Trine 2 Review

Frozenbyte's Trine was a masterpiece of a puzzle platformer, testing the minds and responses of adventurers with physics-based puzzles, platforming and plenty of action tossed in-between. Trine 2 does all of that, but much better with new features and even online co-operative gameplay, something that fans have been longing for since the first game made its debut in 2009.

Two years later and the mysterious artifact known as the Trine has returned, reuniting Amadeus the Wizard, Pontius the Knight and Zoya the Thief for a brand new quest. Goblins run amok, spreading terror throughout the kingdom and it's up to the trio to find out what in blazes is going on. The Trine will take our misfit band of heroes to some rather colourful locales where players can expect plenty more puzzles, platforming and action to go around.

It's a fun story altogether, albeit predictable, but despite the simple narrative, the characters make up for it by injecting their unique personalities into the story with fun little banter. Amadeus isn't all too excited on embarking on yet another adventure, unlike the gung-ho Pontius who can't wait for his next noble quest, meanwhile Zoya's just looking forward to the treasure that awaits her.

Gameplay remains the same as the first game. Players are tasked with reaching the end of each stage, preferably with each hero in one piece. The game is set on a two dimensional plane where players will have to run, jump and solve whatever puzzles they encounter. To aid in this undertaking, each hero possesses unique abilities that players can exploit. Amadeus, for example, can conjure up boxes and planks to create makeshift paths; he is also able to lift up or hold objects in the game world using his magics. Pontius, on the hand, is the tank of the group, able to push or, even better, smash things out of the way with his trusty sword and hammer. Using his shield, Pontius can repel enemy attacks as well. Zoya's the little acrobat of the team, able to swing over large gaps with ease thanks to her grappling hook. On top of that, she can hit enemies from afar with her bow and arrow.



New to Trine 2 is the inclusion of an abilities tree. Rather than give players all available skills from the get-go, players will have to gain experience, level up and invest points in their desired skills. Amadeus can eventually learn to conjure up more than a single box, a plank and even lift up enemies. Meanwhile, Pontius and Zoya can learn elemental attributes such as the Frost Arrow, Frost Shield and Flame Sword. Pontius can also learn to throw his hammer, which is surprisingly helpful.

With that said, the ability tree itself feels a little bit like filler. Aside from Amadeus' ability to multitask his magic, skills for Pontius and Zoya leave a lot to be desired. While their skills technically have inherent passive abilities, it doesn't really show all that much in the actual game. For example, Frost Shield supposedly slows down enemies when they attack and Fire Sword inflicts more damage, but its effects just aren't obvious and, more often than not, it results more in an aesthetic upgrade than a helpful mechanic.