Review

Before I even downloaded it, there were a number of questions swirling around Trials Fusion. Can it possibly be as good as Trials Evolution? Have RedLynx packed in too much content this time around? Will the introduction of stunts break the game? Thankfully, these questions have been answered in a more than satisfactory way as Fusion is another brilliant entry into the series.

First thing that hits you is that the presentation is more polished than ever, as befits the new futuristic setting. Menus are clean, well laid out and easy to follow and the levels are now set in a world that looks like it's ripped straight out of Halo. There's a lot of shiny glass and metal lining the levels, at least initially, and it allows the game to stand out when compared to the rest of the series. Whether it's the best looking Trials game remains to be seen, I still prefer Evolution, but it's still a fine looking game. The main disappointment is the music, which is nowhere near as much fun as the insane rock music that burst out of Evolution.

The new look and sound don't change the gameplay though. It still has a perfectly balanced learning curve with early tracks easing you in nicely and the latter ones requiring ninja skills to complete. Skill games no longer have a dedicated section on the menu and have been incorporated into the main career mode. Each career section now finishes with one of these mini-games: whether its going as far as possible without a front wheel or performing tricks to keep your adrenaline level high. As ever, these make a welcome distraction from the main game. For whatever reason, Tournaments have been dropped from the available events and I for one will miss the challenge of having to complete a number of tracks in a row without a single fault.

This brings me neatly onto the main new addition – tricks, or FMX as they are referred to in game. Thankfully these don't ruin the game in any way as RedLynx has sensibly included FMX only tracks. These features plenty of opportunities for you to catch massive air and, via careful manipulation of the right stick, perform all manner of grabs and flips to try and rack up huge scores. Once you've unlocked the FMX licence you can pull off tricks during the normal levels, giving Trials masters an extra chance to show off. Ultimately though, these levels aren't as enjoyable as the rest of the game.

The bikes themselves are unchanged from previous versions although they have all undergone a name change but this won't stop Trials veterans from instantly recognising which is which. A quad bike is the sole new addition and is a lot heavier than the other bikes but has four-wheel drive, which allows for greater power when travelling across land. You're also forced to use it for one whole section of the career mode!

I can't decide if this game is actually easier than the previous or if I'm just better at it now. Completing career mode, unlocking the deadly Extreme courses, took me only a couple of hours – although the Extreme courses are so far proving to be my downfall! Each level has three additional challenges to win giving a very strong reason to go back and replay them all. Also, the superb track editor has been included once more, meaning that there will always been new tracks to try even if you don't build any yourself and this is the first Trials game to have a Season Pass promising six additional DLC packs with tons of new tracks, modes and bikes. We'll never get bored!

Trials Fusion is a game that's every bit as good as Trials Evolution was. I'm not a massive fan of the FMX sections but its such a small part of the game, I can live with their inclusion. No other game series fills me with such exhilaration upon successful completion of the level. Quite simply: there's more content here for your £15 than most full-price releases manage. It's the best release of 2014 so far.

About the Review

Platform

Microsoft Xbox 360

Developer

RedLynx

Publisher

UbiSoft

Released

16th April 2014