Trials Evolution Review - Keep rollin', rollin', rollin'

Strap on your crash helmet and padding; you are going to face plant, break some bones and come crawling back for more in the Xbox Live Arcade release of Trials Evolution. For those somehow unfamiliar with the Trials series, it is a collection of challenging, obstacle-riddled tracks which you must complete on your motocross bike with as few faults as possible.

Trials Evolution packs shiny new graphics and the maps have been made more dynamic than ever. There is no shortage of pyrotechnics as pieces of levels explode, break apart and change as players progress through the level. When players finish, there is often a big explosive send off for the rider as bombs drop, shipment containers fall or the rider simply slams into stacked debris. RedLynx has outdone itself in this regard with some fantastic and diverse level design. Some, including the fantastic Limbo-themed level, contain nods towards other indie titles and pop-culture references which is always a nice touch. The levels will test and challenge veterans of the series, but still accommodate for the newcomer. Simply completing some levels is a reward in itself, but there is always a new goal set by the game, by friends or by the online leaderboard.

There are some moments where it seems like the game goes out of its way to be challenging. Some landings are shrouded in shadow or blocked by pillars and debris, and there are platforms that will change between the time players first see them and actually attempt the jump or landing. The old expression “slow and steady wins the race” can be thrown out the window because, while a perfect run is regarded highly by the game, certain jumps and sections require momentum. All of these factors mean that a trial and error approach is required at times, which is an artificial way of extending a title that can otherwise easily pull people back.

As long as you can earn enough medals, in any way at all, it is possible to unlock the next event and new challenges. Thankfully this means that overly challenging levels can be skipped until players feel they can tackle it with renewed vigour. RedLynx has also made it possible to scour the online leaderboard to view replays, which may help players to get past tricky parts. Unfortunately, the in-game ghosts are no more than dots which tell you where a rider is, but the replay option more than makes up for this with its breakdown of throttle or brake as well as the ability to enter slow motion for greater analysis.

Once again, the additional side skill games return, but they seem to show off the potential of the in-game editor more than act as a side distraction. The games are an eccentric bunch which have players testing their skills without fuel or without brakes, or put other qualities to the test as players land UFOs or play a Splosion Man clone. A handful of them will certainly be replayed, but they don’t hold the same draw as throwing a rider down a set of stairs to teach them a lesson.

Traditional multiplayer is the big new addition to Trials Evolution. The local side of things is a blast as up to four players rampage along a series of tracks and compete for the victory. A variety of tracks can be chosen as part of a tournament, which ensures that bragging rights are always at stake and players can continue to build or sustain rivalries. The action is fast and frantic and this allows players to hop straight into another tournament, which is the inevitable outcome of finishing one. Races are kept competitive because when players crash or drop too far back, they lose a point for the fault but get reset at the next checkpoint. This means that even the most unsteady rider could win from the last checkpoint and lessen the damage done by fault points. The multiplayer is easy to get into and even newer players will be able to compete after a handful of races. Unfortunately, there is a limited track selection and very few are that challenging, which means you’ll be replaying the same tracks a lot.

So far, the online multiplayer has been a disappointment. It takes a long time to find a match which really takes away from the experience. While it is possible to rematch when the tournament is done and dusted, I have found myself back at the searching screen once again. This is where the quick and frantic side of Trials gets exposed as a negative because players spend so much more time searching than actually playing online.

Trials Evolution as a stand-alone title is excellent, but it is always going to be compared to its older sibling, Trials HD. When the word “Evolution” is mentioned, many would conjure the image of humans evolving from apes. The problem is that Trials HD was so good that Trials Evolution feels like the evolution of an ape to a slightly bigger and prettier ape. The graphics are shinier, the levels are more dynamic and the level editor is a pastime in itself, but it stands alongside the superb Trials HD rather than overshadows it. Trials Evolution is a steal at 1200 points because there is so much content and play time contained within…just don’t tell RedLynx that.

Need for Speed: The Run Preview

EA heard that you like races, so they put a race in your race! That is the basic premise of Need for Speed: The Run. The protagonist Jack Rourke is involved in a coast to coast race, but within each stage there are objectives set. The overall goal is to arrive in New York as the leader of the pack of over 150 competitors. This is more than a race for prize money or bragging rights. Along the way Jack must avoid cops and criminals who are willing to do whatever it takes to stop him. This is a race for Jack’s life.

Need for Speed: The Run uses the Frostbite 2 engine and puts it to good use from what has been showcased thus far. This engine allows the EA team to go bigger and better than ever. The landscapes look beautiful, although you can't pay too much attention when racing at breakneck speeds. Environments can be changed and its impact felt on the race track. With the landscape of the United States so varied, it presented a challenge and an opportunity to the development team. Races through snowy planes fall subject to avalanches, while more urban settings can be altered thanks to third party influences.

One particular level features a race for survival against the criminal elements presented in Need for Speed: The Run. As you come under a barrage of bullets and heavy impacts it really does feel like a survival challenge. And then, the helicopter is called in. This addition will test every fibre of your racing ability. It is no longer about racing quickly, but about dodging bullets, spotlights, falling debris and dead ends. This is a tough and unforgiving mission that changes the feel of the game. Suddenly, it is a completely different type of Need for Speed game rather than the same formula that has been seen in the series to date.

The racing is exciting with a range of exotic cars, environments and challenging competitors. There is great variety included in The Run as well. It is no longer about earning the quickest car and simply racing to the end in that. From what has been shown off so far, players will be forced to adapt to new cars for one reason or another. When the new environments are also taken into account, there will be plenty to keep new and old Need for Speed players occupied.

It is fair to say that the E3 trailer concerned many players. In it, players were shown Jack running about on foot with Quick Time Events (QTEs) thrown in. This is something that EA was keen to highlight. While these are present in-game, they represent less than 10% of the overall gameplay. It was pointed out that the choice was to use this interactive segment or use a cut-scene instead. In the end, EA decided to go down the route of QTEs and is happy with that choice.

EA has been cagey when it comes to the multiplayer side of The Run. All that could be confirmed so far is that there will be multiplayer. Like the more recent Need for Speed titles, it will feature the Autolog and allow players to compare their times with those of their friends. This is a social feature that EA is committed to and goes back to the basics of multiplayer gaming: bragging rights become important once more.

Need for Speed: The Run is shaping up to be an exciting rollercoaster ride across America. It is the biggest game of the franchise and looks to push the boundaries of what players have come to expect from the Need for Speed series. The game comes out on PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii and 3DS. The release date is staggered with North America getting it on November 15, Australia on the 17^th and Europe on the 18^th. Japan must wait until December 1^st.

Ultimate FIFA Adventures Season 2

It's been an absolute blast to record this season so far. Our game has stepped up, we understand Ultimate Team more, we are playing better and we are communicating. To make it even better, we have a few wins under our belts   :)

Outside of the game, things have also been stepped up. A HD camera was finally purchased to ensure the best quality all round...made sense seems as we had the PVR already running - though the quality was being reduced overall because of the video camera. As for sound, experimented with an external mic on a stand - good quality mic, but it's not picking up the sound as required. Time for us to just speak louder all the time!

Going to upload videos here now as well. No such thing as too many places to post! So, here is the season so far.

More every Wednesday!

No MK love for XBox?

I have been won over by some fighting games in recent times. Well, primarily Street Fighter. But I am willing to give others a bash. Marvel could have been fun but I got overly frustrated by being kept at full screen by a barrage of gun shots. However, I was looking forward to Mortal Kombat 9. The downside? I am an XBox owner.

It didn't bother me that XBox owners weren't getting an additional character. I'm sure there are enough in game for me to mess around with and learn in greater detail. Add in the tag team approach and you are just adding an extra element of learning.

However, I am slightly bothered by the lack of a demo. I will be getting MK9 tomorrow and jumping into it pretty cold. I would have liked a little time to get to grips with it and mess around with characters or combos. Instead, I will be leaping into combat with a simple jump-kick-sweep approach.

It is too late for a demo now. Full retail will be the way to jump in and learn. At least there is the promise of a good training mode.

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile - Review

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is the sequel to the 2009 release, The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai. It is currently available on XBox 360 for 800 XBox Live Arcade points. Ska Studios is behind both releases and is well known for other Indie titles including I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES 1NIT!!!1 . 

If Shank, Limbo and Fear were to have an illegitimate love child, the result would be The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile. Combine the gratuitous violence of Shank, the simplistic beauty of Limbo and the psychotic chilling story of Fear and you have an idea of what to expect.

There are two separate solo campaigns available. These run in tandem with one another for a large part of the game.

In one, the player takes on the role of Yuki, the step sister of the protagonist (The Dishwasher) of the original title. The opening sequence harkens back to the first title where The Dishwasher battles Yuki. After being reanimated, she experiences a series of nightmares that give the player an idea of the surreal imagry that is to follow. She must break out of the prison and set out on a quest to take revenge on the three figures of power responsible for her incarceration. These are her three marks on the world: Banker, Judge and General. 

For those who have played the original, the player resumes the familiar character of The Dishwasher. He sets off to find and assist Yuki. The player must battle through a sleuth of enemies in a bid to track down Yuki. Upon meeting, the story takes a darker turn which you will have to play to enjoy!

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile looks great despite an abundance of grey and somewhat simplistic visuals. What it may lack in graphical detail, it more than makes up for in violence and gameplay quality. The game is quick but accessible. For the technically minded, it is possible to string together massive combos that expand beyond the typical, "Mash X". Both characters have the ability to dash, which allows for avoiding attacks, moving through gates, and getting from one enemy to another in the blink of an eye. With such an impressive visual and speed, why would you walk anywhere?

The story part of the game is told through comic strips. The images used are chilling and dark but excellently done and implemented. They don't take all day to scan through, avoid the risk of poor voice acting, and are possible to skip if the player has to come back but has seen it before. 

Players have plenty to aim for when playing. There are times when it is better to go against the sign posted route. Exploration often leads to gifted items, powers or minigames. Yuki is a proficient violin player while The Dishwasher is a dazzling guitarist. Here, the characters can bring some colour into the world as fireworks explode as the "concert" reaches a crescendo.

Regardless of how good the player is at hitting buttons in time, the game will not punish as bum notes are not implemented. Players who lose track of the controller layout will simply be rewarded with a lower percentage. And of course, to top it off, the instrument of choice gets slammed into the ground. If Yuki and The Dishwasher weren't trying to exorcise demons, they would be chart toppers.

Each level gives a tally of score, highest combo, time taken and so on. Competitive players may replay levels multiple times to perfect a run. There is also a speedrun difficulty. For those who need variety, there is a co-op storyline along with an arcade mode and the Dish challenge. The latter features an online leaderboard where players can showcase their best run for slicing and dicing waves of enemies. Finally, for those that seek perfection, there is a practice room.

The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is not for the faint of heart. Battles are fast and frantic. In co-op it can be especially tricky to work out where your own character is on screen. The coloured arrow overhead is helpful but doesn't always stand out enough against the backdrop of spraying blood. Blood splatters on the walls and screen, and executions result in characters being sliced or torn from limb to limb. For those who believe that games are turning people into killers, there is plenty of ammunition as multiple rooms feature screens that flicker between "WAR" and "KILL".

Don't tell Microsoft but The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile is a steal at just 800 points. If you love fast, fluid combat with plenty of over-the-top violence, this is the title that will make your year. Finally, players can feel like a bad ass without actually facing physical harm. Dodge, duck, dive, dip and dodge with the greatest of ease while slicing enemies in two. And if you get bored of that, crack out a violin or guitar solo or two. What's not to love? 

Monday Musing

As I sit here and type frantically, my XBox is blipping away in the background. I recently submitted a Monday Musing. Unfortunately, nothing appeared on the Dashboard for a while - in fact, Monday Musing seemed to disappear altogether for a while...

But then, a message appeared: "you've been featured." "Featured in what?", I thought. Unfortunately, my internet has been acting up over the weekend. So, naturally, it immediately disconnected once I received that message rendering me unable to reply or check the dashboard.

Once it came back, the blips came thick and fast. Friend requests, messages, chat invites and party invites. For the most part, people were pleased for me. Suddenly, I became a celebrity for my brief moment of fame. With that came the inevitable disagreement. Surprisingly few people disagreed with me, or at least took the time to message me to show their disapproval.

I have been doing the "right" thing up to now. I have messaged everyone back - both those who supported and disagreed with me. I also accepted all friend requests...until I realised that I was up to 87 friends (from about 20) and that there is a staggeringly low limit on XBox Live. Of course, my internet dropped too so this post is likely to be saved locally before posted at a later time.

I will post up the Monday Musing for others to enjoy - if it has been edited, two versions will be posted...I accept all feedback - good and bad. I will try to respond and, hopefully, can accept your friend request should it come to that (SabreO001 - frustratingly, Sabre0001 is gone...and I may have taken it by accident without realisation that all accounts were linked - what a n00b!).

Thanks to all who messaged me (again, good or bad), friend requested me, and invited me to parties or chat! Nice to know that people do read these things once in a while.