Ghostbear
08-03-2009, 12:44 PM
Trine Review
Title: Trine http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?p=327214
Platform: PC
Developer: Frozenbyte (http://frozenbyte.com/)
Publisher: Nobilis (http://www.nobilis-games.com/index_en.html)
ESRB: Everyone
MSRP: $29.99
Editor: Jeremy 'Ghostbear' Spurlock
What's Hot: Gorgeous, charming art; Highly Polished controls that work well with a mouse/keyboard or controller.
What's Not: CO-OP is local only. An odd difficulty jump at the end of the game. The game is short for the price.I am not typically enamored with platformers, I generally find them a frustrating experience. The subject of today's review, Trine, charmed me from the very beginning.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ghostbear1/trine%20review/trine_screenshot_2009_06_wizard_gea.jpg
You start off as the clever Thief, sneaking her way to treasure. When she sees an artifact and approaches, but gets frozen in place! A similar accident happens to our amorous Wizard and hungry, but well intentioned, Knight. Once the knight shows up our heroes find themselves merged body and soul into a single unit.
This is where the angle of Trine becomes apparent, you'll have to switch between the three different characters to master the games puzzles and challenges. Do you swing from platform to platform with the Thief's grapple or perhaps create your own platforms with the Wizard and move them around as you see fit? Perhaps the Knight can knock that wall down for you. What is likely to happen is that it will take a clever combination of all three characters to succeed. Physics is at play here, so objects will behave like you expect them to. Create a platform up high and it will bounce when it hits the ground for instance. There are various wheels, and things that can only be described as carousels that you'll need to manipulate to win.
Your characters also level up in the game enhancing their abilities. Want to be able to have more boxes conjured at the same time or perhaps you want the Knight to do more damage with his sword? You earn experience by picking up green vials located throughout the levels and from some of the enemies you defeat.
Speaking of doing damage, there is a fair amount of combat in the game. I found I mostly handled these sections with the Knight, using your sword and shield to fend off the undead while looking about for the best way out of there is exciting and fun. There are some clever ways to kill your enemies as well: you can drop conjured boxes on them with the Wizard, or shoot them with arrows with the Thief, you can even drop on top of them as the Knight.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ghostbear1/trine%20review/trine_screenshot_2009_06_thief_mine.jpg
Let's talk about the art for a moment. This game is beautiful starting at the menu and that trend only continues throughout the game. Its fairytale aesthetic is the perfect look for this game. While the game is ostensibly 2D, I never felt constrained by that due to the fact that I would catch myself marveling at the exceptionally detailed backgrounds with their twinkling lights or molten lava flowing around you. The background and foreground weave around you seamlessly as you jump, swing, and levitate through the levels.
The audio in the game is also fantastic. The narrator sounds like he is telling his grandchildren bedtime stories and the characters are great in their depictions. The Thief sounds lithe and confident, the Knight bumbling and brave, the Wizard lecherous and intelligent. Typically, I don't notice music in a game unless it really stands out and the music in this game really reinforces the fun, lighthearted tone introduced in the beginning.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ghostbear1/trine%20review/trine_screenshot_2009_06_knight_for.jpg
I played the Steam version of the game and Steam has added support for Steam Cloud, so if you play the game from multiple computers you'll get to continue the same game from anywhere you have an internet connection. There are also Steam achievements and I have to admit, some of them are a lot of fun to get. A PSN release is upcoming, but has been delayed so keep your eyes peeled if the PC is not your platform of choice.
In closing, I had a great time with this game and can easily recommend it to anyone who is just looking to have fun and enjoy a fairy tale. Play it alone, play it with friends, but play it.
Score: 4.5 out of 5 CoGs
http://www.colonyofgamers.com/images/CoG4_5.png
Jeremy says , "Trine is an utterly charming and fun experience, if you want to save a few bucks wait for the PSN version, as it will be cheaper, but ultimately it's an experience that I did not regret spending the money on."
Title: Trine http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?p=327214
Platform: PC
Developer: Frozenbyte (http://frozenbyte.com/)
Publisher: Nobilis (http://www.nobilis-games.com/index_en.html)
ESRB: Everyone
MSRP: $29.99
Editor: Jeremy 'Ghostbear' Spurlock
What's Hot: Gorgeous, charming art; Highly Polished controls that work well with a mouse/keyboard or controller.
What's Not: CO-OP is local only. An odd difficulty jump at the end of the game. The game is short for the price.I am not typically enamored with platformers, I generally find them a frustrating experience. The subject of today's review, Trine, charmed me from the very beginning.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ghostbear1/trine%20review/trine_screenshot_2009_06_wizard_gea.jpg
You start off as the clever Thief, sneaking her way to treasure. When she sees an artifact and approaches, but gets frozen in place! A similar accident happens to our amorous Wizard and hungry, but well intentioned, Knight. Once the knight shows up our heroes find themselves merged body and soul into a single unit.
This is where the angle of Trine becomes apparent, you'll have to switch between the three different characters to master the games puzzles and challenges. Do you swing from platform to platform with the Thief's grapple or perhaps create your own platforms with the Wizard and move them around as you see fit? Perhaps the Knight can knock that wall down for you. What is likely to happen is that it will take a clever combination of all three characters to succeed. Physics is at play here, so objects will behave like you expect them to. Create a platform up high and it will bounce when it hits the ground for instance. There are various wheels, and things that can only be described as carousels that you'll need to manipulate to win.
Your characters also level up in the game enhancing their abilities. Want to be able to have more boxes conjured at the same time or perhaps you want the Knight to do more damage with his sword? You earn experience by picking up green vials located throughout the levels and from some of the enemies you defeat.
Speaking of doing damage, there is a fair amount of combat in the game. I found I mostly handled these sections with the Knight, using your sword and shield to fend off the undead while looking about for the best way out of there is exciting and fun. There are some clever ways to kill your enemies as well: you can drop conjured boxes on them with the Wizard, or shoot them with arrows with the Thief, you can even drop on top of them as the Knight.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ghostbear1/trine%20review/trine_screenshot_2009_06_thief_mine.jpg
Let's talk about the art for a moment. This game is beautiful starting at the menu and that trend only continues throughout the game. Its fairytale aesthetic is the perfect look for this game. While the game is ostensibly 2D, I never felt constrained by that due to the fact that I would catch myself marveling at the exceptionally detailed backgrounds with their twinkling lights or molten lava flowing around you. The background and foreground weave around you seamlessly as you jump, swing, and levitate through the levels.
The audio in the game is also fantastic. The narrator sounds like he is telling his grandchildren bedtime stories and the characters are great in their depictions. The Thief sounds lithe and confident, the Knight bumbling and brave, the Wizard lecherous and intelligent. Typically, I don't notice music in a game unless it really stands out and the music in this game really reinforces the fun, lighthearted tone introduced in the beginning.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ghostbear1/trine%20review/trine_screenshot_2009_06_knight_for.jpg
I played the Steam version of the game and Steam has added support for Steam Cloud, so if you play the game from multiple computers you'll get to continue the same game from anywhere you have an internet connection. There are also Steam achievements and I have to admit, some of them are a lot of fun to get. A PSN release is upcoming, but has been delayed so keep your eyes peeled if the PC is not your platform of choice.
In closing, I had a great time with this game and can easily recommend it to anyone who is just looking to have fun and enjoy a fairy tale. Play it alone, play it with friends, but play it.
Score: 4.5 out of 5 CoGs
http://www.colonyofgamers.com/images/CoG4_5.png
Jeremy says , "Trine is an utterly charming and fun experience, if you want to save a few bucks wait for the PSN version, as it will be cheaper, but ultimately it's an experience that I did not regret spending the money on."