Bike Baron 2 is a physics-based motorcycling platform game that combines the Trials franchise’s time-trial format with platforming and puzzle elements. It’s the only game of its kind on iOS.
Using a combination of tilt controls and acceleration, players try to guide their motorcycle through obstacle courses that make Evel Knievel look like a two year old on a tricycle. This homage to Trials is a fun diversion, but it’s not a game that will become an obsession.
Level design
Bike Baron 2 is an excellent homage to the Trials-style of physics challenge, and it’s one of the best games of its kind we’ve seen on the iOS App Store. But it’s also an incredibly frustrating game that demands patience, repeated play, and a sense of familiarity with the controls.
The level design is simple: tilt the iDevice’s touchscreen to move your bike forwards and backwards, accelerate and brake with a pair of buttons. Avoid obstacles, complete challenges, and earn stars to unlock new bikes and levels.
Controls
Using the controls you tilt the motorbike forwards and backwards, accelerate and brake. It’s a pretty basic system, but one that can be difficult to learn without practice.
Levels have ramps, piled boulders, and other obstacles that require careful positioning to reach the end without a crash or flip. It’s a tough physics challenge, but Mountain Sheep does a great job of alleviating the trial and error with frequent checkpoints and restarts that are nearly instantaneous.
The moment to moment feel of the game is excellent, but it’s not quite enough to make up for the sheer difficulty. It doesn’t have the same live sense of performance that games like Trials or even spin-offs such as Trackmania do.
Gameplay
Bike Baron 2 is a wild motorbike racer that will bring your inner daredevil to the surface. Monster jumps and hazardous contraptions mix with platforming and puzzle elements to spectacular effect, and tight physics and pixel-perfect controls make each cartoony incident as fun as every hard-won victory!
Players use the device’s directional keys to control the motorcycle. They must complete a course with as few crashes as possible and earn stars by finishing in timed periods.
In addition to speed and coins, some levels require back and front flips or jumping off ramps. There are also many hazards that can be triggered on the bike, such as mines or other obstacles.
The trial-and-error gameplay that plagues games like Trials and Trackmania isn’t a bad thing in Bike Baron 2. Checkpoints are frequent, and restarting is nearly instant; however, some players found the game too difficult and frustrating to play. The’springy’ physics and floaty movement of the bike are also a turnoff for some.
Final Words
Bike Baron 2 is a well-made stunt bike game with great cartoonlike graphics. It also features a level editor that lets you create and share your own levels. The game is available for $1.99 on the App Store.
If you’ve ever played Trials HD or even one of its spin-offs, then you’ll know what to expect from this physics-based motorbike racer. The controls are simple – tilt the phone forwards and backwards, accelerate and brake with other buttons.
While this isn’t as difficult as Trials HD, it still manages to be fun, challenging and incredibly addictive. And that’s all thanks to the game’s excellent physics and brilliant course design.
Despite being an unoriginal clone, this is still a very good game that’s worth checking out if you’re a fan of motorcycle racing games. It’s got an addictive and unique style, great physics, pixel-perfect controls, hilarious setting and a whole lot of content to keep you coming back for more.