The year is 2019. Roxanne and Slayter, the offspring of the legendary Rex Power Colt, are going to Vietnam War 4 to save freedom, and save the world.
Rex and Sash, children of the legendary Rex "Power" Colt from Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, are back. But this time they face their enemies on bikes. Developed by Ubisoft RedLynx and published by Ubisoft, Trials of the Blood Dragon is the unlikely union of Blood Dragon's neon 80s universe with the demanding physics of the Trials franchise. The result is exactly as strange and bold as it sounds.
The motorcycle courses central to the Trials series are at the heart of the game, but RedLynx adds brand new sections: on-foot platforming, a jetpack, an RC car and other surprise vehicles. Blood Dragon's retro-futuristic 80s aesthetic wraps everything in a hallucinatory cybernetic cartoon atmosphere.
We loved: The atmosphere. Trials of the Blood Dragon is a love letter to 80s pop culture: neons, synthwave, absurd dialogue, cyborgs and cult one-liners. If you love Blood Dragon's aesthetic, you are in familiar, playful territory.
We liked: The variety of mechanics. Adding a jetpack and on-foot sections to the Trials formula was risky. As critics acknowledge, it is uneven, but some passages are genuinely delightful in their eccentricity.
Our highlight: The soundtrack. In the direct lineage of Blood Dragon, this crossover's OST is a collection of synthwave and retro-electro sounds that fits the game's universe perfectly.
Our tip to help you: On motorcycle sections, stick to Trials fundamentals: manage your centre of gravity, anticipate obstacles and do not rush technical zones. Jetpack sections need adjustment: buoyancy is greater than the Trials series has trained you to expect.
Who is this game for?
Trials of the Blood Dragon is aimed at players aged 16 and over: Trials franchise fans wanting an offbeat experience, and Blood Dragon fans curious about this unlikely mashup. It is not the most accomplished Trials game, but it is certainly the most original and atmospherically memorable.
