MotoTrials: Throttle Through the Gauntlet of Grief

Locked in a steel tomb and armed with nothing but throttle and grit, MotoTrials throws you headfirst into a physics-driven nightmare. This 2.5D motorcycle platformer blends the eerie tension of Limbo with the sadistic spectacle of Squid Game, all wrapped in the mechanical precision of Trials. As Ricky, a lone rider in a concrete labyrinth of flame jets, collapsing bridges, and cryptic voices, you’ll crash, retry, and claw your way toward freedom or madness. Our deep dive into MotoTrials begins at full throttle, no brakes, and zero mercy.

Ricky balances atop a desert tank in MotoTrials, blending surreal terrain with tense motorcycle platforming.

MotoTrials Review Pros

  • Nice graphics. 
  • 1.22GB Download size. 
  • Platinum trophy. 
  • Physics-based survival game. 
  • Game settings – brightness slider, main volume, language, and subtitles on and off. 
  • The game is that you are subjected to a game show like prison and have to escape by beating the many forms of the game. One minute you are riding a bike and doing jumps, next you are rolling stones around to get over spikes. 
  • The checkpoint system they are quite liberal with it. 
  • 2.5D game world with day and night integration for set sequences. 
  • As said, full physics are in play, and this adds a lot to how the game controls and how you react to hazards. 
  • The speaker does a lot of the sound effects and announcer shout-outs. 
  • You don’t get any help or tutorials, and to be honest, this fits the gameplay really well as it keeps the sense of loss and loneliness the game sets up. 
  • There is a long bar at the top of the pause menu, and this represents each segment of the game. You can use this as a sort of level select and go back on yourself. 
  • The levels are good and varied, but they do have issues where it’s not always clear, and it can be frustrating. 
  • Hidden collectable chests, and they shine gold. 
  • A dark, ominous atmosphere. 
  • The game is quick to load and respawn you; you can press a button to speed it up. 
  • Yes, the ragdolls are funny and spectacular. 
  • You can pause the game. 
  • The camera pans in and out, usually for a dramatic effect or to show off a huge area or backdrop. 
  • It’s strange as the game can be frustrating and obtuse but yet it also has a pull where you want to see what’s next, you want to know what it all means.

Ricky hauls a missile warhead behind his bike in MotoTrials, blending absurd danger with grim determination.

MotoTrials Review Cons

  • The sound doesn’t always come out of the speaker, and it is random and not a case of only certain sounds going through. 
  • Performance-wise wise it’s a bit up and down. As you transfer levels or areas, the game will judder and slow down, then pop into a whole new area and weather or time of day event. 
  • Some tutorial or button prompt would help initially, as the opening section of getting out of the container can be a stinker. 
  • Lacks any real game settings or accessibility options. 
  • Many times I would hit roadblocks, and it was either a glitch, or an obtuse puzzle or mechanic that felt random as to whether you were allowed to pass it. 
  • At times, it feels like you don’t see enough ahead of you and get an easy death and restart. 
  • Dying from falling is ridiculous, I mean, it’s such small heights, and you can just explode into pieces or lose your head. Funny to see, but also what! It was like 1cm off the floor. 
  • When ducking, if you stay too long, an idle animation kicks in, and you stand up and then can’t duck again until you move. 
  • The roadblocks I talk about can be very frustrating, and there is no way to skip them. 

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Ricky rides through a barren desert in MotoTrials, highlighting the game’s gritty survival atmosphere.

MotoTrials

Official Website:

Developer: Proud Arts

Publisher: Proud Arts

Store Link:

PlayStation

MotoTrials Review

Jim Smale

Graphics
70%
Sound
60%
Accessibility
70%
Length
70%
Fun Factor
70%

Summary

MotoTrials: The Thrills and Highlights of Gameplay
MotoTrials throws you into a concrete gauntlet where throttle control and physics are your only lifelines. As Ricky, you’re trapped in a twisted game show prison, navigating flame jets, collapsing bridges, and cryptic voices. The 2.5D layout blends day-night transitions with full physics, meaning every jump, crash, and retry feels earned. From rolling stones over spike pits to ragdolling through chaos, the game keeps you guessing. Liberal checkpoints, hidden golden chests, and a level-select bar in the pause menu help soften the brutality. No tutorials, no hand-holding, just raw survival and a strange pull to see what’s next.

MotoTrials: Where It Falls Short Key Negatives
MotoTrials doesn’t always play fair. Sound effects randomly cut out, and performance dips when transitioning between areas. The lack of button prompts or basic guidance makes early sections feel like guesswork. Accessibility options are near non-existent, and some puzzles or mechanics feel more like glitches than challenges. Sudden deaths from tiny falls and forced idle animations during ducking add to the frustration. With no skip option for roadblocks, you’re stuck grinding through the obtuse bits whether you like it or not.

MotoTrials Immersive Story and Narrative Elements
MotoTrials builds its tension through isolation and mystery. You’re alone, locked in a steel tomb, with only the announcer’s voice and the environment to guide you. The absence of tutorials reinforces the bleak tone, making every discovery feel earned. It’s not just about escaping, it’s about understanding why you’re here and what it all means. The game doesn’t spoon-feed answers, but the atmosphere keeps you chasing them.

MotoTrials Visual and Performance Aspects
Visually, MotoTrials delivers a gritty 2.5D world with dramatic camera pans and ominous backdrops. The lighting shifts between day and night add weight to set pieces, and the ragdoll physics are both brutal and oddly entertaining. Quick load times and instant respawns keep the pace up, but performance hiccups like juddering transitions and random audio dropouts can break immersion. Still, when it’s running smoothly, it looks and feels like a grim playground of pain.

MotoTrials Overall Verdict: Is It Worth Playing
MotoTrials is a rough ride, but one that grips you with its raw tension and unpredictable design. It’s frustrating, yes, but also strangely compelling. The physics-based gameplay, eerie tone, and refusal to explain itself make it stand out. If you’re after a challenge that’s more psychological than polished, MotoTrials might just be your next obsession.

Back of the Box Quotes

MotoTrials is concrete-laced chaos with no brakes and zero mercy

68%

Jim Smale

Gaming since the Atari 2600, I enjoy the weirdness in games counting Densha De Go and RC De Go as my favourite titles of all time. I prefer gaming of old where buying games from a shop was a thing, Being social in person was a thing. Join me as I attempt to adapt to this new digital age!

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