Trials HD

The basic idea of Trials HD is simple: use the throttle, brakes, and the direction your avatar is leaning to negotiate obstacles and reach the end of the course. Fortunately the game play is anything but. The physics engine in this game is astounding, making it possible to have a game that is easy to play but very, very difficult to master.

The game begins with a tutorial showcasing the simple controls. You hold RT for the gas, LT for brakes, and use the LS to move your character's body to the left or right. When you are going up a hill, it is best to move your character's body to the right, to prevent your bike from flipping over backwards and crushing him. The opposite is also true. This simple mechanic allows you to do flips, land seemingly impossible jumps, and more. The basic game mode is to reach the end of the course... these levels begin easy but become challenging very fast. After every time you crash you are given the option to either start from the beginning or at your most recent checkpoint. This system manages to keep you from getting frustrated while still keeping it extremely challenging. To achieve a gold medal you are forced to make a flawless run under a certain time which will take a lot of time. As you complete the basic game modes you unlock minigames with objectives like break as many bones as you can by bailing, stay on your bike in a wheel much like a hamster wheel, get as far as you can while pulling a trailer full of bombs that explode when bumped too hard, and many other fun games. You also unlock different motorcycles that have different attributes as you progress.

The sound and graphics in this game are excellent. Explosions look and sound great and the occasional commentary is very humorous. Everything looks extremely polished and it lives up to the high definition in its title.

This game also has very good lasting appeal for its price ($15). With a large number of courses, many different minigames, a leaderboard system, and a comprehensive track editor, this game is built to provide many hours of enjoyment. Whether playing on courses designed by you or your friends or compulsively trying to beat your best time, this game will not fail to entertain you for a long time.

I highly recommend that you purchase this wonderful title on XBLA for the excellent price of 15$.