Official Description: In Trials HD the player rides a physics-based motorcycle from the start of the level to the end while navigating a number of obstacles. The objective is to complete the course as fast as possible and with as few crashes, known in the game as faults, as possible. The game uses 3D graphics, but is played on a 2D plane, so the player can only move forwards and backwards. Players can also control the bikes pitch at slow speeds or while in the air.
The game has a variety of courses in a range of difficulties from beginner to extreme. There are a total of thirty-five courses in the game, and players can replay completed courses to attempt a faster time. Tournament mode sees the player attempt to complete a number of courses in sequence, trying to achieve a fast overall time with minimal faults. Twelve skill games can also be unlocked which place the player in different challenges. These include things such as riding inside or on top of a large spherical cage, achieving as many flips as possible within a set time limit, or towing a trailer with two large bombs as far as possible while keeping them from explosion by impact. Players earn medals based on their completion time, number of faults, and in the case of skill games, other specialized criteria.
My Thoughts: I was instantly hooked. I downloaded the demo and played the first available tracks over and over. Purchasing the full game allowed me to add many more tracks and record achievements. The difficulty in the later levels has jumped quite a bit, but not enough to discourage me yet.
The edit mode has great appeal if you are the creative type. There seems to be a large community that compete share tracks that I hope to join soon.
The game is very reminiscent of the original Excite Bike for NES. That’s a “plus” in my book.
