While the brand new Trials Rising may dominate the high-octane biking game scene, it isn’t the only one available.
We recently got the colourful and enjoyable Pumped BMX Pro, and now there’s a new title to contend with on Switch: Shred! 2 – Freeride Mountainbiking. The game puts you in the shoes of real-world freerider Sam Pilgrim and, where Trials is mainly concerned with getting from A to B, Shred! 2 is about chaining skills and tricks to reach a high score.
There are over 40 levels to make your way through, each with increasing difficulty. The game isn’t easy from the off, requiring quite a bit of practice to get the hang of the game’s deep control system.
There’s a fairly robust tutorial to ease you in, though, with short levels introducing you to new mechanics one at a time. The tutorial will also indicate exactly where and when you need to push a new button, helping you to master the skills on offer.
Of course, Shred! 2 is a little rough around the edges compared to RedLynx’s opus Trials Rising. But it offers a fun alternative – especially if mountainbikes are more your thing compared to dirtbikes and motorbikes.
It lacks the finesse and longevity that makes the Trials games so successful, but considering that Shred! 2 is just a tenner, it’s worth a shot. Especially if you like the idea of throwing yourself around your handlebars atop a snowy mountain. Landing successful tricks never gets boring, and chaining them together to aim for high scores offers plenty of fun.
