While 2D action adventure games have all but disappeared from retail, the genre is very much alive on digital distribution platforms like PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, and PC. Trine is the latest of these neo-classic games and it's an impressive, modernized take on the sort of effort that dominated through the 16-bit era. It does feel a little unfinished, as though the developers ran out of money or were pressured to get the game out the door. Still, Trine is a lot of fun and definitely worth playing.

Gamers have control of three unique characters: a thief, a wizard, and a knight. Each has their own abilities they can use to traverse the game's environments and dispatch of enemies. The thief wields a bow and arrow and can grapple to wooden surfaces. The wizard can move objects with his mind and summon blocks or bridges. And the knight is the fighter of the group, best used for hacking through the undead army plaguing the world. The thief and knight give players the choice to use ranged or melee combat, and both can be equally effective. A typical example of the sort of puzzles the trio will encounter would be a seemingly impassable chasm -- the thief could use her grappling hook to swing across or the wizard could summon a plank and stroll to the other side.

Most predicaments can be solved in multiple ways and you could make it though most of the game with just the thief or the wizard (the knight is really only useful in combat). There are instances, though, where you'll have to use multiple characters in tandem to proceed. The wizard might be able to get a hanging block swinging from side to side. The thief can then grapple to it, and the block's momentum will allow her to jump to a previously unreachable area.

Our heroes' goal is to free themselves from the curse that has bound them together and rid the land of the usual evil that has consumed it. Along the way they'll solve puzzles, kill lots of skeletons, and earn experience points that can be spent to gain new skills. A lot of the green vials that contain precious experience points are hidden, so there are many secrets to be found for players that want to put in the effort.

If you're playing Trine by yourself the three characters inhabit one body and you can switch between them on the fly. They each have independent health and magic meters, and if one perishes you'll have to get by with whoever's left until you reach the next checkpoint. The game can also be played by three people cooperatively, with each controlling one of our heroes, but this completely changes the experience. When playing by yourself, you only have to worry about getting one body past an obstacle. In multiplayer, each person needs to figure out how to get their character from point A to point B, making the game more difficult and stretching every little challenge out. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but other inconveniences get in the way of making multiplayer an optimal experience. The camera will let players wander off screen, for instance, where they can be killed by who knows what and that person will have to sit around until the other players find the next checkpoint.

Trine is a physics-based puzzle platformer, meaning the game's objects and characters are governed by the laws of gravity and react realistically to each other and their environment. There are lots of subtle details and nuances to be seen here. Arrows can slip through cracks in wooden planks. The thief can aim her bow in 360 degrees, as can the knight with his shield. This allows for precision aiming with the thief, and requires you to direct your blocks with the knight.

Man oh man, this is one good-looking game. Set in a medieval fantasy world, developer Frozenbyte has crafted dense, extravagant scenes that scroll by as you work through the adventure. Although players can only move on a 2D plane, the world is rendered in 3D and the camera will zoom in and out for cinematic effect. The renaissance music is also very well done, with catchy tunes arranged in a lush orchestral score. A narrator and the heroes are brought to life by talented voice actors.

My favorite thing about Trine is that there is something new to discover around every corner. From beautiful vistas to interesting new game mechanics, the developers always seem to have another trick up their sleeve. There are just a couple aspects that seem phoned in. It could have used a greater variety of enemies, for one. Save for a few bats and spiders, you'll spend the entire game fighting skeletons. Spawn points warp skeleton after skeleton into the world, which always feels like a rather cheap and obnoxious mechanic. There are just two boss types that are reused multiple times: a giant skeleton, and some sort of beast with a turtle shell that is a pushover. Finally, your fight with the end boss will be quite anticlimactic, and there isn't much reason to return after you've completed the story.



The Verdict:

Trine is great fun in single-player and it's worth experimenting with the three-player co-op even if the game works best as a solo experience. Players are given a set of tools (three characters with unique abilities) and are presented with problems that can be solved in several ways, resulting in an adventure that feels wide open despite being relegated to a mere two dimensions. The beautiful visuals and sound bring this world to life and there is something new to discover around every corner. A lack of enemy variety, disappointing conclusion, and the wonky multiplayer keep Trine from greatness, but this is still a highly recommended puzzle platformer.

A game that everyone can love 10/10!

Nice adventure! Eyegasm and eargasm at 5th mission :)

9/10

Ever heard of Lost Vikings?
Multi character, side scrolling action + puzzle solving.

I don't normally play or like platform games but decided to give this one a try, and it was the most spectacular and fun platform game I've ever played.

Well made in every aspect and I can't believe it is 7 years old.
Ran it with all eye candy on a GTX 970 and it was glorious to behold.
Even by today's standard it was graphically fantastic!

Warmly recommended for the casual player.

Trine is a side-scrolling action platform/puzzle game developed by Frozenbyte, originally released in 2009. A remake of Trine called Trine: Enchanted Edition was released. It ports the game to the Trine 2 engine and adds online multiplayer.
The gameplay consists of controlling and switches between three different characters (a wizard, a thief, and a knight) to try to complete levels filled with enemies, lots of great puzzles and many secret treasures. There is also a experience system that is shared among all characters, and is incremented by acquiring bottles found throughout levels. Every 50 experience points, each character is given one point towards the purchase of upgrades to their abilities.
After so many years this is still one of the best local/online co-op experiences I've seen. Due to the enhanced edition upgrade, the game still looks good (#1, #2) and sounds amazing, just listen to the soundtrack.

Do you want to ♥♥♥♥ off your friend? Do you want a game that can ruin friendships if you don't play seriously? Than this game is perfect for you! With this game alone my friends hate me. It's real fun

(Full review follows below)

• Game Name: Trine Enchanted Edition
  
• Original Release: 2009
  
• Genre Tags: Platformer; Adventure; Puzzle; Coop; Beautiful Artwork
  
• My Overall Grade: A
  
• Estimated Playtime (Campaign): 12-30 hours
  
• Multiplayer Aspect: Optional
  
• Recommended To: Established fans of the genre; Those intrigued by the genre; Aesthetes; Game atmosphere connoisseurs; Casual gamers; Multiplayer gamers

Trine is a light game that is easy to digest but offers gripping visuals, a mystical atmosphere, and enticing gameplay. All of the features of the game are simple in design but intricate in execution. The gameplay, aesthetics, and narrative all come together to create a whimsical and charming adventure. I highly recommend this for all gamers to consider; and for fans of the genre it is a sure bet.

By far the best aspects of the game are the stunning visuals and alluring atmospheric presentation of the setting. Each and every environment you explore is diverse, captivating, and charming. The ambiance really captures the mystical aura of the game perfectly. Trine easily has one of the most immersive 2D gameworlds I have encountered in video games.

The gameplay is light and quick to grasp. Anyone should be able to dive right in, regardless of ability level. But various difficulty levels and a "hardcore" mode ensure that skilled players can still find a challenge. And whether you are playing on “easy” or “hardcore,” the gameplay is entertaining. Mixing elements of platforming, action, and puzzle solving with the unique identity of the game establishes an experience that is simultaneously familiar and novel— and irrefutably fun.

The story is whimsical and fantastic; and the characters are pleasant and endearing. This synergizes well with the aforementioned atmosphere to establish an amusing fantasy experience. But it also remains light and relaxed, and never takes itself too seriously. So even casual fans of fantasy will enjoy the narrative.

Trine is definitely a worthy pick-up. No matter what your standard preferences are, you should give this game some consideration. Check it out.

Addendum: The game was upgraded to a better engine and to add online coop. The new cooperative mode adds an extra layer of possibilities, as the unique gameplay is a joy to experience with friends.

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Nobody really knows why this game is good. It's written down on a scroll somewhere. It's a platformer in an ocean of platformers. It's sweet and pretty, it's enough and not too much, it's easy on Normal and sometimes annoying on Normal, cos who enjoys falling to their death repeatedly? But that's the genre.

Get into the swing of things using Thief; mow down skeletons using a bow with up to three arrows in one shot. If she's dead for some reason, choose the knight to mow down even more skeletons. If these classes fail, use the Wizard to get to the next checkpoint. You can even fly Aladdin-style using two conjured planks on top of one another, once you turn on levitation. Leviosaaa, baby!

I haven't tried co-op and I've yet to play the game on Hard mode, but I'm 4 achievements shy of 100%, so I felt comfortable enough to share my thoughts. Finland has some great developers, so I feel good about supporting them. I rate this game "Ihan mahtava, peukalot pystyyn!"