Trials Rising - Gold Edition (PS4)

Excellent physics-based mechanics remain intact, but a frustrating progression grind puts the brakes on fun.

Trials Rising maintains the engrossing, challenging, and occasionally slapstick gameplay from past entries in the series, building upon it in small ways with a smartly implemented school to teach fundamental skills and modifiers to make events worth revisiting. But it also doesn't fix issues from the past, either.

A comprehensive campaign paves the way for a smoother learning curve than ever before, but protracted load times and lousy cosmetics will generally disappoint. The physics are still phenomenal, and the series has retained its addictive quality, but it can occasionally feel like a game looking for answers to questions that didn’t necessarily exist to begin with.

Trials: Rising is a wildly fun game that offers both simplicity and depth in the most satisfying of ways, despite an occasionally annoying soundtrack.

Trials Rising is simply the biggest and best Trials game yet, and with more content coming down the road by way of a season pass, it’s bound to only get better.

Trials Rising is not an evolution for the franchise. Instead, RedLynx delivers a smart sequel that offers up the same great gameplay while improving upon various side-aspects of the series.

Trials Rising has an impressive new tutorial, even more extensive customization, and an awesome pool of levels that can be disappointingly discouraging to unlock.

Even if you never end up touching the head-to-head online multiplayer, local co-op, ambitious track editor, or any of the ensuing user-made creations, Trials Rising will keep you plenty busy at launch. Some of the out-of-level elements could use another pass, but progression pacing issues, loot-box bloat, and technical hiccups weren't enough to put me off what is ultimately another great Trials game.