Trine is a game that garnered plenty of attention before its release. It was predicted by many to be the game that stood alongside Battlefield 1943 as proof that download-only games were capable of competing with retail games in terms of quality and game design.  There is a definite and self-evident boundary between downloadable and retail games that means both types of game should be enjoyed on their own merits. If this boundary becomes unclear, it leads to deluded gamers being disappointed that BF 1943 isn't as good as Killzone 2, or that Trine is no LittleBigPlanet. So let's not lie here, Trine is very much a download-only game, but within that realm it's a huge accomplishment, and an indicator of just how brilliantly designed such games can be.

Trine is a physics-based 2D platformer conceived by indie Finnish developer Frozenbyte who are best known for, well, Trine (unless you've heard of the top-down shooter Shadowgrounds). You control a failing Wizard, a drunkard Knight and a freeloading Thief, whose souls are bound together by the mysterious titular Trine stone. Using these so-called 'heroes', you have the unenviable task of saving the world from an evil Dark Lord, which in turn frees the heroes' souls from each other (or something like that).

The thin plot works in Trine's favour though, as it gives it that old school quality of the gaming for gaming's sake, rather than aiming for some ultimate plot-oriented goal; the levels could go on forever and it'd never get boring. This is not to say that Trine lacks character though, as each of the heroes has a unique and likeable personality that fits with the fairy-tale feel of the game. Also, the down-time between the levels is designed simply but brilliantly; the map charting your progress - accompanied by some delightful background music and a wise-voiced narrator - keeps the game flowing and give you that warm buzz of adventure.

The most outstanding element of Trine is its presentation. In terms of graphics and soundtrack - combining to great effect - it is near perfection and genuinely no less impressive than a retail game. Each of Trine's 15 levels is wonderfully varied, starting in idyllic forests and vales, then later changing to rocky valleys and rusting iron keeps. The backgrounds are dynamic and deep, giving the game a sense of scale, and the use of lighting immerses everything on-screen in a magical glow. The serenading musical score is perfectly suited to the fairy-tale look of the game and by the time you're halfway through the first level, you'll find yourself wondering why we even bother with three dimensions when two - with the right soundtrack - can be so beautiful.

Trine's backgrounds are deep and majestic

Once you're done swooning over Trine's mystical beauty, the aim of the game is to utilise your heroes' unique abilities to help you get past the various obstacles and dangers that infest the game. Pontius the knight is your party's bodyguard, and is best at hacking and slashing his way through the skeleton hordes that attack you. The thief Zoya has a bow and a grappling hook with which she can reach places the others can't. The wizard Amadeus is the brains of the bunch, and is able to magically create and move objects around to form bridges, climbable towers, or even just use them to crush enemy minions though this is usually a last resort. The gameplay is, as expected in a platformer, very simple; however, as expected in a physics-based game, it can be frustrating. Moving objects around using the wizard can be particularly painful; jerking the motion-sensitive controller around to place a plank in just the right position while hordes of skeletons are pouring out of hell portals to slaughter you is genuinely stress-inducing.

The characters are all equally fun to control, and you'll need to make creative use of each of their abilities if you want to succeed. Each hero also has unique abilities and weapons that are gained by collecting experience and opening treasure chests throughout the game you acquire new abilities and items that will all come in useful at some point in the game. Although the levelling system is basic, it's satisfying enough to get you excited each time a new ability can be assigned.

Multiplayer is a welcome, if slightly neglected, addition

 

Trine also offers a local multiplayer mode which allows all three heroes to be used simultaneously. Once you work out how to actually initiate a multi-player session (the game interface doesn't even hint that the option exists – just press start on a spare controller during gameplay), the fun really began - as did the problems. While playing through Trine with companions enhances the fun three-fold, there are some horribly basic flaws that can only be put down to development laziness. Firstly, the camera often forgets that there's more than one player on the screen. If someone storms ahead (usually the grapple-hooking Thief) then the other two players are left off-screen rather than the camera zooming out at least a bit and adapting to the situation. Also, there was more than one occasion where the solution to an obstacle would involve leaving one member of the party behind (this would usually be the self-sacrificing Wizard). While Trine is, like most things, more enjoyable when played with people, you couldn't help but feel that the multi-player was thrown in as a novel side-thought rather than a means of truly enhancing the game. The relentless final level is ultimate evidence that this game was made with little consideration for multiplayer; online play would've been nice as well.

 

Having a companion with you means there's no frantic character switching mid-combat

 

 

Trine is a technically accomplished game that combines mesmerising atmosphere with clever physics-based gameplay. While there is nothing about the game that really spoils it, some multiplayer flaws and lack of incentive to play through it more than once (unless you're after an achievable Platinum trophy) prevent Trine from achieving perfection. Another potential deterrent is the price-tag which is the highest the writer has seen for a download-only game. When you consider that PS3 platinum games such as Uncharted or LBP can be bought for the same price, it's a little shocking. If, however, you don't think money should be an obstacle in experiencing a game that is spearheading the download-only revolution, then you should indulge in the genuine pleasure of playing Trine.

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites

---