Trine 4 is a game that brings back the Trine series to its roots. This game is a testament to what made the Trine series great, to begin with. There is something about bringing a game back to its roots that puts a smile on my face. While no Trine game has ever been awful, there was a change-up in the last Trine game. Trine 4 rights the ship and brings this beloved series back to port, in the best way possible, by being what it used to be.
Trine 4 tells the story of three heroes off to save a young prince. This prince has magic within and through the power of dreams has been summoning wicked beasties. The only people who can stop the beasts and get him home are the heroes of the Trine series. These three heroes have been through trouble before, and together they can do anything. It’s great to have them back in 2.5 D and ready to take on this monstrous challenge.
The main characters in this story are Amadeus the Wizard, Pontius the Knight, and Zoya the Thief. Amadeus is a wizard among wizards who can shift objects around. He also can summon a magic cube which is helpful when one needs a leg up. Pontius a brutish knight who can jump quite high and slam down. His sword is perfect for killing enemies. Zoya is an adept archer and has a grapple which she uses to not only grapple across gaps but to tie up contraptions. These heroes might all not work the same way, but their teamwork is always impressive. Each of the heroes has their way of doing things and switching between them to solve puzzles is ever too easy. The player can toggle between the characters at will with a button press. This is important because oftentimes players will need to switch between them at the drop of a hat.
The game is split up into five acts, of about four levels a pop. Each level is split up with a little narration that helps tell the story. It’s nice to take a little breather in between levels to collect one’s thoughts. This game is a classic puzzle adventure that will test one’s mental fortitude. While the puzzles may not be rigorous sometimes it might be good to take a break in between completing a few. The game is rather short after all, so it’s good not to rush it.
Trine 4 as a fantastic skill tree that players can use to gain new skills and powers. These powers can change how one plays the game so its good to unlock them carefully. Players will be able to unlock them all so it is okay to choose which ones players want. It is never bad to be strategic with skill trees, and this one is going to be a long haul. This game has an adaptive difficulty setting which is quite cool. The game will get progressively harder, as more people play it. If three people are playing it locally the puzzles will be harder. That in and of itself is rather mindblowing. While the game can be played with one person, to truly experience it, three people should play in tandem.
Don’t fret about missing out on collectibles. Every level is broken down into parts that players can jump back into. It will tell the player how much of each level they have completed. For completionists, this will surely save time. There is a good deal of collectibles hidden in this game, so having some sort of chart is helpful. The game itself is gorgeous, with amazing locales to playthrough. The world changes a good deal between levels. Some of them being open and free while others being dank and cavernous. There is quite a lot of difference in this world, and playing through the game will show off the beauty within.
This game also has voice acting which ties everything together quite nicely. The heroes will often talk to each other as they start a level. It’s nice to hear them talk and discuss what is going on. Hearing characters talk just adds another layer to the game and I’m always for it. The game can also be played online which a delightful new way to play. This game can be a blast in local, but imagine playing this with someone online. This game does take cooperation, so maybe after clearing it solo or in local co-op players might try this out. It’s certainly something to consider especially if the player enjoys the game the first time through.
Trine 4 is a stellar 2.5 D puzzle game that will challenge any player and test their grit. It’s fun from beginning to end and does change depending on how many players are playing. Plus for those with an itch to collect it all, this game readily scratches that. With a prince to save and puzzles to unravel, is the player up to the challenge?
Disclaimer: a review key was povided