In Creation Games

Developer: Frozenbyte
Publisher: Nobilis
Platform: PSN (Version Played), PC
Genre: Puzzle/Platformer
Players: 1 – 3
Release Date: 3rd July 2009 – PC
17th September 2009 (EU) – PSN
Price: £16.99

Last year when LittleBigPlanet was released people loved it. Even though the core gameplay of the side-scroller remained very similar to the original concept it was still such great fun to play whether you were platforming or level building. Trine follows a similar path. It is also a side-scrolling game and like LBP it doesn’t feel dated and can stand up very well amongst recent games. It takes the genre and makes it something very special, not by adding any amazing features but through the cleverly designed setting, the charm and some very interesting gameplay ideas.

There are three main characters in Trine. There is the Thief, the Wizard and the Knight. Each character is very different and they have their own specialities. The Thief is equipped with a bow and a grappling hook that can attach to wooden surfaces. She is also the fastest and lightest out of the three so she won’t weigh down objects as much and can jump further. The Wizard has no weapons but is an expert in magic. He starts off with a levitation spell and a spell to create boxes (Which can be used to reach new places or to drop on the enemy) but throughout the game he gets more. He’s lighter and faster than the Knight but not the Thief. The Knight has a trusty sword and shield and is mainly used for combat rather than the platforming side due to be heavier and slower than the other two. The differences in these characters really make taking on the game a unique experience that can be done in many different ways.

The puzzles and the platforming don’t have any set path to follow. There is only one path to complete the level but there are lots of various ways to take on the puzzles. Each character will be able to do the puzzles differently and combining each of their characters skills works very well as you can switch at any time. An example is an experience potion in a high up place. The Thief could swing up on her grappling hook and get there really quick, the Wizard could make a tower of boxes or simply use a box to push the potion off and the Knight would take the slow jumping up platform path. It’s up to the player to decide which way will work better for each situation and which character should be used. Like I said before you will rarely use the Knight in platforming but you will use him nearly all the time in combat.

The Knight excels in the combat since he can block attacks and also give them out himself. It’s very satisfying to block attacks then kill the enemies yourself. Even though the Knight will be used the most in combat, the Thief and the Wizard can hold their own too. The Thief can make use of her box from long range while the Wizard can summon and throw objects with his magic. You need to be quick with the Wizard though as quite often the enemies will reach you before you can attack them. I do have a complaint about the enemies which is the lack of variation. The enemies consist of skeletons and bats. That’s all. There are different variations of the skeletons but they are basically the same. Bows, swords, swords and shields and fire are the weapons the skeletons will use. There are mini-bosses too but there not any better. There is a bigger skeleton and some kind of creature thing, and then they are just repeated for the full game. This isn’t really a major flaw to be honest though.

You may be thinking that co-op would be great in this and it is to an extent. The co-op is great fun and combining your abilities really shows off the game but it’s only local. I can only play it when I have two mates next to me and can’t play over PSN with others. This is rumoured to come with a patch though which would be great.

Trine has a fantastically created world and setting. Even though it’s a side-scroller the graphics are still great and full of charm. The world always looks fantastic and it is true fantasy that just looks so damn good. The world is something you expect to find in a big, fantasy novel that really sucks the player into the game. To add onto this is the brilliant voice acting which is reminiscent of Fable 2’s British charm. The voices all with it with “ye olde times” and once again make you feel like you’re in a true fantasy world. The narrator also sticks to this.  The soundtrack is also very good.

The story in Trine is simple yet enjoyable. It tells the tale of an evil curse that has destroyed the land and unleashed an evil army upon it. The Thief, the Wizard and the Knight, however, were all bind together by the mysterious “Trine”. This concept may have been done before but the narrative makes it an enjoyable story nevertheless.

Now for the main problem with Trine which is the very steep price point. At £17 it is quite expensive and some people may not think it is worth the money. I think it is worth the money as it is not only one of the most enjoyable download games I’ve played but also one of the best of the generation. Despite the price I can’t recommend this to you anymore, you really need to play it.

+ Great puzzles and platforming
+ Looks amazing
+ Feels like a true fantasy game

- No online co-op
- Price is a bit high

9/10