Visual Brilliance meets slick gameplay, Trine is a feast !
Trine is a perfect example of a game that turns out to be more than the sum of its parts. A puzzle-2D platformer in the vain of Lost Vikings may not sound like much, but Trine delivers an amazing gameplay experience on so many levels that its hard to describe what makes it so great but let's get down to it . . .
The most striking feature are the visuals. The game is set in a generic fantasy world, yet is a mixture of 2D & 3D visuals, a rare treat for a PC gamer and something that most console gamers are used to. The game looks gorgeous, the level design (both in layout and looks) is brilliant and very atmospheric and the lovely folky/fantasy soundtrack makes the game a pleasure to play and even quite relaxing at times, that is, if you are not drowning in lava or killed by skeletons.
The gameplay is a mixture of platforming and puzzles. Sometimes you have to rely on your reflexes and keyboard dexterity (old school) and sometimes you will have to figure out how to get past obstacles and puzzles. In some rare cases, you can do either or and I am pretty sure there are quiet a few ways to solve some of the puzzles. I am a 100% sure I did some things that had not been intended but got the job done, another reason to love this game. The player controls three characters, each with distinctive abilities, some are all about attacking and defending, while others can conjure platforms or use a rope to swing around the levels.
It may sound overwhelming and even difficult but the controls are easy to learn and the game has a nice and forgiving pacing (plus you can change the difficulty level if you want). I managed to play through the game on medium and apart from the last level (which is a pain in the ass), I found the difficulty level just right.
You can also find treasures and items in the game which I found to be a neat addition to the platform formula, although you should expect nothing in depth like in an RPG game, just trinkets that boost your health etc.
The two downsides to the game (IMHO) are the lack of story. Yes, there is some mumbo jumbo good vs. evil storyline in there but it is boring and generic and I wonder how interesting the game could have been with a good story, how hard can it be (To The Moon anyone?). The other is the length, I managed to play through the game in one day. Yes, I did not try to discover all the secrets and only played through the game once, but for people who expect their core game experience from the first and only playthrough (like me), the game is over pretty quick. Still, these two criticism aside, Trine is a beautifully crafted game that should not be missed by anyone and is proof of how polish, an eye for detail and visual brilliance are the cornerstones of a good game indeed.
Highly recommended !
