12 years ago
Trials Evolution review (XBLA)
Trials Evolution was developed by RedLynx and published by Microsoft Studios. It was released April 18, 2012 for 1200 MSP. A copy was provided for review purposes.
Oh RedLynx, how are we supposed to get anything done when you release such addictive games? We logged close to a hundred hours into Trials HD, and grew a three day beard trying to complete the expert tracks. Looks like we’ll have to quit our jobs, because now Trials Evolution is out.
Evolution builds on everything that’s great about Trials HD. For the uninitiated the premise to to ride a motorcycle over obstacles and to the finish. The left and right triggers control the throttle and brake while the left thumbstick controls the rider’s balance. It’s a simple yet incredibly addictive formula that RedLynx started back in 2000, and Trials Evolution is the latest and greatest installment in the series.
12 years ago
What we expect to see made in the Trials Evolution editor
We love community content. Mods are what make good games great and great games love affairs. Mods can make a game last long after developers and publishers have lost interest in it. But mods are a bit of a taboo thing on consoles. How do you do it without sacrificing security of the system? It’s kept great expansions from console gamers, but RedLynx is one of the few that actually embraces mods with an in-game editor.
We’ve seen the amazing things that can be done in Trials HD, but Trials Evolution looks to throw away everything you know about ‘weak’ console mods. Its pro editor unlocks all of the power of the engine, and we’ve already seen RedLynx create a number of crazy scenarios — from Angry Birds to ‘Splosion Man. Here’s what we expect to see from the talent Trials community. We’re not saying these are guaranteed, just merely suggestions:
Trials 2 and Trials HD remakes – Obvious? Maybe, but we’re still throwing it out there. Director of Marketing Jason Bates already stated that RedLynx fully expects remakes, and we’re hoping they’re right. And you know what? We’ll fill our hard drive with as many tracks and minigames as folks make.
Well, maybe not all the Extreme ones . . .
12 years ago
XBLA’s Most Wanted: Star Wars Jedi Academy
In the late 90’s and early-mid 2000’s LucasArts was king. Games like Grim Fandango, Star Wars Battlefront, Star Wars Jedi Knight, Mercenaries and Secret Weapons over Normandy sucked gamers into their respective universes with their compelling stories and addictive gameplay. But while we love each of these games, one stands paramount above the rest: Star Wars: Jedi Academy.
The fourth game in the Dark Forces series, this title saw series protagonist Kyle Katarn take a back seat to Jedi Padawan Jaden Korr, a blank slate character. Players could customize Korr, changing clothes, lightsaber hilt and color, fighting style, force powers, even the species and gender. It was the first time in the history of Star Wars gaming that the playable character was whatever the player wanted them to be. The campaign allowed players to pick and choose missions as they saw fit, and the multiplayer had a number of strong game types and maps to choose from.
We miss it. We want it back.
12 years ago
When you need a laugh. . .
Occasionally folks contact us after they’ve been banned from LIVE. Can we get them unbanned? Is there someone higher up that we can get them in touch with? Nope. …
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12 years ago
What to expect from us at PAX East
Find out what developers and publishers the XBLA Fans team will meet with at PAX East
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12 years ago
PSA: Trials Tuesday returns next week
From February to August of last year we ran a weekly segment called Trials HD Tuesday. We showcased one user-created track each Tuesday along with information on how to …
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12 years ago
Trials HD Easter Eggs may add up to something more
The following comes from a contributor who wishes to be simply known as Fatshady. Big thanks to Fatshady and the rest of the Trials HD community for all their hard work!
Every time I meet someone who has played or even heard of Trials HD, I mention the “Trials HD Riddle”. The entire story about it I find totally fascinating, largely due tot he fact that the riddle has remained so well hidden. If you have ever played Trials HD, ask yourself this: Did you know that there were 18 unique Easter Eggs hidden within the tracks? Did you know these all connect to form a riddle that has remained unsolved for over two years? You didn’t? Well read on my friend, you are in for an eye-opening experience.
When I reflect on just about any other game that has a large player base and numerous Easter Eggs, there are countless wiki’s, YouTube videos and walkthroughs on most websites. Trials HD was played by over two million people yet the smallest percentage of them even know that there are secrets hidden amongst the tracks. What is even more astounding is that an even smaller percentage know that all of these combine to form one of the most elusive riddles found within a video game. With the upcoming sequel, Trials Evolution due to be released on April 18, I thought it was appropriate to share this riddle story one final time to ensure that one of the most fascinating aspects of 2009’s ‘Best Overall Game’ is not forgotten about.
Most people simply don’t believe that these clues have remained hidden for so long. I find that it is much easier to show them all so here is a recap of what we have found to date. To bring you up to date with the investigations, let me now go through these one by one and explain what we believe they are. This is a summary of the nearly 50 pages over at the official RedLynx forums regarding the riddle. Read it here
12 years ago
Is XBLA’s Most Wanted working?
When we started XBLA’s Most Wanted back in February of 2011 we did so more for fun. It was, in our minds, a pipe dream to actually think some of these games would be hitting Xbox Live Arcade. Yet over the past year we’ve seen both announcements and releases that directly correlate with some of the games on our most wanted list. Now to be fair we realize that we’re just one site, but at the same time we know that developers and publishers look out on the web for what the fans want. We like to think we’re a little part of that. Here are some examples that make us think XBLA’s Most Wanted is successful:
12 years ago
Straw Poll Wednesday: What was your favorite House Party game?
[poll id=”2″]
Now that we’ve seen all four games released, which one did you love most. We had mixed feelings. We loved Alan Wake’s American Nightmare, and Warp was a …
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