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You need to buy a new backspace button. Preparation is vital when purchasing Trials 2: Second Edition because you’re not going to get very far without a replacement backspace key. Much like TrackMania’s reliance on the ‘restart key’, Trials 2 attempts to convey the same aim. The concept couldn’t get any easier. Your responsibility is a lone figure on a motocross bike and getting him safely to the end of an obstacle course riddled with jumps, boxes and drops. It’s the evolution of an online flash game that goes by the same name (give it a go here if you wish). Obviously buying the game (off steam preferably) gets you a 3D version with fully kitted out tracks. The game also incorporates online records, a built in IRC channel and Steamworks’ achievements. Trials 2 attempts to socialise a typically loner affair, but at such a low price do you get bang for your buck or scammed into a dolled up flash game?
So what exactly do you get for your $10? Feature wise, Trials 2 packs a serious amount of content. There are four game types; race (a simple A – B), flip (A – B with flips), Wheelie (A – B while wheeling) and dynamic (a physics based A – B affair). The game adheres to the term ‘if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.’ You could argue that Trials 2 milks the concept, but a better argument would be that it’s providing a sense of variation. You get 40 tracks in total to tear up and apart from the tutorial / easy tracks; you’re in for a big learning curve. The game explains the concepts via text and then leaves you to figure out how to finish the levels.  You can accelerate or brake while at the same time either leaning to the right (perfect for going over jumps / going uphill) or to the left (good for enacting wheelies / going downhill. It’s a simple balancing act which can be instantly picked up. From then on, any views bordering towards the facile, end. You will continually fall off the bike, revving with too much power, leaning too far or simply landing awkwardly. The aim is to get to the end of the track with the least number of faults and in the quickest time. Once you’ve got through a level, the game uploads your time to the central server and ranks you in the world. There’s the option to add friends to a buddy list or join groups (aka clans), reducing the scale of times to compare yourself to. The average player will begin to struggle when they reach the medium levels, where timing jumps using advanced techniques comes into play. As you progress, a rudimentary experience point system unlocks levels; an attempt to slowly wean you onto harder gameplay mechanics. Each track has multiple checkpoints to ease your suffering. You’ll spam the respawn key as you fall folly to the might of Trials 2. Even the elite will struggle to master Trials 2. The game itself looks suitably impressive. Lighting is complex, the environments (of which there is one, an indoor warehouse) are detailed and there’s a decent amount of sheen. You can choose from a variety of camera angles, ranging from a 2D platform approach to a first person, dizzy-orientated view. The game looks very impressive at high resolutions, failing to disappoint with its volumetric particles and post processing effects. The ragdoll rider bounces about, reacting realistically to the course. It’s extremely satisfying sending him careering through the air while the tally of how many bones you’ve broken slowly climbs.  Trails 2: Second Edition has managed to get itself in a tough place. It’s got the casual elements of being cheap and suited to quick ten minute play, yet is too difficult for any ‘casual gamer’ to master. It’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing; fiendishly difficult, yet offering that pick up and play factor. Despite that, it does what it’s meant to do, but even so, we’re recommending that you try the demo before you play. Score: 7/10
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