Trine Review (PS3, PC)
This is an essential lesson in how 2D gameplay is still a force to be reckoned with. Trine’s levels are deceptively simple with the aim generally being to progress to the far right of the map like many past classics but with some physics based gameplay puzzles. This platformer looks far from retro though with some gorgeous fantasy realms inspired level design that sparkle with HD richness.
The story is old school basic as a trio of strangers accidentally bound together by the Trine artefact set off to rid the land of the Undead and be free of each other too. These strangers conveniently tick the fantasy genre boxes of Wizard, Knight and Thief. You can swap between them at the press of a button, with you selecting another if one dies, even then they can come back at one of the frequent checkpoints.
Interchanging between the three characters is key as they’re all needed to progress. The Knight takes care of fighting and can also block pretty much anything with his shield, intuitively controlled with the right analogue stick. He’ll also do a bit of heavy lifting and can cut through rope that might be holding hidden treasures above.
The Thief has a bow and arrow that is fired by holding the right analogue stick in the desired direction while she pulls back the bow further for a harder, more accurate shot. It never gets old as there’s a surprising amount of depth to the aiming arc, but the best shot is firing three into the sky directly above you as the Undead surround you, closing in for the kill, only for them to get nailed to the ground by the eventual return of your cloud dusted arrows.
What makes her the most fun to play though is her grappling hook which attaches to any wooden surface, enabling you to swing around the levels with much more style than the two. It works best when you have a longer swing to gain momentum and really fling yourself across the level. The only sticking point is the awkwardness involved in trying to get on top of the platform you’re directly attached to underneath.
The poor old Wizard must feel constantly under-appreciated in such company as he can’t fight at all. He’s in charge of levitating objects or creating metal cubes and planks. But it’s actually the Wizard that makes Trine the great alternative to the competition that it is. Most puzzles involve the manipulation of moveable objects to make a path for the trio. This could be pressure pads to open gates, putting boxes onto spikes or into water to create stepping stones or using boxes to steady the see-saw bridges. He can also repair rope-bridges by lifting the broken end out of the depths and reattaching it on the other side and… well you’ll have to work the rest out for yourselves.
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