It's here - the PS2 version of Test Drive Unlimited, a streamlined, slightly condensed version of last year's Xbox 360 smash hit. PS2 fans now have the chance to experience everything that the 360 fanboys have been racing about - the incredibly widespread setting (a Hawaiian island roughly the size of Liberty City), an amazing selection of sports cars and an online mode where you can drive around the island inviting other players to race. Yes, some features have disappeared (most notably the mission elements) but Test Drive Unlimited is still trim, tidy and extremely playable. Developers Eden Studios haven't been lazy - they didn't just cut out some of the 360 elements and leave it at that. Where a hole was left, they've tried their best to fill it or at least cover it.

As soon as the game begins you are blessed with choices. For starters, it's your choice which car to buy. Yes, unlike lesser driving sims you don't have to start with the cheapest most dented car and then work your way up. Even in the opening moments you're free to choose your path. But if the choice of cars seemed impressive then wait until you get out onto the island. You can either enter the races and time trial challenges in the near vicinity or you can put your foot down, drive further afield and find some different challenges. It really is totally up to you. Well, almost. If there's one thing the game forces you to do, it's explore - but don't worry, you'll thank it for this later. As the game goes on, mission icons spring up everywhere across the map. If you've already driven down those roads than you have the option of instantly entering that challenge. However, if the mission is based in an area that you've yet to explore then you have to drive there to access it. This is by no means a bad feature - the Oahu Island is one of the nicest places the PS2 will ever give you the chance to explore, where imaginative backdrops and crisp textures abound. And if you really don't fancy driving across to the other side of the island then there are always plenty of nearby missions to attempt.

But while the missions may take you to every corner of the island, they are a little repetitive. As much as I feel like a bitter curmudgeon for saying it, the missions are can be so samey that you sometimes question the point of driving right across the island to take part in another incredibly similar challenge. First there are the well-executed but rather typical street races, where you compete against seven opponent drivers. Then there are time trials, where rounding corners with speed is essential. Finally are the speed challenges, adrenaline feasts where you're challenged to hit a certain speed within the time limit. The 360's 'mission' levels sadly aren't here - no more performing errands or picking up hitchhikers. These missions were never the most thrilling part of the game, but they did give the gameplay a more human feel while also adding extra variety, so they are missed.

As repetitive as the races may be, you still won't find yourself turning them down, because more races means more cars - and there are lots of cars! Volkswagens, Chryslers, Chevys, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Aston Martins… and they all look fantastic. As you'd expect from a game of this calibre, each car has its own driving style and unique assets. Furthermore, they're split into classes, from A to E, and throughout the game you encounter races that require cars from each specific class. Don't worry if you're saving that up for the latest sports car - you're offered the chance to rent cars too; you'd just better hope you can complete the mission within twenty minutes so you can get that car back to the agency! For such an intelligent game, the AI surprises you at times, like the groundhog glitch where you redo a race and often find that the computer players career off the road at the same point they did last time. It's a little off-putting, but that's okay, because if you don't want to keep the racing the computer players then this is where Test Drive Unlimited really comes into its own.

While the single player game is engaging, innovative racing entertainment, Test Drive Unlimited's big sell is the online play - and it's brilliantly done. Rather than a chat-room interface where you challenge other players to race, the game is set up so that you drive round Oahu at the same time as other players, challenging them to races as you go. Like the single player, loading times and lag are minimal, and this is perhaps the most impressive online gameplay yet seen on the PlayStation 2 - practical and fiercely competitive. Unfortunately the online multiplayer is the only multiplayer option though - there's no split screen to share the fun with a friend in your living room.

Test Drive Unlimited is a great game where the multiplayer mode is an integral part of the gameplay, rather than just a bonus add-on. It scores highly in the graphics, sound and playability departments, but it still has its flaws and at times you can tell you are playing a recycled 360 port, rather than a dedicated PS2 game. While it may get a little repetitive during prolonged play, Test Drive Unlimited is still laps ahead of its competitors. There's something hypnotic about purchasing that next Lamborghini model and you'll soon find that the small gameplay faults are forgotten - unlike the many strong points, which will stay firmly rooted in your mind and keep bringing you back to this immensely intelligent and enjoyable racing game.

Reviewed by Robert Jackman for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).