Yes, it's a Trials game with a story. Set after the events of FarCry 3: Blood Dragon, you play as Roxanne and Slaytor, the children of Rex “Power” Colt, who follow in their father’s footsteps. The story is intentionally silly, but never laugh-out-loud funny. Even if you do laugh the first time, the jokes will wear thin after you hear them again and again. Trials games require repetition and experimentation to find that perfect route or master that tricky jump. It’s rewarding when you pull it off, always has been. But each time you hit that restart button (for the entire level or just the last checkpoint) you’ll have to listen to that same dialogue again, and again, and again. Thankfully, you can adjust the volume for it, and continue to enjoy the excellent 80s synthwave soundtrack from Power Glove.
With the new narrative comes new gameplay: now you can leave the bike and continue on foot at certain points in the level. The idea is strong and has potential, but it’s made frustrating by the slower pace and abysmal jump. This jump is possibly the worst jump ever programmed into a side-scrolling platformer. It feels like it accelerates as you rise, rather than logically slowing as you approach the peak. This means that you’ll need to press the jump button a little sooner than you’d expect to in order for Slayter/Roxanne to clear a ledge. There’s also a small clipping issue that frequently sees you jumping high enough to progress, but apparently not quite making it despite what your eyes are telling you, costing you precious seconds and a higher place on the leaderboard.
These sections, as well as some of the more traditional Trials sections, also have you shooting at soldiers and glowing magenta pods in order to reach the next checkpoint. Shooting is handled by the right stick; simply point it at the thing you want dead to spray bullets. This adds a layer of complexity to the gameplay as you have to manage your movement and aim whilst crossing traps and avoiding return fire, testing your concentration in new ways. Some levels require you to avoid searchlights or lasers, these forego the normal high-speed pace of a Trials game and are consequently the most boring parts of the campaign.
The aesthetic is going to please any fans of the 80s and its pop culture. With numerous references, garish colours, and bizarre adverts that briefly interrupt the cutscenes between levels, there’s no mistaking that this is a game meant to parody and celebrate a time before smartphones and the internet. This is accompanied by a soundtrack (which I have been enjoying via the in-game jukebox while writing this) that complements the look and feel of the package and is probably the strongest aspect of the game.
The game features over 30 levels across a variety of locations (including some odd Hotline Miami themed missions) and can be beaten in a few hours. There’s the usual Trials replayability with leaderboards to top and secrets to find, and you can’t really scoff at the price tag. There are a few extras in the form of your “Inner Beast” (a small avatar that evolves if you score highly enough) and the sticker book (stickers are earned for scoring at least an A on a level), which fill out the experience and encourage progression without really affecting gameplay.
If you’re a fan of the Trials games, you’ll likely be frustrated by the lack of familiar content, the big jumps and ridiculous stunts are all there, but they’re not the focus; giving way to the poor platforming on foot.