Trials HD is among the most refined Xbox Live Arcade games. Its lifelike physics and diverse environments allow for hours of gameplay, whether you’re engaged in quirky challenge courses or tackling extreme tracks while honing the timeliness of your leans. The realism in weight and momentum of the rider and his bike allows for some of the most specifically calculated maneuvers seen in the game’s genre. Now, just when you thought you’d mastered every possible technique and conquered every course, RedLynx bestowed upon you the Trials HD Big Thrills map pack – the only time travel machine you’ll ever need.
Seriously, have you noticed how after what feels like 10 or so B-button restart presses, your fault counter actually reads 110 and it’s 15 minutes later? I know everyone watching me play at the time doesn’t. That’s the thing about Trials HD: it’s one of the most immediately immersive games, unless you’re watching someone else play it. Unlike your BioShocks and Fallouts, Trials HD isn’t designed to be a thrilling experience for bystanders. Very surprisingly, though, the contrary is true for Big Thrills maps. Sure, if a buddy is shooting for platinum I might excuse myself from the room for a few days, but a lot of the new tracks are downright fascinating.
As an example, I never imagined I’d be pushing barrels into a basket during a sort of mid-level quasi-puzzle, but that totally happened. I also didn’t expect to employ my bike as a button-pusher, but guess what? That happened, too. And while I hoped for a more rapid departure from traditional Trials HD levels, perhaps in the form of a jungle atmosphere wherein riders coast along fallen trees, I did have a fleeting moment of immense gratitude for the pirate ship-themed level. The feeling dissipated as abruptly as the level ended after less than a minute – a fun ride nonetheless, but can we have more of this next time?
The Big Thrills pack offers a lot of 2 things: thrills and big. I think most of the big is attributed to how stuffed this downloadable content is, packing a whopping 40 new courses and 3 shiny new achievements. The thrills become apparent once you’ve saddled up and moved past the added gimmicky beginner stage. Those hard and extreme levels are liable to induce controller-hurling rage, especially Pilgrimage, so make sure your TV is either bubble wrapped or readily wearing a catcher’s mitt. Thankfully, your efforts won’t go in vein, as once you complete all tracks, an entire third of the achievements will be in your possession. Good luck with the other 2, one of which involves the loathsome Micro Donkey. Happy trails!
Trials HD was a huge success since its Flash days, and RedLynx has only gotten better at keeping their game interesting. The developer’s mentality seems to mesh with the general rule of “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” and yet that doesn’t prevent them from taking chances. Some people may like the new camera angles that are proprietary to a select few levels; others may hate the change. That’s just one example, and it’s not universal, so while RedLynx doesn’t force players to completely readapt, they do offer a nod, a wink, and a handful of “now try it this way” challenges. There’s not much else to pine for when asked to chalk up 400 Microsoft points.
