One of the early independent successes from the days of Xbox Live Arcade on the Xbox 360, Trials mashed together several elements: roller coaster like obstacle courses, off-road bikes, stunt jumps and the physics engine of all those old freeware motorcycle stunt games you used to play on PC. You know, those ones where all the bike wheels were shaped like four-leaf clovers, the suspension was made by the same company supplying Inspector Gadgets limbs and your task was to clamber over Mario-esque platforms. Ferociously addictive in its own right before even adding in enticements for repeat play like friend and global leader boards and the promise of unlockable bikes for bigger, higher, faster play, Trials was superb. The kind of game youd switch on to wind down with after work only for it to gobble up two unexpected but glorious hours. The unlock system worked on the Metroid system of striptease by showing the player something just out of reach with the measly 50cc bike but something youd definitely reach if only you had the 150cc brute. One more go before bed, then! Trials happily spawned sequels and continues onto the Playstation 4 and Xbox One.
Bryan Langley’s first console was the Super Nintendo and he hasn’t stopped using his opposable thumbs since. He is based in Bristol, UK and is still searchin' for them glory days he never had.
