The Xbox 360 isn't in any immediate need of another driving game right now. There's already enough heated competition as it is. Ridge Racer 6 just hit the $20 price, and is worth every penny to those who know and love Namco's arcade racing series. And then you have Microsoft's own Project Gotham Racing 3, a game that already defines a racing community all its own while presenting plenty of next-gen highlights. Yet that didn't stop Atari, in the midst of restructuring, from unleashing their own ride with the stylish Test Drive Unlimited. Despite the competition, it manages to find a niche all its own.

That's because Test Drive tries to put a spin on the basic blueprint of a racing game. You take a flight in to Oahu, Hawaii and are given a selection of characters to choose from. Once they walk out of the airport, they're given a choice of rental cars that will allow them to drive around the island. In your rental car, you begin to stake your claim, purchasing a home (which then acts as your main storage hub) and your own vehicle. It's here that the shape of the game begins to take form, with racing events that pop up and other opportunities to further customize your experience. Clothing, accessories, new cars, upgrades, and tools are all within reach if you can handle driving several miles at a time.

It's not a fully smooth road, however. While the game does give you the chance to establish your own identity and life, it doesn't really come with much of a point. You're basically just driving around the island and given a handful of missions, like driving shopaholic models and hitchhikers to certain destinations and delivering cars. There is the risk of not hitting oncoming traffic or going off-road to deal with, for the rider or vehicle purchaser will show great irritation and the mission will get cancelled. However, past this, it runs on repeat. There's no story to follow, no tale of hardened justice to complete and not even any kind of dating nightlife to follow. You just drive for the money and access to new cars and accessories.

For some, though, that could be enough. The game gets right to the point of the open road and doesn't look back. Fortunately, it's not limited to off-line events and races against mostly underminded AI. Thanks to a system called M.O.O.R. (Massively Open Online Racing), you can compete against a number of people messing around the island and challenge them to races. The system still needs a little work when trying to track down specific friends, but there always seemed to be someone to race, and the events happen almost instantaneously upon acceptance. My first race, believe it or not, came at me head on, with some yutz running right into me and THEN having the courtesy to flash his headlights. Um, thanks, guy.

The game's graphics are a mixed bag. The player models look pedestrian at best, and not really that concentrated. This makes it hard to identify with your driver, especially when they fail to show any real emotion. The cars look just like the real deal, with numerous licensed vehicles included. Don't really find any love for Chevrolets? A Volkswagen shop is within reach on the island. And once you build up your cash flow over a series of events, you can gain access to more expensive vehicles. Nothing beats driving through Hawaii in a souped-up Lamborghini. Or maybe a Ferrari or a Jaguar. The choice is yours, and there's a vast selection. Just make sure you have enough of a budget- these suckers aren't cheap.