History YMMV / TestDrive

* SidetrackedByTheGoldSaucer: Be forewarned when [[BribingYourWayToVictory unlocking]] the casino in the second game. You may spend more time on the BettingMiniGame[=s=] than you will driving your {{cool car}}(s). The achievement name for winning the Audi R8 Spyder (be it via the specific machine or grinding tokens) lampshades this with "Ready to Play ''Test Drive Unlimited 2''?"

** ''Test Drive Unlimited 2'' had three distinct groups for '''A'''sphalt 7-1, Off-Road ('''B''' which could stand for '''B'''aja)) 4-2 and '''C'''lassic 4-1 with lowering numbers denoting their performance. The bikes have their own '''M'''otorbike '''A'''sphalt groups or '''MA''' 2-1. Specific secret or DLC cars have a class for them that Solar Crown doesn't cover such as the aforementioned MA 2 and 1 bike classes. B2 is reserved for the V8 Buggy and Lancia Stratos Group 4 (there's no B1). C2 has the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe and Ferrari 250 GTO while the only car in C1 is the Ferrari F40 (and the Lamborghini Countach 5000 Quatrovalvole if you use Unofficial Patch V0.4).

** ''Test Drive Unlimited 2'' had three distinct groups for '''A'''sphalt 7-1, Off-Road ('''B''') 4-2 and '''C'''lassic 4-1 with lowering numbers denoting their performance. The bikes have their own '''M'''otorbike '''A'''sphalt groups or '''MA''' 2-1. Specific secret or DLC cars have a class for them that Solar Crown doesn't cover such as the aforementioned MA 2 and 1 bike classes. B2 is reserved for the V8 Buggy and Lancia Stratos Groupe B (there's no B1). C2 has the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe and Ferrari 250 GTO while the only car in C1 is the Ferrari F40 (and the Lamborghini Countach 5000 Quatrovalvole if you use Unofficial Patch V0.4).

** The special missions in the Explorer DLC, denoted by the golden bomb icon and last for half-an-hour on the map, are not only incredibly hard but are required if you want to find the special wrecks for the Lancia Stratos Groupe B on Ibiza or the 1970 Dodge Charger R/T in Hawaii. The Extreme Convoys are not that bad provided you're careful about your driving and maybe even follow traffic laws to reduce the chance of a fender-bender, it's the Timed Convoys that are really difficult with a time limit that can run down even without crashes and off-road slides, enforcing you to both drive extremely fast and not bump into anything, throw in randomized traffic, tight corners, up/downhill driving and maybe the car in question having the tendency to spin out even with Full Assistance turned on makes these missions a stone's throw from impossible. Be ready to be called incompetent a lot before finally succeeding.

* SidetrackedByTheGoldSaucer: Be forewarned when [[BribingYourWayToVictory unlocking]] the casino in the second game. You may spend more time on the BettingMiniGame[=s=] than you will driving your {{cool car}}(s). The achievement name for winning the Audi R10 Spyder (be it via the specific machine or grinding tokens) lampshades this with "Ready to Play ''Test Drive Unlimited 2''?"

** ''Test Drive Unlimited 2'' had three distinct groups for '''A'''sphalt, Off-Road ('''B''') and '''C'''lassic with numbers denoting their performance. The bikes have their own '''M'''otorbike '''A'''sphalt groups or '''MA'''.

* CharacterTiers: Each game had an official class system for their cars.

** The special missions in the Explorer DLC, denoted by the golden bomb icon and last for half-an-hour on the map, are not only incredibly hard but are required if you want to find the special wrecks for the Lancia Stratos Groupe B on Ibiza or the 1970 Dodge Charger R/T in Hawaii. The Extreme Convoys are not that bad provided you're careful about your driving and maybe even follow traffic laws to reduce the chance of a fender-bender, it's the Timed Convoys that are really difficult with a time limit that can run down even without crashes and off-road slides, enforcing you to both drive extremely fast and not bump into anything, throw in randomized traffic, tight corners, up/downhill driving and maybe the car in question having the tendency to spin out even with Full Assistance turned on makes these missions a stone's throw from impossible. Be ready to be called incompetent.

* NintendoHard: The driving schools in ''Test Drive Unlimited 2''. They force the handling model to be set to Sport, meaning if you're used to Full Assistance then be ready to spin out with some of the lessons having tight time limits and unforgiving conditions where touching an obstacle or another car you need to overtake fails you instantly.

* NintendoHard: The driving schools in ''Test Drive Unlimited 2''.

* SidetrackedByTheGoldSaucer: Be forewarned when [[BribingYourWayToVictory unlocking]] the casino in the second game. You may spend more time on the BettingMiniGame[=s=] than you will driving your {{cool car}}(s).

* MoralEventHorizon: In ''Overdrive'', [[spoiler: [[MissionControl Donald]] seemed to be moving away from Dennis, and eventually races him after Vasily was down. [[TheStinger He did vowed revenge by telling someone to steal his car back]]. [[HeroWithBadPublicity How can be him so bad?]]]]

* SequelDisplacement: Many new players of TurnOfTheMillennium started out with ''Unlimited'', not the very first game nor ''Overdrive''. ''Unlimited'' being GenreShift ContinuityReboot doesn't help.

* BrokenBase: ''Test Drive Unlimited 2'' split the fanbase into two: one part says that the game, being full of (sometimes helpful) glitches and with an hard to master driving system, is SoOkayItsAverage; the other one says that it's one of the most revolutionary racing games of all time, and despite all the [[EightPointEight average reviews by game critics]], it's fun and is an unforgettable experience.

* NintendoHard: The driving schools in Test Drive Unlimited 2.

* FirstInstallmentWins: ''Test Drive Unlimited 1'' has far better vehicle handling physics than its sequel; as a driving game, it's leagues above the sequel.
* SidetrackedByTheGoldSaucer: Be forewarned when [[{{BribingYourWayToVictory}} unlocking]] the casino in the second game. You may spend more time on the BettingMiniGame[=s=] than you will driving your [[{{CoolCar}} car(s)]].

** Music/{{Trance}} music also gets its spotlight in ''Unlimited 2'', where it fits [[UpToEleven like milk with cookies.]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF_Uhcr4Xn8 Paul van Dyk's "For an Angel"]] is '''the best song in the whole game'''.

** Somewhat justified, as the reason you're following them is to see whether or not their partner is cheating on them. Still weird that they'd rely on someone in an insanely expensive and loud supercar to be discreet when in reality it would just draw more attention than it's worth.

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: And how. Both Unlimited and Unlimited 2 have really memorable pieces; BUT the crown goes to Unlimited 2. Its music is just spot-on for the game's feeling. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV89s3FUOWc Here]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvss3uhSKjw are]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32ZSGAlRp78 a]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elUVRdEodXs few]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmI6nPwJW5U examples.]]
** Music/{{Trance}} music also gets its spotlight in Unlimited 2, where it fits [[UpToEleven like milk with cookies.]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF_Uhcr4Xn8 Paul van Dyk's "For an Angel"]] is '''the best song in the whole game'''.
** Hell, there's even Music/{{deadmau5}} in the soundtrack of [=TDU2=]. Hello, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s80dentwJUs "Ghosts n' Stuff".]]

* BrokenBase: Test Drive Unlimited 2 split the fanbase into two: one part says that the game, being full of (sometimes helpful) glitches and with an hard to master driving system, is SoOkayItsAverage; the other one says that it's one of the most revolutionary racing games of all time, and despite all the [[EightPointEight average reviews by game critics]], it's fun and is an unforgettable experience.

** There's even {{Dubstep}} in the soundtrack! EllieGoulding, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp1SHS36Pvc "Under the Sheets (Jakwob Remix).]] '''IT ROCKS.'''

* UncannyValley - The avatars.

* SidetrackedByTheGoldSaucer: Be forewarned when [[{{BribingYourWayToVictory}} unlocking]] the casino in the second game. You may spend more time on the BettingMiniGame[=s=] than you will driving your [[{{CoolCar}} car(s)]].
* ValuesDissonance: Tail missions, where your objective is to keep your car within range of another car that belongs to your passenger's girlfriend until she reaches her destination. Not exactly the worst thing you could do but something just feels wrong about doing it.
** Somewhat justified, as the reason you're following them is to see whether or not their partner is cheating on them. Still weird that they'd rely on someone in an insanely expensive and loud supercar to be discreet when in reality it would just draw more attention than it's worth.
* UncannyValley - The avatars.

** There's even {{Dubstep}} in the soundtrack! EllieGoulding, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp1SHS36Pvc "Under the Sheets (Jakwob Remix).]] '''IT ROCKS.'''

* BrokenBase: Test Drive Unlimited 2 split the fanbase into two: one part says that the game, being full of (sometimes helpful) glitches and with an hard to master driving system, is SoOkayItsAverage; the other one says that it's one of the most revolutionary racing games of all time, and despite all the [[EightPointEight average reviews by game critics]], it's fun and is an unforgettable experience.

* ValuesDissonance - Tail missions, where your objective is to keep your car within range of another car that belongs to your passenger's girlfriend until she reaches her destination. Not exactly the worst thing you could do but something just feels wrong about doing it.

* UncannyValley - The avatars