Tricks And Treats
HIGH Stringing together a 57-multiplier combo.
LOW Concussion-inducing overhangs that are difficult to avoid.
WTF Doing the worm on a bike 20 feet in the air.
Urban Trial Tricky is the latest in the Urban Trial series. I haven’t played any of the others, but Tricky has been a fantastic place to get acquainted.
Players jump on a motocross-style bike and rush down large playscapes filled with ramps, quarter pipes, large seesaws, and even the occasional trampoline. Gameplay includes timed solo races where tricks provide time boosts, competitions where players need to perform a set list of stunts, and freestyle trick runs where players get to cut loose and earn big points.
Once airborne, gamers pull off a variety of stunts — from the straightforward, like the Superman (let go and “fly” with the bike) to the more outrageous, like the Riverdance (yes, dancing on the seat while soaring through the air!). Players string together moves by popping a wheelie and performing tricks while burning rubber between ramps.
Most of the courses are city scenes, often with a construction theme, so a little monotony sets in. Fortunately, track layout is rarely repetitive and the graphics are bright and colorful. Tricky’s cartoon style really amplifies the over-the-top action.
Play is held together effortlessly with responsive controls that always felt like I was in command while careening through the air at breakneck speeds. Controlling the bike is reminiscent of the balance needed in Excitebike and the mammoth combos found in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, but even a novice like me was able to chain together large combos thanks to excellent controls.
Sadly, a few courses have low-hanging areas that knock players down with even the slightest jump. Watching a large combo be wiped out by these poorly-placed beams and walls was frustrating. Thankfully, there aren’t many trouble spots and most courses flow smoothly from beginning to end.
While the experience was a little short at about five hours, the time spent with Urban Trial Tricky was well worth it — even with a few small bumps in the road, I enjoyed the ride from start to finish.
Disclosures: This game is developed by and published by Tate Multimedia. It is currently available on Switch. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the Switch. Approximately 5 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was completed. There are no multiplayer modes.
Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated E. Parents, this one is about as safe as it gets. When players crash the falls look hard, but there’s no blood – the rider simply lies on the ground, as if knocked unconscious.
Colorblind Modes: There no colorblind modes available in the options.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: During tutorials, trick names and button mapping is displayed on screen. This text, as well as menu text, is not adjustable. There are no noticeable audio cues within the game. This game is fully accessible.
Remappable Controls: No, this game’s controls are not remappable, but it does offer single JoyCon control options.
When he does find time to play, Brian’s preferred games of choice are platformers, beat-‘em-ups, or a good adventure game.He still enjoys the retro gaming scene, could talk about the Nintendo 64 more than he might like to admit, and misses playing in actual arcades. Brian also gets to pass on his love of gaming, as his oldest son is just now starting to join the fun.
As for that GameBoy - it’s sitting in Brian’s nightstand, waiting patiently for four AA batteries.
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