Urban Trial Freestyle
- September 18, 2013
- Tate Multimedia
- 18h median play time
It's a bite sized portable game with tons of content and lots of fun.
"Urban Trial Freestyle" is a bike racing game where you perform tricks on a trials bike in various urban settings. Customize your bike and choose between Time Attack or Stunt mode. Challenge other players in Ghost Mode and climb the online leaderboards with over 140 challenges available. Impressive physics and dynamic animations add to the gameplay.
Reviews
- The game features dynamic level design with interesting backgrounds and engaging gameplay mechanics.
- It's a fun and addictive game, especially for fans of trials racing, and offers a decent challenge.
- The game is affordable, often available on sale for a very low price, making it a good value for casual gaming.
- The controls are unresponsive and frustrating, making it difficult to enjoy the gameplay.
- The game feels like a cash grab, lacking originality and depth compared to the Trials series.
- There are significant technical issues, including poor optimization and bugs that can disrupt gameplay.
- graphics107 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics in this game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the decent visuals and level design, while others criticize them as outdated and low-quality, particularly for a title with a mobile heritage. Many comments highlight the lack of graphical options and optimization issues, leading to a perception that the graphics do not meet modern standards. Overall, while some find the graphics enjoyable and fitting for the gameplay, others feel they fall short compared to competitors in the genre.
“This game is a whole lot of fun and extremely addictive, with its graphics being appealingly realistic (nice camera panning included), so that you quickly become completely absorbed.”
“Very polished, amazing graphics and very fun.”
“Really nice graphics for this type of game, the developers have done a marvelous job.”
“And while I will point out often in over 10,000 Steam reviews, doing the job professionally is a minimum requirement, the graphics are low poly (because of the age and mobile heritage), so they still look bad, and also, what's with the crappy blurry filter you can't turn off?”
“11 year old mobile phone graphics, even if once professionally done, don't cut the mustard.”
“Don't be fooled by the glamorous graphics and the shiny levels... this game subtly reminds me of one of those crappy PS2 games that you are so psyched for and end up becoming disappointed after the first few levels.”
- gameplay95 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Urban Trial Freestyle is a mixed bag, drawing heavily from the Trials series with its 2D platforming and stunt mechanics, yet often criticized for its simplicity and lack of depth. While many players find the controls intuitive and the level design creative, some express frustration with repetitive elements and unresponsive mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game offers a fun, adrenaline-fueled ride, especially at its low price point, making it a decent entry for newcomers to the genre.
“Urban Trials Freestyle is an adrenaline-fueled joyride that combines heart-pounding action with precision gameplay, delivering an exhilarating experience that keeps me coming back for more.”
“The intuitive controls make it easy for both newcomers and seasoned riders to enjoy the game without sacrificing the depth of the gameplay.”
“The level design is another highlight, with a perfect balance of difficulty that keeps the gameplay challenging without becoming frustrating.”
“Urban trial freestyle steals the core gameplay of the Trials series but fails to do anything interesting with it.”
“It’s a brief and utterly forgettable experience, one which only those who are willing to overlook its tedious gameplay in order to see their name in lights on its leaderboards will enjoy.”
“Now on to the cons: graphically lacking, gameplay is stiff and unresponsive, the levels may be interesting but you need to play each one twice, childishly easy, virtually no customization, not fun.”
- humor23 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many players finding it hilarious and entertaining, particularly due to its absurd situations and funny crashes. While some note that the humor may not be as varied as in other titles, the game's comedic elements contribute to its addictive and enjoyable nature, making it a great choice for those looking to add a lighthearted experience to their collection. Overall, players appreciate the blend of humor and challenge, often leading to laughter during gameplay.
“One of the most hilarious games I've ever played.”
“This game is enjoyable, frustrating (in a planned 'just one more go' kind of way), humorous (in fact downright funny in places) and very, very addictive.”
“Oh, the pain of crashing face side down... at the end of a smile, there's a laughing ahead.”
- story22 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is generally viewed as weak, with many users noting it as either non-existent or clichéd and boring. While some players appreciate the graphics and gameplay, they primarily seek fun and engaging mechanics rather than a compelling narrative. Overall, the consensus is that the game is enjoyable despite its lack of a strong story.
“But I'll be sure to play story mode again and again to get more stars and earn more records.”
“I like it, has nice graphics and engine, missing some story mode and seems like it's a 'little game' but I still recommend this game :)”
“It's a nice game, it feels like the motorcycle games on mobile which are fun but with better graphics and better missions.”
“- Attempt at story but comes off as cheesy, cliché, and boring.”
“No story here, just hours of fun!”
“Urban Trial Freestyle is an extreme motorcycle game from the side view, no story here, just hours of fun!”
- music21 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the heavy soundtrack and nostalgic tracks that enhance the atmosphere, while others find it merely adequate or even subpar, describing it as ambient or lacking in quality. Overall, the soundtrack is noted as a highlight by some, but there are criticisms regarding its effectiveness and the overall audio experience, with some players expressing disappointment in the absence of engaging background music.
“The soundtrack was fantastic, the graphics were great, the rider customization was fun, the tracks were awesome; it was, overall, far and above Trials 2: Second Edition's minimalistic style.”
“The addition of on-track items to pick up (cash bags) was great, rider customization options are good, the tracks and physics are excellent, and the soundtrack is great.”
“For nostalgia purposes, I played Chris Jericho, and man was it nice; it's as if that song was made for this game.”
“It is not as challenging as Trials is, and the music, graphics, vehicle customization, and physics are all sub-par to Trials. Overall, it is still a fun game and can be picked up for a very cheap price during any major Steam sale.”
“The game doesn't really hold any explanations of how to play, it has the absolute worst feel of any game I have ever played (no decent background music, just the horrible tinny sound of your bike, which sounds like a nitrous buggy that has been burned out), and to top it all off, the game is quite short.”
“[Clone. Could have used better music.]”
- replayability18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game offers moderate replayability, primarily through the pursuit of unlocking everything and improving personal bests, with challenges adding further depth. While it provides enjoyable gameplay and creative environments, it lacks the extensive content and level editor found in similar titles, which limits long-term replay value. Overall, players can expect around 7 hours of initial playtime, with some incentive to revisit for upgrades and challenges.
“The challenges offer more replayability, and they can be very difficult.”
“I like that the cash added some depth and replayability with the option to upgrade parts and perform better with the new parts.”
“You play every map in 5 - 7 hours and are left without any replayability.”
“Also, the lack of a level editor greatly reduces replayability.”
“There is some replay value if you want to unlock everything, but also if you just want to beat your personal best.”
- optimization16 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting poor performance and stability issues, particularly in certain levels. Users have noted the need to lower graphics settings to achieve smoother gameplay, suggesting that the graphics engine is not well-optimized. Despite these concerns, some players still find the game enjoyable, especially at a significant discount.
“There are also some collectible moneybags throughout the levels which you use to upgrade your bike; typically, they are not too out of the way, and you are encouraged to make separate runs of the tracks for performance and money-collecting.”
“The number of stars you get depends on your performance on the track.”
“I'm not sure if the problem is on my side or it's the game's optimizations.”
“Poorly optimized on some levels, but definitely worth buying at -90%.”
“I feel like the graphics engine wasn't optimized very well as I had to lower shadow settings and turn off anti-aliasing.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is often described as tedious and repetitive, requiring players to revisit levels to unlock content, which can lead to frustration. While some find it addictive, the experience is generally seen as forgettable, appealing mainly to those willing to endure the grind for leaderboard recognition.
“It's a brief and utterly forgettable experience, one which only those who are willing to overlook its tedious gameplay in order to see their name in lights on its leaderboards will enjoy.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“I got about halfway with a maxed out bike and couldn't continue because I didn't have enough stars. I'm not about to tediously go back through every level to five-star them just to complete this. It shouldn't have to come to that.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of Urban Trial Freestyle has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users noting that it is a free mobile app repackaged as a paid product on Steam. Many reviewers feel that the game lacks the quality and depth expected from a PC title, especially when compared to more established games in the genre.
“Urban Trial Freestyle is a free mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as a paid product, as if it was a real PC game (it's not)... it's a cash grab from greedy mobile devs. The game seems to be a mobile app port of ancient console games from more than 10 years ago, so why this garbage is now suddenly on Steam is surely a mystery to all.”
“This game feels like a quick little cash grab when you compare it to Trials Evolution Gold.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is described as slightly gritty, complemented by a heavy soundtrack that enhances the experience. This gritty setting effectively supports the gameplay, allowing players to focus on their acrobatic bike riding skills while navigating courses with speed and agility.
“The slightly gritty atmosphere and heavy soundtrack fit perfectly too.”
“The atmosphere is gritty in this version, but it doesn't take away from the fact that you are an acrobatic bike rider running a course with either speed or agility, and sometimes both.”
“The atmosphere is gritty in this version, but it doesn't take away from the fact that you are an acrobatic bike rider and running a course with either speed or agility, and sometimes both.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users pointing out that it suffers from a poor PC port and inadequate vehicle upgrade systems. Additionally, the lack of clear instructions and subpar audio quality contribute to a frustrating gameplay experience. Overall, players feel that these issues detract significantly from the game's potential.
“The game is plagued by a horrible PC port that affects its overall stability, making it frustrating to play.”
“There are no decent explanations on how to play, which contributes to the overall instability of the game experience.”
“The vehicle upgrade systems are poorly designed, adding to the instability and lack of enjoyment in gameplay.”
Critic Reviews
Urban Trial Freestyle Review
It's a bite sized portable game with tons of content and lots of fun.
80%Urban Trials Freestyle Review
Excitebike meets Wipeout in this challenging arcade racing game. Great for those short line-ups when five minutes need to be burned but lacks any deep reserve of nitro to keep the engines burning at full speed into first place glory.
70%Urban Trial Freestyle review
40%