zhnikolaev Reviews

Trials of the Blood Dragon (2016 Video Game)

A very underrated gem, it's made for Kung Fury type of fans

[10/10 · 22 April 2024]

This game is very underrated mainly because it's misunderstood. As a fan of the other Trials games I tried this one and it became my favorite. It has the basic Trials mechanics and adds some more like shooting (yes, while riding a motorbike), grappling hook and also non-bike segments on foot - the last one isn't perfect but it's okay. At a few points in the game there is also a jetpack mechanic intoduced, as well as some RC car sections which are very fun.

It's made for fans of the over-the-top action, with 80s retro aesthetics and it has electronic synthwave and similar type of music by Power Glove.

The story is a kind of continuation of the FarCry: Blood Dragon game, although this game is nothing like the FPS game. We play as the kids of sergeant Rex "Power" Colt and Dr. Darling. They are kind of secret black-ops, mark VI cyber commandos, who are tasked with various missions in settings like Vietnam War 4, neon filled Miami, adventures in searching for the Lost Grail, missions in space, on Mars, fighting alien bugs, evil power rangers and whatnot. When you look at the main menu and the additional RC car mission (accessible by selection the RC car box in the room) you can see that the whole game is made like it came out of the imagination of two kids who play pretend and go on secret missions.

If you like this kind of stuff the game is for you.

Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix (2023–2024)

Disappointed - nothing to do with the Ubisoft properties

[1/10 · 23 October 2023]

The characters in the show are nothing like the characters that they're based on and have nothing to do with the Ubisoft properties: Captain Dolph Laserhawk is supposed to be inspired by Rex "Power" Colt from the Blood Dragon game but is nothing like him; Bullfrog is supposed to be an assassin like the ones from Assassin's Creed games but is nothing like that; Alex Taylor is supposed to be inspired by the character from The Crew - nothing like him; Sarah Fisher is supposed to be inspired by the character from Splinter Cell but is nothing like her; Rayman only looks like Rayman and that's it; Marcus Holloway is nothing like Marcus from Watch Dogs 2; Even the monsters are not Blood Dragons but some giant mutant rabbits or something.

The show is marketed like it's connected to these Ubisoft properties and I expected to see some favorite characters but didn't.

The story is nothing special - first part of the series is clearly influenced by the Suicide Squad's Task Force X and then goes on to be something else.

After these disappointments I expected at least some good over-the-top action but the show doesn't deliver that as well.

It had potential to be something special but missed it.