The Trials
- October 1, 2021
- BLUE LIFE
- 18h median play time
Get on Steam"The Trials" is a physics-based puzzle game where players can record and playback box movements, switch between two parallel worlds, and use teleport stations to move around the level. These skills must be used strategically to navigate through increasingly complex levels and solve puzzles. The game offers a unique and challenging experience for players who enjoy problem-solving and manipulating the environment.
Reviews
- The game features a wide variety of challenging and inventive puzzles that require creative problem-solving skills.
- The graphics are beautiful, and the open world is inviting, enhancing the overall experience.
- The developer has shown a commitment to improving the game based on player feedback, which adds to the game's quality.
- Some puzzles lack clear instructions, making it difficult for players to understand the mechanics without trial and error.
- There are performance issues and some mechanics that could use more visual polish.
- The abundance of collectibles can be frustrating, especially when players struggle to track which ones they have found.
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its inventive mechanics, particularly the recording feature that adds depth to traditional first-person puzzle elements. While the intuitive mechanics of time recording, platform swapping, and teleportation create challenging puzzles, some early open-world puzzles feel unnecessary and less engaging. Recent updates have improved the jumping mechanics and adjusted puzzle difficulty, enhancing the overall experience.
“There's some great variety to the mechanics, a lot of which surprised me with their depth and inventiveness.”
“The recording mechanic feels like a very good twist on the usual cubes in a first-person puzzle game.”
“The three mechanics: time recording (only for boxes though), swapping platform locations, and teleporting to spots are very intuitive and make for challenging puzzles.”
“It does the same thing as The Witness, where it doesn't explicitly explain a lot of mechanics and you have to intuit them yourself, and that works better in some puzzles than others.”
“My problem with the game are the early open world puzzles that don't require a mechanic yet, more namely the block push puzzles.”
“Since the initial release, they have streamlined the jumping mechanics, simplified some of the trickier puzzles, and lengthened the record timeline.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game lacks a significant narrative, focusing primarily on puzzles, which may appeal to fans of the genre who prioritize gameplay over story. It is likened to a blend of "The Witness" and "The Talos Principle," but without the storytelling elements, making it ideal for puzzle enthusiasts. Players should be ready for a challenging experience involving climbing and jumping to complete trials.
“If you have been longing for The Witness and Talos Principle (sans the story) to have a child, now you are onto something.”
“No fanfare or story, you're here for the puzzles.”
“If you have been longing for The Witness and Talos Principle (sans the story) to have a child, now you are on to something.”
“If you're a big fan of puzzle games and don't care about the lack of story, this is a great game, especially for the price.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, users report mild performance issues related to optimization, indicating that while the game generally runs well, there are occasional minor hiccups.
“I experienced some very mild performance issues.”
“The game suffers from significant optimization problems.”
“There are frequent frame drops that make the gameplay frustrating.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are widely praised for their stunning beauty, showcasing impressive visual quality that enhances the overall gaming experience.
“The graphics are absolutely beautiful.”
“The visual design is stunning and incredibly detailed.”
“The art style is breathtaking, making every scene a joy to behold.”
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game enhances the open world experience, featuring pleasant sounds and background tracks that create an inviting atmosphere.
“The open world is inviting with nice sounds and background music.”
