Test Drive Unlimited 2 is the sequel to the open-world racing game Test Drive Unlimited . It is set on two islands: Ibiza and Oahu. Oahu is only available after players have reached level 10, after which the airport is accessible. There are 60 levels in total (up to level 70 with the optional Casino DLC), which can be reached by collecting experience points in any of the following categories: Discovery (driving on all the roads and tracks, finding all hidden car wrecks, taking pictures of specific locations) Collection (buying cars and houses, decorating these with furniture and stickers, buying clothes, having plastic surgery)
Competition (racing against others, both AI or real, completing challenges)
Social (making friends, joining clubs)
You start out as a valet, dreaming of getting a luxurious car for your birthday until you get rudely awakened by the rich girl whose car you were supposed to bring around. She then decides to hire you to get her to a studio where she needs to be very soon, and if you perform well you can enter a racing competition named Solar Crown.
You need to obtain a license first, which is done by attending a driving school and finishing a series of tasks and tests to prove you are worthy. As soon as you have obtained the license you are free to explore the first island. You can obtain more licenses to enter other competitions. Licenses and races come in several classes, for instance an A-license grants access to Asphalt challenges, B is for Off Road, and C for Classic.
The player's vehicle is equipped with a so-called F.R.I.M. (Free Ride Instant Money) device, which allows them to earn some cash with which to buy cars, houses, upgrades, clothes etc. Passing other cars closely and/or at high speeds, jumping, drifting and other 'dangerous' driving fills a reward bar, that can be cashed in as soon as it reaches a certain amount or left to add to higher amounts, with the risk of losing it all when you hit something and crash.
A weather system and a day/night cycle influence the number of traffic on the road and your grip, if it rains or there are puddles you will skid in corners. In offline mode, a couple of AI drivers drive around which you can challenge to a quick race (for a 1000 dollar in-game stake, as well as experience points), whereas in online mode you can do the same with real opponents.
The game has several difficulty settings, which influence for instance the amount of aid you get while driving, manual transmission or automatic gearbox and an ideal line projected on the roads during certain challenges. Some cars are more difficult to drive than others, and you can take them out for a test drive from the car shops you gradually discover on the islands.
