Trials Fusion, the sequel to Trials Evolution, is finally here. It’s available on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and previous generation consoles, and we’ve sat down to play the game on PC.
Games coverage on the Internet is constantly changing. Lots of gamers turn to YouTube to watch others play a game before deciding whether they want to buy it. Others prefer the more traditional game review to help them decide. Why choose? Today, we are bringing you the best of both worlds, a somewhat traditional review of Trials Fusion, and a video showing what the gameplay offers. It’s the best of both worlds.
So how is Fusion? How does it compare to the other games in the series? Keep reading to find out!
The video that follows will give you a feel for the game. If you prefer to watch gameplay and draw some of your own conclusions, this let’s play will be perfect for you!
Trials is a game available at a budget price of $20. It’s a price that you might expect to see from an indie game, but this game actually comes from Ubisoft, the very same company responsible for the mega-hit Assassin’s Creed. Because it comes from Ubisoft, this game does require Uplay, which will be an annoyance for some PC gamers who prefer to roll into their games right from Steam. It shouldn’t be a deal-breaker, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind before you drop your hard-earned money on it.
At it’s core, Trials is a series where the player tries to navigate their motorcycle to the end of a level with varying degrees of difficult terrain preventing them from making it smoothly. Fusion doesn’t break this core aim of the game, but it does introduce some new mechanics that help make it feel somewhat fresh.
The physics play a key part in how the player will manipulate their way through the world, and while they aren’t necessarily realistic, they do have a great feel once you get used to them. The bike has a great deal of weight to it, and pulling off flips gets a little bit of extra challenge, as the weight and momentum of the bike will often cause you over spin until you become adjusted. One you unlock the 4=wheel drive ATV, the weight changes even more, which makes things ever more interesting.
Progression in the game is based around earning medals, which feel a lot like a mobile game. In order to move on to the next set of levels, you will need a certain amount of medals, which means you may have to go back and play some level that you’ve already beat over again. This extends the life of the game, but it could also prove to be an annoyance, as you might have to bang your head against a level over and over just to improve your time.
The biggest new mechanic introduced in Trials Fusion is FMX tricks. Using the right stick the player manipulates the biker to pull off various moves. My biggest issue with the trick system is that it’s not used enough. Each section of levels only features one trick stage. You can do tricks at any time, but they are only scored on these specific levels, which feels a little disappointing.
Overall, the gameplay in Trials Fusion is just fun. However, if you are not the kind of person who enjoys perfecting gameplay mechanics to earn faster times and struggling with later levels, you will hate this game. It’s not easy by any stretch of the imagination, and for gamers who are seeking a challenge, Trials Fusion will make them incredibly happy.
On PC, you can play Fusion with a mouse and keyboard, but it’s best played with a controller. It’s a game that’s made with consoles in mind, and as such, a controller delivers the intended feel.
The controls are simple enough, with the left trigger braking, the right trigger accelerating, and the left stick controlling lean on the biker, which adjusts the angle of the bike for landing and pulling off flips. The right stick is used to do tricks, and it’s a very interesting mechanic. Basically, you rotate the stick to move the bikers legs around the handle bars. Different spots cause him to take different positions, thus performing different tricks. It took me a bit to get used to it, and pulling off specific tricks can be a bit of a pain.
Trials Fusion is a great looking game. The tracks feel very alive with explosions happening in the background as you race along. Instead of flat stagnant levels, this makes the world feel very alive. Some of the tracks change as you go, too, which makes the game look even cooler.
I did notice some framerate issues when on the snowy and sandy levels. For the most part, the game ran very smoothly, but every now and then it would hang up. Still, it never slowed to the point of being unplayable, but it was definitely annoying. The beautiful looking art style of the game makes up for this a bit, as does the variety of scenery as you move from level to level.
The soundtrack is quite good, and the little bits of audio story elements that develop as you play make the world feel more alive. It has some really catchy music that makes you subconsciously nod your head as you play, which is about all you can ask for from a game.
I was not a hardcore Trials player before Fusion, though I have sampled each one. I must say, this game gets my seal of approval. However, if you’ve played a ton of the previous games, the new stuff in this one just might not be enough to keep you engrossed for the long haul. However, if you’ve been craving more, or didn’t play much of the previous games, this game is definitely worth the $20 price tag.
Buy on Steam, or digitally on your platform of choice.
MakeUseOf recommends: Buy it if you like a challenging game with solid arcade mechanics and physics.
