Test Drive Unlimited 2

Starting off I would just like to point that that I have played the original TDU and this game is just as good if not better. This game is like marmite you either love it or hate it. I also have been shocked by some of the reviews given by gamers saying this isn't as good as Forza 3 or GT5 and that's because it isn't trying to be either. Atari has found a niche genre which they are trying to expand & develop their efforts. Like some gamers I was hesitating on whether to pick this game up or not, it seemed for every positive there was a negative to balance it out. This was until one of my friends just told me to buy it and so I did.

Gameplay
Quiet a few number of people have complained about the handling in this game, claiming its "unrealistic" and again they have missed the point completely. They have compared it to GT5 but this is more of an arcade style game, although Eden games claim it's in between arcade and simulator but they isn't kidding anyone. This is the type of game which allows a car to go into a corner at 100 MPH and still have total control, so if your looking for realism look elsewhere. The game does offer 3 settings for steering to help gamers depending on what they prefer. This game offers you two islands Ibiza and Oahu (which you later unlock at level 10), both deliver endless miles to drive. Meanwhile the F.R.I.M system rewards players with money for pulling off stunts and different manoeuvres. Whilst driving around you will be automatically connected to a server which allows players to see other real life players. This is the strongest aspect of the TDU series which is the social factor and the ability to interact with other drivers in an open world. This is done by challenging them to a race or doing co-op driving were one player drives and the other gives the directions. Customization is a huge part of TDU 2 and players have a wide variety of features they can change. There are many different clothes for player's to choose from for their avatars and customization options for houses such as furniture, wallpaper and floor.

Story
Atari and Eden games have tried to implement a story in TDU2, without giving too much away you start low as a valet and progress through the ranks to become the best driver. I'm going to be honest and I must say the story is awful but then again I didn't expect much story from this game. Along the way you will meet some very annoying characters that will make you require professional help and it you thought you could simply skip the scene think again because they didn't add that basic of features. However these scenes are like taking a needle jab, it's over before you know it. Although they have failed with the storyline initially, the story itself connects the game and holds it together better. In the original TDU I felt disconnected from the game because I was just driving to locations and beating the best time for money and there was no sense of accomplishment. At least in TDU 2 I can beat annoying characters and feel rewarded that I don't have to see another cut scene of them.

Graphics & Sound
Using a HDMI cable and a HD TV I found the islands to be beautiful but suffer from terrain appearing in the background and slow frame rates at some stages. The character models are some of the worst I've seen on the Xbox 360, they look like they belong on the ps2 and the lip synching is awful. The cars are very well modelled with excellent cock-pit views and few other views to ensure the player can find the best view. Players can also remove the roof with fully animated convertible models; they can also indicate left or right and bring the windows up or down.

Content
There are 101 cars in this game and the developers offer a good number of exotic cars. However I was really disappointed that Lamborghini did not make the list (due to licensing issues). I also wasn't too keen on having 5 Pagani Zondas and 5 Bugatti Veyrons, I couldn't help but to think they were just trying to fill up the list rather than offering variety for players. How many versions of the same car can there be in one game? However the good aspect of this game is the Downloadable content (DLC) which promises to keep the game exciting with new vehicles that is bound to add new dimension to the game.

To conclude if you are still sceptical about buying this game you have two choices, either rent it or wait for the price to drop down in a couple of months and then purchase the game (this game should depreciate fast). This game only receives a 4 out of 5 because it could have done with a few more months on the production line, bad cut scenes, reports of corrupt game save files, glitches and servers going down due to early exploits keep this from being a 5 star game.

This game is probably the most buggy release I have ever played, it should never have been released in the state it is currently. More than a month after release it is still horribly broken online being nearly impossible to connect to friends reliably, the Casino DLC very rarely works and the most worrying is that it is a lottery as to whether your game save is going to be there when you next fire up the game.

At it's core you can tell the game has got potential, even if you ignore the cheesy dialogue and poor storyline you cannot deny that if the game worked properly it would be a fantastic casual racer. Sadly though I could not recommend my worst enemy buy the game at the moment - wait for it to be patched and pick it up cheap later on.

I waited a while before buying this game as the reviews were very mixed,i enjoyed the first TDU game and its still a classic as far as im concerned,nothing comes close for a multiplayer car driving game.The new game is a bit different,it takes longer to get used to but persevere and it becomes worth it.Its not as easy to win races and amass loads of cash like the first game,this doesnt matter tho because it becomes very addictive after the first few hours.Ive now been playing for about 3 hours a day for a week and im hooked,it took a while to adapt to the changes from the first game but once you do its very enjoyable.Havent tried casino and dont think ill bother..Also have to say,ive not come accross any bugs or problems,all games have saved fine.Id give this game a 9/10,if you want to explore IBIZA and OAHU in great detail and collect and own the best cars in the world then this is for you,if you just like driving fast around a racing track then maybe you should try another less involved game.Buy it!