Trials And Toribasho: Sumoman

The Trials series is the best place to look for side-scrolling physics-based stunts, but what if a childhood spent listening to Leader of the Pack and watching Easy Rider while hyped up on caffeine has left you with an overwhelming fear of motorbikes? Until now, you'd have been in a pretty pickle but with the upcoming release of Sumoman, you'll be able to enjoy all of the challenges of Trials without coming face to face with your two-wheeled nemesis. It's constructed in a similar style but you'll be controlling a Sumo wrestler instead of a motorbike.

That works. You might think there's a world of difference between a motorbike and a sumōtori but, in this kind of setting, you'd be wrong. Motorbikes do occasionally go quite fast - I've seen them doing a motorsport before now - but Trials isn't about speed. It's about controlling momentum and balance, and that seems like something very suited to the world of Sumo.

The game is the work of two brothers, with outside forces providing sound and animation, and it has been in development for two years. It's one of the finalists in IGF China and is seeking votes on Steam Greenlight. I'd vote for it because it has already made me smile.