Slime Rancher, Trials Fusion, Bayonetta and Red Faction: Armageddon are August’s Games with Gold.
On August 1, the open-world farming simulator Slime Rancher will make its console debut on Xbox One, where you can care for your own galactic farm full of cute (slimy) creatures. Then starting on August 16, take on the wide variety of platform-racing stunt challenges in Trials Fusion.
On the Xbox 360, the modern-classic Bayonetta will be available from August 1 to August 15. Then get your butt to Mars and fight for the future in Red Faction: Armageddon from August 16 – August 30.
There are at least theee games I haven’t played there, what do you think of this month’s offerings?
10 new tracks, 24 challenges, 5 achievements and a variety of new objects for the track editor – this is “Life after the incident” the sixth and final piece of planned DLC for Trials Fusion, and available to download now for Xbox One – free to those who own the season pass.
In After the Incident players investigate the causes of the disaster that has devastated Earth. Following tragic events, the flourishing world as we know it has brutally passed away, leading to a vast field of ruins and the broken dreams of a whole civilisation. Riders must proceed with caution as they navigate through ruined cities and devastated ecosystems.
Almost one year after it initially released for the Xbox One, the online multiplayer update is finally rolling out for Trials Fusion.
The update is thankfully free of charge and brings with it three brand new multiplayer game modes.
Trials Fusion was a fantastic game when it launched last year and has since had a mountain of content released for it via DLC. The next pack “Fire In The Deep” launches next week, what a coincidence!
Will this tempt you to boot up this fantastic title? Or is it just to late and you simply don’t care anymore? Let us know in the comments!
Trials Fusion has now been on the market for several months and is still receiving plenty of support from developer, Red Lynx and today, the Finnish studio has revealed that the third of six planned expansion packs will be launching next month.
“Welcome to the Abyss” will be available on 7th October 2014 and contains ten water-themed tracks, 24 challenges, five additional achievements and a mountain of new objects for players to take advantage of in the extensive track editor.
The expansion pack will set you back £3.99 if you decide to buy it separately, however it’s also included in the £15.99 season pass which grants you access to all six pieces of DLC; two already released and four more planned.
Ubisoft has released the second DLC pack for Trials Fusion, titled “Empire of the Sky” for £3.99 if you haven’t got the Season Pass. Empire of the Sky brings new tracks, challenges, editor objects and achievements to Trials Fusion.
After exploring the wastelands in Riders of the Rustlands, Empire of the Sky takes players to new heights. Ride through the floating islands of the privileged, who lead their lives blissfully unaware of the problems of the lands below. Sheltered in their dome of ultra-comfort, these citizens reside in a utopia that hides its own secrets to be unveiled.
Nine new tracks have been added, consisting of single player tracks, along with one Supercross track, one Skill Game, and one FMX track. In addition, there are 18 new Track Challenges, including secret locations and mini-games. Track editors also have dozens of new objects at their disposal including anti-gravity technology, force fields, and floating platforms to help create the track of their dreams.
Anyone who has played one of the Trials titles over the past few year will probably have the same cracks in their controllers as I do. The pure frustration of missing that jump for the 499th time will have been experienced by many and mastered by few. It was not surprising to see that Trials Fusion would be heading to the Xbox One and despite knowing what I was letting myself in for a clicked on the buy button as soon as the game hit the Xbox Store.
Once you get past the awful title music (really awful) you will be able to start your career. Those of you who have played Trials before will be comfortable with the controls and concept straight away, but for this that aren’t Trials involves taking on different levels with your bike in the quickest time possible, without falling off. Each time you fall off you’ll go back to the nearest checkpoint.
There are 4 difficulty levels of track, ranging from easy to extreme, which as you would expect is a real test for your skills and patience. The different levels all look great, whether you are riding through an Industrial estate, the cactus filled desert or the Artic Open. The controls are simple right and left trigger act as your accelerator and brake while using the left stick will help you keep your bike balanced. Your rider can now perform some impressive tricks in the air such as the superman or the proud hero, they all look cool but you need to be quick to balance the bike back out for a good landing. There are opportunities to pull these tricks off during normal levels but you don’t get anything special for doing then, there are special levels just for tricks though, ramp after ramp all pushing you to be as outrageous as possible. There is something hugely satisfying about earning a gold medal at the end of level, even on the easier levels. To make things more interesting there are three challenges per level to try and complete.
There are some new vehicles to take on in Fusion, such as the Quad Bike and the Pit Viper, two machines that couldn’t be much further apart in terms of how they handle, the Viper has a steep learning curve but once you he the hang of it you’ll shaving off vital seconds for levels. Those little things you can do to shave off any time you can are emphasised by the goats of your friends list driving at the same time as you. You’re not able to see what they are doing to better you, but there is nothing more satisfying than ending a level to see how far up the list you can end up
As you complete levels and challengers you’ll earn experience points that will unlock items for such as clothing and helmets to purchase for your rider. The skill games are back in Trials though I found them to be a bit of mixed bag
Some I found much more enjoyable to play than others games such as Airtime, where you are given huge ramps to pull off the most amazing tricks possible, Ice Climb is another favourite of mine, trying to get up as high as you can over a series of obstacles, infuriatingly fun. Less so were events like Triathlon, it just didn’t grab my attention, either way there will be those that you prefer and some you don’t.
Those of you with some creative flair will find themselves at home in the Track Creation mode of Trials Fusion. Its fairly simple to get up and running, and slowly but surely Track Central is starting to reveal some brilliant user made creations, way beyond anything I could create. Its a shame that currently the only multiplayer is local because the thought of playing through your friends created maps against each other sounds like a lot of fun.
I almost feel like those who purchased Trials on release are the ones that suffer the most as there is still lots to come, and some players may move on before new content comes out. On the plus side the season pass is quite a good deal, with 5 DLC releases between now and May 2015.
As it stands, Trials Fusion is a good game, and I’m glad it has joined us on the Xbox One, but it’s a shame that things like multiplayer didn’t ship straight away. This game will get better and better though and I look forward to getting my hands on the DLC.
The next chapter in the Trials series is heading for Xbox 360 and Xbox One on April 16th. Trials Fusion from Red Lynx and published by Ubisoft, follows in the footsteps of Trials HD and Trials Evolution.
Coming with visual breakthroughs, the arrival of FMX tricks, and taking place in a high-tech and futuristic world, Trials Fusion goes even beyond what you knew about Trials and its crazy gameplay!
