Trials Evolution Review By: Andrew Bohnenberger
Trials Evolution Review
By: Andrew Bohnenberger
Trials Evolution is an XBLA game developed by RedLynx and published by Microsoft Game Studios. Trials Evolution is a 2.5D puzzle racing game where you guide a motorcycle man through a physics based obstacle course in order to reach the finish line of each stage. Trials Evolution is the sequel to Trials HD an XBLA title based off a popular flash game series on the PC. Does Trials Evolution capture what made the first game such a hit while evolving on the concepts of the first game?
Story
Trials Evolution does not feature any storyline. Trials Evolution consists of a man on a motorcycle trying to reach the finish line. There are no motivations and explanations for why he must do this, with that being said I will get right into the graphics.
Graphics
Trials Evolution is one of the most visually stunning XBLA titles out there. The game has a 2.5 graphics style where it is all rendered in a 3D engine on a 2d plane. The biggest complaint I feel in terms of graphics from the first game is that the whole game took place in a warehouse location. This problem is solved in Trials Evolution as there are many different outside and inside locales. Each area is unique from the next and the main motivation for completing each stage is to see what crazy type of obstacle you will end up in the next level. I loved that you could fully customize your character and your bike. Also the physics engine and animation system makes you really feel like you are riding on a motorcycle. Lastly, the death animations after you finish each race are brutally hilarious, which further cement the great look of this game.
Gameplay
The gameplay in Trials Evolution is where the game really shines. This is a mechanics based game and the physics based controls are damn near perfect. In order to successfully complete each level it takes a combination of timing, positioning, and momentum to overcome each obstacle. I love the speed of the game,especially if you clear a whole level without getting one fault. Trials Evolution is a difficult game but never feels cheap. I think this in part due to the wonderful system where if you die you are instantly loaded to the last checkpoint. There are no annoying loading screens in this game. This system allows the game to have huge replay value because you replay levels over and over to get the best time and the least amount of faults. The other great thing about this system is that your time is tracked against your friends as well as the Trials Evolution Community leader board as you play the game. This creates a great competitive element where you are always trying to beat your friend's score. My only major complain with the game is the way the single player is structured. In order to unlock each set of tracks as well as a higher difficulty you must earn enough metals to do so. The problem is you only earn metals by having no faults or beating the specified time to complete that level in. This had me repeating previous levels in order to unlock the whole game rather than simply unlocking each set of levels by beating the previous set of levels. Overall this is just a minor annoyance as I was able to unlock everything except the extreme difficulty which I felt was for the most hardcore of Trials fans.
Features
Trials Evolution is one of the most fully featured $15 dollar games I have ever bought. Trials not only features 50 tracks in the single player but an almost unlimited set of tracks due to the user created section of the game. Trials Evolution has a level editor where you can make custom tracks for all the players on the Trials Community to rate and play through. The level of creativity is amazing from what I have seen so far with players making full blown first person shooters, top down racing games, or clones of popular games like Angry Birds. The great thing about the tracks are you can see how players completed them and try to beat there score just like in the single player. The game also features a local and online multiplayer mode where you can race each other on the same screen similar to old school Excite Bike for the NES.
Conclusion
Trials Evolution is true to its name. The game captures what made the first game such a smash hit and evolves the series in almost every way. The base mechanics are outstanding, the difficulty is challenging but not frustrating, and the competitive elements give you a reason to replay each level.
Score: 90%
Buy: If you like physics based racing games there is no other competition in the genre. Trials Evolution is the game for you!!!
Source:
https://sites.google.com/site/not2nerdyent/Reviews/Reviews-2/trialsevolutionreview
