, bang wrong.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 08/09/06 @ 14:52
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TheDogsDinner
08/09/06 @ 14:07
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Spadge:
One thing that needs mentioning is that Test Drive was meant to be a day one launch title and is nearly a year late. PGR3 was released on Day 1 - so it seems Bizarre had the foresight to write a game that released ontime and proved the 360 as a next gen platform |
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spadge,
I agree that developers must find it upsetting when they're told that another developer has done a better job of something, but I don't work for developers or publishers; I work for the readers of this site. It would have been cowardly and pointless not to tell them how I felt about the game, however controversial the sentiment. Context is vitally important, particularly for an expensive young format with a largely hardcore userbase. A lot of our readers own one (over 40% in a recent survey, with around 20% planning to buy one within 12 months). They're all aware of PGR3. It's important that they're aware how the two compare, and while you may not have enjoyed the way that comparison manifested itself, I can live with that. I felt it would be representative of how other gamers felt, so it went in. Even so, I felt the need to disclaim it slightly ("An unfair comment really") out of respect for Eden's accomplishments, and I still only included it because I'd made a point earlier on of explaining how much better TDU did with Xbox Live than Bizarre. In fact, there's actually more copy here about Eden beating Bizarre at Live than there is about Bizarre beating Eden at handling. Given that Bizarre had to finish their game last November and Eden took an extra year, surely /that's/ the unfair bit? Either way, it wouldn't have made sense not to compare the two. Your point's valid, but the review's no less valid for the comparison. |
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Othello is an unlockable character, yes, and the final challenge is battling it out with Iago in his Enzo in a race spanning over 1,000 miles. If you lose, everyone believes his lies, Desdemona kills Othello by stuffing his handkerchief down his throat, marries Iago, has small evil babies who multiply in later life, form a manipulative army and obliterate mankind. If you win, Iago spins out into a lamppost and dies and all is good. If you manage to draw to a thousandth of a second after 1,000 miles you get the traditional ending.
(may not be true) |
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el bandito
08/09/06 @ 14:23
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@Mugwum: Another fair point, very well put
/is sat firmly on fence, can see both sides :-) |
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nickthegun
08/09/06 @ 14:27
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Two things that I did take away from the demo;
- The motorbikes are, indeed, total shite - Making your own fun is firmly discourage. Any attempts to offroad result in you being unceromoniously dumped back onto the last bit of tarmac you touched, which seems a bit po-faced. Other than that, it seemed like one of those games that introduced a load of good ideas that someone else will steal and do them better. For example, the next stage of evolution will likely be this kind of persistant world merged with a smidgeon of on foot action and side games in local pubs and the like. |
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I think Spadge and some of the others have missed the point. The reviewer made the point that PGRs car handling was great, and if TDU had delivered handling as well as PGR then TDU would have won the 'best racer' title hands down.
When he did compare the game structure and the locations he stated that TDU was in many ways better than PGR. Something which you also picked up on in your first comment Spadge, but you have chosen to ignore the rest of the review and in turn misrepresented the reviewer in my oppinion. I dunno, maybe people would have been happier if he had just said "If TDU had PGR's handling it would have been a better game." whatever, I'll be buying it anyway :)
Edited 2 times,
most recently on 08/09/06 @ 15:39
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