Test Drive Unlimited 2

About

Test Drive Unlimited 2 is an open-world racing game with both single-player and multiplayer modes, including co-op. It boasts good gameplay, pretty visuals, and a solid soundtrack, but is criticized for being poorly optimized and having lots of bugs, as well as being very grinding. The game is the tenth installment in the Test Drive series and the second to be based on an open world styled gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

55%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,296 reviews

graphics99 positive mentions

story47 negative mentions

The game features two massive open-world maps, Ibiza and Hawaii, providing a vast area for exploration and driving.
There is a wide selection of cars to choose from, including many licensed vehicles, which adds to the enjoyment of the game.
The game allows for character customization, including clothing and personal appearance, which adds a unique social aspect to the gameplay.

The online servers are frequently down, making it difficult to access multiplayer features and causing frustration for players.
The driving physics are often criticized as unrealistic and unresponsive, leading to a frustrating driving experience.
The game requires an external launcher and account creation, which can be cumbersome and problematic, especially with the server issues.

graphics
248 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players acknowledging that while they were impressive for their time (2011), they now appear dated and lack the polish of modern titles. Some users appreciate the beautiful environments and car models, noting that the visuals can still be enjoyable despite technical shortcomings, while others criticize the low-resolution textures and graphical glitches. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics may not hold up against contemporary standards, they still offer a decent experience for fans of the genre.
- “The graphics, gameplay, and details in the way of how you can go to a car dealer and view the car like in real life and buy houses to store your cars in blew me away.”
- “The graphics are amazing on max settings (better than the console versions of the game) even though this is an older game and the steering wheel support is outstanding.”
- “This game has gorgeous graphics, and it's also very addictive.”
- “The graphics are very lackluster with low-poly models, low-res textures, and crappy lighting.”
- “The graphics are dated and the control over cars are poor.”
- “The graphics in the game are bearable, but a little distance away from the new games released.”
story
198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
64%
24%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it cheesy, poorly written, and lacking depth, often feeling like an unnecessary addition to the racing experience. While some appreciate the open-world elements and the ability to engage in various missions, others criticize the repetitive nature of these tasks and the overall execution of the narrative. Overall, the story is often deemed forgettable, with players suggesting that the game is better enjoyed by focusing on the driving mechanics and exploration rather than the storyline itself.
- “This by far is the best car simulation game because you get to go through a very interesting storyline and not just that but the map is stunning!”
- “I really liked the story, the challenges, and dodging the cops.”
- “The game is beautiful, with astonishing graphics, crazy environments and just great sounds, until you get interrupted by the GPS or a story character.”
- “The story is thin - you basically work your way through a racing series called Solar Crown using various class cars from old classics to high dollar exotics to off-road.”
- “The story is absolute rubbish, ignore it and the irritating voiceover at the start of each race.”
- “The biggest drawback is really the story, which as you'll read in any number of reviews, is quite awful.”
gameplay
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
57%
15%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its open-world exploration, vehicle variety, and realistic graphics, while others criticize the driving mechanics as clunky and frustrating. Many players find the gameplay to be linear and repetitive, with issues such as game crashes and poor online functionality detracting from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, some users appreciate the casual driving experience and the ability to customize vehicles and homes, suggesting that it can be enjoyable for those who overlook its shortcomings.
- “The graphics, gameplay, and details in the way you can go to a car dealer and view the car like in real life, and by buying houses to store your cars in, blew me away.”
- “The gameplay is satisfying, and taking into account that it's from 2011, the graphics are good.”
- “The choices are endless, and the gameplay is slick, addictive, and keeps you coming back for more.”
- “The gameplay is boring and it's impossible to win a race in the later stages, and before I forget, the save file randomly gets corrupted after you play for 40 hours.”
- “The driving mechanics are terrible, with every vehicle over-steering to such a degree that it is almost impossible to drive.”
- “Gameplay is extremely clunky and boring.”
stability
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder the gameplay experience. Issues such as broken frame rates, screen flickering, and unresponsive key bindings are common, leading to frustration and, in some cases, forcing players to quit. While some users note that patches from the community have improved stability over time, many still find the game to be a buggy and unfinished product, particularly on modern systems.
- “I experienced broken frame rates, screen flickering, choppy renders, and even buggy audio at times.”
- “So, here's where the problem begins, which gets even more complicated given how unstable and buggy this game is (especially if attempting to use something like ENB to try and make the graphics look a bit more reasonable and not quite so dated).”
- “The worst game ever, do not buy! The server doesn't even work and the game is buggy as hell.”
music
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
60%
12%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the relaxing atmosphere created by the soundtrack, particularly praising tracks like "Ghosts 'n' Stuff" by deadmau5. However, many users criticize the limited selection of in-game music, describing it as repetitive and often unenjoyable, leading them to prefer listening to their own playlists instead. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it is generally seen as lacking in variety and quality.
- “If you ask me, what's good about the game, then I tell you it's the deadmau5 soundtrack.”
- “Yes, it's offline, but the feelings when you explore the island at night with good music are magical!”
- “The licensed music included had a nice selection and was a joy to listen to.”
- “The soundtrack is mostly shit & just makes you wanna switch off the radio.”
- “As if the voice acting weren't bad enough, the in-game music is just plain garbage, as if the guy who was hired to pick the music had to meet some sort of racial quota, so he went on world star hiphop and picked out the most liberal sounding music he could find.”
- “Despite the quality of many (not all) of the songs, the overall soundtrack is severely limited; there are only two available radio stations, and they cycle between, perhaps, 14 total tracks.”
optimization
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
54%
34%
The game's optimization has received largely negative feedback, with users reporting unstable framerates, stuttering, and various bugs that hinder gameplay. While some players found temporary fixes through tweaks and unofficial patches, many described the overall performance as poor and unplayable, especially on older hardware. Despite some positive remarks about graphics and gameplay mechanics, the consensus is that significant improvements are needed for a smoother experience.
- “The game has its share of issues, but it's pretty much playable after some tweaking and setting up.”
- “Despite only playing it for a little time on PC, I recommend this game above all others; it runs smoothly, has impressive details, and a wide range of cars.”
- “TDU2 really has wonderful graphic performance and excellent gameplay mechanics.”
- “There is little to like about the game to start with; adding performance and stability issues makes it not worth my time to deal with, even in the slightest.”
- “Broken game, can't run, very bad optimization.”
- “Even though I didn't pay that much, this game was pretty much unplayable with constant FPS drops and felt really sluggish and unoptimized, so I wouldn't recommend buying it.”
grinding
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often detracting from the overall enjoyment. Many reviews highlight the lack of engaging content, with grinding for cash and vehicle purchases feeling like a chore rather than a rewarding experience. While some appreciate the extensive vehicle selection, the grind required to access them and advance in the game is frequently criticized as frustrating and unfulfilling.
- “Buying cars is a grinding chore of repetition.”
- “It's a tedious repetitive boring grind-fest.”
- “This game would have been fun, but the story (or lack thereof), the tedious and repetitive races with the same, identical intro/outro sequences, and the horrid license schools that can't even be done late-game with a mouse/keyboard setup, make this a game I really do not want to recommend.”
humor
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
16%
The humor in the game is described as inconsistent, with some players finding it amusingly bad while others criticize the writing and delivery as clichéd and lacking genuine wit. While there are moments of levity, particularly in multiplayer interactions and glitches, many feel that the humor falls flat compared to other titles in the genre. Overall, the game is seen as entertaining in a quirky way, but it struggles to deliver a cohesive comedic experience.
- “It's pretty funny when you can get in front of one of them and slow down to let them just push you along.”
- “Once you get past the funny people talking, the driving part of the game is fantastic and I love this game so much.”
- “Really nice game, full of options of gameplay, nice cars and really funny to play with friends :D”
- “Some good music and some interesting ideas, but they are not funny at all. Compared to GTA radio, it is just embarrassing.”
- “The jokes fall flat and feel forced, lacking the cleverness that makes humor enjoyable.”
- “I expected a lot more laughs, but the humor is stale and misses the mark completely.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
14%
29%
The game is praised for its unique and fantastic atmosphere, particularly its island setting and complementary music selection, which enhance the sense of exploration. While some users noted issues with controls and handling, the overall atmosphere and open-world design contribute positively to the racing experience.
- “The game definitely has issues but also has a unique atmosphere and features.”
- “Fantastic island atmosphere.”
- “The handling wasn't particularly good, but the atmosphere and sense of exploration were excellent.”
- “The road design is often better suited to a Need for Speed franchise, where wrecking is purposely added and part of the whole atmosphere of the game.”
- “Controls are frustrating, and the physics in Mario Kart provide a more realistic atmosphere.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The monetization aspect of the game is perceived as a cash grab, with users appreciating the absence of typical Ubisoft practices like microtransactions and other monetization strategies. However, there are concerns about the game's overall quality and content, suggesting that the focus may be more on profit than on delivering a fulfilling gaming experience.
- “As a bonus, it has none of Ubisoft's nonsense (microtransactions, towers, Uplay, etc.).”
- “I feel that this game is somewhat of a cash grab that doesn't even launch.”
- “As a bonus, it has none of Ubisoft's BS (microtransactions, towers, Uplay, etc.).”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players appreciate the heartfelt graphics and find the experience heartwarming, others criticize the voice acting as lacking emotion and professionalism. Overall, the game evokes strong feelings for some, despite its flaws.
- “And on that note, I'd say this game has some really heartfelt and pretty graphics when it comes to the nice choice of cash.”
- “All in all, I highly recommend this game; it's heartwarming to actually find a racing game as fine as this... you won't find anything better.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game offers significant replayability through well-implemented social features, such as real-time player challenges, which enhance the overall experience. Additionally, the abundance of cars to collect and various activities available contribute to its high replay value.
- “The social aspects are both well-implemented and go a long way to improving potential replay value; being able to drive up to other players in real-time and challenge them to a race by flashing my headlights is a lot of fun, and I felt that it really added to the experience.”
- “Tons of replay value, loads of cars to collect, and tons of stuff to do.”
- “There goes 33% of the replayability content that this game was supposed to offer.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The reviews indicate that character development is notably lacking, with some players feeling that their characters do not evolve or grow throughout the game.
- “The character development feels incredibly shallow and lacks depth.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired.”
- “There is minimal growth for the characters throughout the game.”