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Trials HD

EMAIL PRINT xbox360

9.4 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 49 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 37 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Microsoft

Developer: RedLynx

Genre(s): Racing

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: August 12, 2009

Summary

[Xbox Live Arcade] Trials HD is a full-featured, physics-based motorcycle racing game with over 50 tracks in two unique game modes. Race Mode emphasizes balance, skill, and control as you tackle indoor obstacle tracks. Skill Mode features extreme stunt tracks in which explosions, crashes, and injuries cannot be avoided. A level editor enables players to create, share and download an unlimited number of free tracks. The game features stunning full HD graphics, rider customization, unlockable bikes, global rankings, all new in-game friend scores, and many other fun features. Can you handle the bruises and broken bones - and take part in a truly unique racing experience? [Microsoft]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Xbox World 360 Magazine UK

Trials feels so good when you nail it, you forgive teh 300 attempts it took to get there. [Oct 2009, p.104]

Pelit (Finland)

Combines driving and puzzle-elements into one seamless and addictive game. There's nothing else quite like it. Trials HD is simply fun. [Aug 2009]

TeamXbox

What’s most interesting is that there’s little in Trials HD that hasn’t been done before in other games, but RedLynx made this one just so darn tight with its physics and humorous crashes and thoroughly engaging challenges that you can’t put it down.

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Vandal Online

Trials HD is, hand down, one of the most solid titles of the Xbox Live Arcade platform, and one of the funniest we've played in the platform lifetime.

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1UP

I commend the game's focus on simplicity -- Trials HD doesn't have gratuitous power-up integration and smartly avoids an unnecessary Jump button. And the game is rife with content: the heavily replayable 42-stage campaign complements the Skill Games mode and the easy-to-use level editor.

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GameZone

Trials HD is the most addicting game I’ve played in quite some time, and you get a whole lot of game for a relatively small download fee. While there were plenty of great XBLA games released this summer, Trials is one that definitely shouldn’t get overlooked.

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WonderwallWeb

Trials HD is one of the most addictive games you will ever play. Just remember to take a break occasionally.

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GamePro

Enjoy the game for what it is and get better to beat your friends. It's entirely worth it.

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Eurogamer

It's wonderfully designed, justifies the price, and may end up being the best thing on Xbox Live Arcade all year. If you're in any doubt, there's even a trial version. Thud.

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Eurogamer Spain

Trials HD is an incredibly solid game. It's fast, fun and has a really good design. With lots of extras and some challenges for the most expert gamers, its price (1200 MS Points) make it a really good investment.

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Official Xbox Magazine UK

With such layered and near-endless challenges, not to mention the addition of a remarkably powerful level creator, you'll be firing this up for a quick blast for years to come. We don't say this often, deeply cynical as we are, but if for some ludicrous self-abusing reason you only buy one XBLA game this year, make it Trials HD. [R. King]

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VideoGamer

This is a game that can be played alone against the leaderboard and friend high scores, or in large groups, with everyone shouting and hollering at every comedic mishap. It's a game that seems tailor made for Xbox LIVE Arcade and we can't recommend it highly enough.

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Totally360

Simply put, Trials HD is one of the best Xbox Live Arcade titles ever, and a seriously nice showcase for the machine too.

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Computer and Video Games

Amazing physics playground with totally engrossing gameplay.

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ZTGameDomain

All in all Trials HD is a fantastic addition to the XBLA library and completely unlike anything else on Live Arcade. The game offers a superb amount of content and challenging gameplay that will keep you coming back over and over again.

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Destructoid

While you don’t necessarily need to enjoy racing games to fully "get it," I'm sure it'd certainly help. There aren’t many games like Trials HD in existence, especially not on Xbox LIVE Arcade, which should be reason enough to get you looking in the first place.

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X360 Magazine UK

You'd be a fool to live without it. [Nov 2009, p.104]

Hardcore Gamer Magazine

Trials HD is a whole lot of of fun. It seems simple enough, but there’s an incredible amount of skill needed to be good at it.

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DarkZero

There aren’t many games that justify the 1200 MS points price-tag on XBLA, but Trials HD is one of them. It’s addictive, accessible, competitive, and there’s plenty to do.

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Impulsegamer

In conclusion, Trials HD is a very entertaining game that takes puzzles, motorbikes and a healthy dose of frustration and rewards to the next level. It's amazing that something so simple is so addictive and proves that games don't have to be about shooting or plain racing.

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Xbox World Australia

Trials HD is quite easily the most underrated of this Winter of Arcade promotion as it appears to have been trumped by the likes of ‘Splosion Man and Shadow Complex.

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Console Monster

If this style of genre is to your tastes, or even if you just like a bit of a challenge, Trials HD is sure to please.

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GameFocus

Beyond the lame fact you can only trade levels with friends, who ever thought of that idiotic idea needs to get a lobotomy, the game is a great addition to Xbox Live Arcade. Solid gameplay with great graphics, audio and a wicked level editor this is one game you will have a ton of trouble putting down the controller once you start playing. A must buy for sure.

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Cheat Code Central

By the very nature of its genre, it can be maddeningly frustrating and repetitive, and this tendency increases markedly as you unlock harder courses. For these select few gamers, however, this is a must-buy, because it's not often that a top-notch time-trial game comes around.

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Gamervision

Trials HD manages to seamlessly combine elements from racing, puzzle, and platform games to make one of the most surprising gaming experiences of the summer. It’s everything you would want in a downloadable title: fun, challenge, replayability, and though it’s at the high end of the XBLA pricing spectrum at $15, it still feels like a great deal.

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Games Master UK

It may be a PC favourite, but the 360 community needs to get educated about this - and sharpish. [Sept 2009, p.82]

Planet Xbox 360

Trials HD is at the same time both a perfectionist's wet dream and horrifying nightmare. Who would have thought the Summer Of Arcade game with the worst name and simplest concept would be among XBLA's finest games?

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9Lives

The conclusion is simple: buy it. That’s my advice to anyone owning a Xbox 360. Trials HD sets out something really simple, but oh so addictive, especially when trying to beat your friends. Before you know it, you’ve spent another several hours on this game.

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MEGamers

Sure the game is tough at times, even infuriating. However, the controls, the physics, and the challenges will keep you coming for more.

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Game Over Online

While it’s not perfect, and the sharp increase in difficulty at the end isn’t for everyone, Trials HD is an incredible experience overall.

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Kombo

Perhaps Trials HD should be named "Holy crap, I'm doing flips while things are exploding and I can't put down the controller because I'm having so much fun" since Trials HD sounds rather boring compared to what the game actually entails. Trials HD is one of the must haves for your XBLA collection.

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MS Xbox World

If you’re looking for an addictive, fun skill game that anyone can enjoy and you’re shopping on a budget, look no further than Trials HD for just 800 Microsoft Points ($10.00 / £6.80).

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GameTrailers

It's straightforward and often unforgiving, but at 1200 points, you'd be hard pressed to find as infectious a downloadable game as Trials HD. If you're looking for a DLC title with an easy hook and replayability to spare, this one has a lot of rubber to burn.

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IGN

You'll find a truckload of content here, and there are certainly gluttons for punishment out there who will welcome the steep difficulty curve. The level editor, leaderboards, and replays really take advantage of what can be done with Xbox Live.

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Game Revolution

RedLynx might just have hit the jackpot with Trials HD as the longest lasting game in the Summer of Arcade lineup, rivaling even 'Splosion Man in terms of length with its level editor.

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3DJuegos

Amazing physics and funny gameplay, Trials HD is a fantastic addition to the XBLA library.

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NZGamer

Just playing through the game won't keep you occupied for a huge amount of time, but trying for top times and tinkering with the level editor will keep more dedicated players busy for absolutely ages.

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GamingExcellence

Fun and frustration have rarely come together in such a cohesive package as they do with Trials HD. Those looking for a physics puzzler that will push your gaming skills as far as they’ve ever been stretched have certainly found their new obsession. For the rest of us, Trials is still worth a look, but the recommendation is not quite as enthusiastic.

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GameCritics

With a notable level of craftsmanship and clear focus on its subject material, Trials HD is going to be endlessly addictive to the right kind of player. I wouldn't have guessed that player was me, but no matter how many times my bike crashed, I kept thinking I could do it if I tried just one more time, and I was constantly hungry to get it right.

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PALGN

Trials HD is perfectly suited to Xbox Live Arcade. It's extremely simple to pick up and play, has a span of difficulty catering to both casual gamers and the hardcore, and delivers a consistently and thoroughly entertaining experience.

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Official Xbox Magazine

In addition to a series of unlockable tournaments, Trials packs a bike and avatar editor, a compelling compilation of minigames (see sidebar), and that track editor. It’s an incredibly robust feature — perhaps even similar to the actual development tools — but it’s also highly intimidating.

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GameSpy

If you love physics puzzlers -- and, more importantly, don't mind one helluva challenge -- I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better option on XBLA.

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GameSpot

This exciting racing game is full of spectacular crashes and addictive time challenges, but it's a little light on content.

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Level7.nu

On the surface Trials HD doesn't seem to offer all that much. Somewhat shoddy bikes and exaggerated physics are supplemented by over the top trial and error obstacle courses. Making your way through these courses is no walk in the park, but the overall gameplay is so fun and addictive you'll try to beat them over and over again. This one of the true gems available on Xbox Live.

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Eurogamer Italy

Is this game 1200 MS Points worth? The answer is yes, but you have to be an hardcore player that loves challenges and is ready to stay hour on a single track trying to get gold and new records!

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Giant Bomb

Trials HD is geared toward a specific kind of game player, one who can put up with the repetition and attention to minute detail required to master its courses. If you're that sort of person, you'll find a lot of satisfying gameplay here.

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Gamer Limit

Whilst the game has a steep learning curve that may scare some players off, if you can persevere, earning the skills to do well in Trials HD will make you feel like a rock star.

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Teletext GameCentral

You'll either love or loathe the rote learning and rock hard difficultly in this next gen Kikstart.

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games(TM)

Infuriating and yet stupidly addictive. [Oct 2009, p.122]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 9.4 (out of 10) based on 37 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Apocalypse Brown gave it a9:
For ultimately a game that costs 1200 xbox live points, this is close to perfection. Addictive, challenging, and most of all extreme fun are a hallmarks of a classic game, which this almost is. The physics work extremely well, and you almost feel like your the faceless rider either achieve his goals or falling to incredible pain. Can't wait for down loadable content to flesh the game out a bit more, other than that I say this challenges Battlefield 1943 for down loadable content of the year!

John F. gave it an8:
Trials HD is a cool game that is worth the 1200 points. It is fun to play, simple to learn but very difficult to master. The difficulty is actually the game's main flaw. Don't get me wrong -- difficulty in itself isn't usually something that is a flaw in my mind, but in the case of Trials HD, the difficulty jumps very high with the later tracks, and it feels like a different game than when you first started because of it. Trials HD is at its best when you are able to fly through the tracks at high speed, but with the later tracks, the obstacles are so numerous and extreme that you can't do that unless you're uber. The checkpoints are very forgiving as they are often very close to the obstacle you are trying to clear, so you still could be able to complete many of the harder tracks in a matter of minutes. But the game slows down a lot as you proceed further on, and I thought it was better at high speed. Still, the game is good quality and should give you enough to do to make it worth your money, especially if you want to try and get all the medals and achievements -- something that is NOT easy.

Andy D. gave it a10:
It's described like an old 8bit kick start computer game and yes that's right and that's why its so good and so much fun, need more like this to takeover what has become of the boring trend of recently released full price lets go for online playability or achievement based gameplay only!!!

Qc C gave it a10:
This game is pure genius! The level editor will allow for hundreds, even thousands of tracks in the game's lifetime. Physics are everywhere, explosions, painful deaths, ludicrous minigames, leaderboards & replays, kickass graphics and superb lighting and particle effects. This game has it all, it's simple to learn yet insanely hard to master. It's one of a kind on XBLA, and it's a must own title.

Grant S gave it a10:
Game is amazing. One of the best purchases hands down (although I didn't like the idea of how much it cost- I tried the demo and was sold. TONS of replay value!). Difficulty ramps up- but so does the sense of satisfaction. Play the demo now, people- you'll buy it shortly thereafter, I'm sure.

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