Trine is a action-based puzzler set in a medieval world of magicians, knights and the undead. It’s a 2D platformer that takes advantage of a clever physics engine that has the player working out how to overcome obstacles and problems. The first thing that striked me about this downloadable title is the fantasy-clad design, with it’s storybook fonts and magical vibrancy. It’s more Folklore than Lord of the Rings. The menu is simplistic enough and wastes no space on extra features or game-modes. You jump into the story or choose a level you have previously played.
Trine tells the story of a Thief, a Wizard and a Knight who are drawn to a mysterious artifact that joins them as one and sends the unlikely trio on an epic quest to save the world from darkness. The tale isn’t particularly exciting or original but features some nice artwork and voice talent.
The gameplay is confined to the side-scrolling 2D world and tasks you with switching through each of the characters to take advantage of each one’s abilities to progress. Alternatively, you can team up with a buddy or two and play co-operatively, but sometimes this can be more hassle than it is fun. So who are these three figures and how do they affect the gameplay?
The Thief is a female called Zoya. Her primary talent is a grappling hook that attaches to wooden surfaces. Zoya can then swing from these surfaces to reach platforms and hidden items. Her attack is ranged, making use of a bow and arrows that can pick enemies off at a distance. Holding the fire button allows the arrows to be more precise, whereas short press will mean the arrow can arc toward the enemy if there are obstacles between you.
You’re a Wizard, Amadeus! Doesn’t quite sound right, does it? Well, Amadeus is the Wizard of this fantasy tale but he sounds like he works in your company’s IT department. Despite this, the character is definitely the most unique in the game, making the best use of the PhysX engine. Amadeus can conjure up boxes, planks and prisms that are essential to getting from one side of the level to the other. He can also move and affect certain objects in the game. He has a mouse icon that directed around the screen to interact or create items. Conjuring a box requires the player to “draw” a square. This is certainly easier with a mouse than with an analogue stick. He lacks the ability to attack foes, but can crush them by creating a box above them. Clever, but not very effective.
For brute attacks you need the Knight. He can angle his shield to deflect attacks, debris and arrows. But his mighty sword makes him the obvious choice for close and personal attacks. He’s tough and can lift objects, hurtling them into place or at enemies. He later unlocks a deadly flaming sword and a bad-ass sledgehammer. The attack, charge and block abilities of the Knight are the most familiar action part to the game. The Knight’s name is Pontius and he sounds and looks like a Disney character.
All three characters are required to successfully navigate the levels of Trine. The gameplay mechanic revolves around finding something blocking your path, working out who and how to get round it and moving on. Scattered around the levels are green experience bottles. Experience bottles allow you to level up characters, adding an RPG element to the game. Leveling up occurs when you have fifty bottles of experience. Once this is reached you can spend points on the characters, giving them better attacks or abilities.
The player can also find blue bottles of energy. This restores a blue bar on each of your characters, which is used to perform certain actions. Energy and experience are also obtained when destroying enemies, as is health. Treasure can also be located and used, again adding to the RPG area of the game, granting benefits to a single character which can be given and switched between the trio.
The enemies are largely made up of skeletons and bats. But the real dangers are usually area-specific nasties that should be avoided such as spikes, fireballs and lava. There are a few bosses in the game but none are particularly challenging. This being a puzzle-game, the trickiest part is knowing what to do when there’s suddenly a gap or a high platform to get to.
Graphically, the game offers nothing spectacular. The lighting and atmosphere are enjoyable, setting a mood that is calm and mysterious. The backgrounds can get quite grand, but you never interact with them, making them little more than passive eye-candy.
The physics engine by Nvidia, PhysX has generated a lot of excitement and is central to the game’s appeal. Boxes, Plans and other objects are affected by gravity, water, balance and position. This creates an intoxicating blend of control and strategy. Stacking up boxes, for example, will only work if you can position each one so that they don’ t topple over and leave enough room to jump to. Mastering control of the environment, especially as the Wizard, requires a dedication and understanding of each objects physical properties.
This all sounds very good, but is it any fun? Definitely. It’s enjoyable but gets repetitive. Unless you’re an avid fan of the fantasy setting, you’re going to get bored. The puzzles are varied enough but there isn’t much depth or range in what you do in Trine’s fifteen levels. You can always go back if you really enjoy the game, but my bet is that you’ll complete the game and never touch it again.
The final boss is a let-down whilst the trophies (and shortly, achievements) won’t be enough for this title to have any real longevity. In saying this, it does boast a Platinum Trophy on PSN (only the second download-exclusive title to do so). The best way to think of Trine is as one of those games you know you can always pick up for 15 minutes whenever you’re bored and not get too intense with.
This isn’t to say Trine isn’t worth playing, it definitely is. Just don’t expect it to set your world on fire and keep you amused for months on end. The care that has went into the game makes up for lack of visually stunning graphics and breakthrough gameplay. Trine has a bag of character and combines the classic 2D games of yesteryear with a modern, physics-based problem-solving system.
Overall, Trine is worth getting if you like puzzling situations in your gaming diet. For everyone else, it’s a tasty snack of a game. A sweet downloadable title that is a lot of fun but lacks real depth and variety. The multiplayer adds little flavor and doesn’t really suit the game’s dynamics.
Score: 73
