From it's original release on the Playstation Store in February to Steam in September, this game hasn't changed much. Lets take a look at Urban Trial Freestyle!
Now before I start this review let me note that, I am a very big Trials fan. Trials Evolution and Trials HD to be exact. So when I approach this review this is more of a comparison between the games. Specifically Urban Trial Freestyle and Trials Evolution Gold Edition for PC. So take note of this while you read this review.
Urban Trial Freestyle, Originally released on the Playstation Store, has finally made it's way onto Steam after, "Following the critical and commercial success on PlayStation Network, PlayStation Vita and Nintendo 3DS, Tate Multimedia announced today that Urban Trial Freestyle is now available for PC-Digital Download on Steam." - Urban Trial Freestyle Website
I can't help but make a comparison between Trials and Urban Trial Freestyle here. Lets start with the Menu then I'll lead onto Gameplay.
What I'd like to note here is that the Menu's are definitely different. There's no Multiplayer on Urban Trail Freestyle at all... There's no Track Editor... and you cannot download additional tracks. Unless the developers plan to release extra maps through a DLC Download.
The video options on the PC port of Urban Trial Freestyle are extremely simplified. It's just a resolution changer and that's it. You can only adjust your resolution by what they have listed specifically. Usually this is like most games except Urban only allows you to go up to 1280x960 (4:3) as a Max Window Resolution. Fullscreen goes up to 1920x1080 which is my Max. There are no quality options for textures or fog or smoke or anything. Just a resolution changer. Basically a straight from PS3 to PC port with no additional options we come to expect for PC ports.
Now lets take a look at the gameplay.
Now this is where Urban Trial Freestyle can stand on it's own to how the gameplay is handled. It's not as 'smooth' as Trials Evolution but it does have it's own unique layout. From it's Singleplayer Time Trial Maps to it's Stunt Maps, these modes are what make the game stand out different. The map layouts in my opinion most of the time do not make sense since this guy is running through alive environments with people around running in the streets or pushing burning cars down random concrete slopes to stop the player.
The games stunt mode is definitely unique. This mode requires you to perform certain stunts like the high jump, certain speed, precision landing and precision flying. You play through the same tracks usually twice. Once in Time Trial mode and once again in Stunt Mode. You earn money you can use to put toward your Motorcycle and Gear.
In Trials Evolution. You unlock better bikes as you progress through the game. Urban Trial Freestyle requires you to earn money that is located within the various levels you play to upgrade your bike manually to your liking. That's one benefit over Trials with the bike realism but the overall physics of the game really mess this up. Trials Evolution plays so smooth that your bike has fluid movements on the track. On Urban Trial Freestyle it's like your bike has jagged movements and it's hard for you to do something as simple as flipping on a jump compared to Trials. There are also unique challenges you can do in Urban Trial Freestyle just like Trials Evolution.
Urban Trial Freestyle is out now on Steam for $14.99.