"Big Thrills" is a big letdown.

Trials HD's second expansion pack fails to live up to its name, offering bland maps full of small, annoying jumps.

For 400 Microsoft Points, Big Thrills offers 40 race tracks spread across five difficulty levels. But instead of the big speed, huge jumps and dangerous falls that Trials fans have come to expect, the maps in Big Thrills are full of wood planks, waist-high crates and tire piles.

Unlike Trials HD's first downloadable expansion, Big Thrills offers no new tournaments, skill games or track-editor pieces.

The 40 new tracks are the lone attraction in Big Thrills, and in a crowded marketplace they simply do not stand out. These maps are instantly forgettable and low on replayability.

The standard version of Trials HD offers plenty of encouragement to players so they will replay tracks; you can earn a higher medal, beat a friend's time and go for world records. But after finishing this add-on content, I simply found myself relieved that I would never have to go through these courses again.


The 10 fan-made tracks can't be blamed for the lack of quality of Big Thrills -- they feature the pack's most exciting and creative moments.

Whether the remaining 30 maps were simply rushed out for the holidays or leftovers from the first expansion, the end result is that Big Thrills lacks the daredevil-like adrenaline rush that made Trials HD a million-seller.

Final Thoughts

Christmas may be the season for leftovers, but few Trials fans will want to take home Big Thrills, especially after many (200,000-plus) have already downloaded the meaty "Big Pack."

If nothing else, Big Thrills is a timely holiday reminder that reminds us that sometimes it's better to be thankful for what you already have instead of lusting after something you don't really need.

Recommendation: Avoid