by dark_heartless_riku

Three heads are better than one

Every once in awhile there comes a game that causes gamers around the world to put down their controller and stare in awe; Trine 2 is one of these games. When you first start up Trine 2 the visuals will be the first aspect of the game to amaze you. With color bursting from an array of environments and lighting that will make you swear these locales were real. Developer Frozenbyte have married art style and technical prowess better than any game I have seen in recent memory.

Trine 2 is an action platformer that takes place on a 2D plane with a high emphasis on physics based puzzles. You play as three heroes who can be switched instantaneously. A brave knight named Pontius, a clever wizard named Amadeus and a sly thief named Zoya. What separates the three is their distinct abilities that help them traverse the world and combat foes.

Pontius will be the heavy hitter of the group, with sword and shield in hand to take on foes in close range. Amadeus will be the key to solving puzzles through spawning boxes, planks and manipulating the environment. Zoya will aid in long range attacks with bow and arrow and a hook shot to improve platforming. Each of the characters unique abilities are vital to the success of progressing through each level. By finding flask hidden throughout the world or from fallen enemies each of the three characters abilities can be upgraded through a skill tree.

Trine 2 feels right at home on the Wii U. The entire game can be played on the gamepad and is streamed to the controller in real time without any menu options. This means the game is being rendered twice which is quite an impressive feat remembering that this game runs in 1080p. The touch screen can be used for most abilities such as shooting arrows or creating boxes. While the gamepad features may get in the way during a heated battle I can say that I would choose to play on the gamepad over a dual analog any day. The ease of creating platforms with Amadeus by quickly drawing a square with your finger is something that can be taken for granted.

One of my favorite features about Trine 2 is your choice how you approach puzzles. Let it be known when it comes to puzzles this is one of my weaker areas in gaming. Trine 2 does not force the player to solve every puzzle in a distinct manner. Since the game is physics based you can use your own creative ways to progress throughout the game. This really opens up a genre that may have been inaccessible to some players in fear of becoming stuck and unable to progress.

Trine is a very beautiful game but that does not mean it doesn’t have a few blemishes. The controls can be very sluggish at times and leave a lot to be desired in tighter game mechanics. Jumping on objects that give you a lift upwards can be a hassle. Rotating objects with Amadeus can be a very slow and frustrating experience. The hook shot with Zoya will sometimes leave you with an awkward animation of her back arched and not much room to swing. This can lead you to second guess yourself if you are going about your task correctly.

Trine 2 Directors Cut offers local and online co-op. While the online works it is very basic. Voice chat is not offered at the moment which is disappointing for a game based on a cooperative experience be it online or single player. (Note: Frozenbyte has been said to be looking into a patch for mic chat). Be forewarned if a user logs out during online play you will be logged out as well.

Trine 2 Director’s Cut will take 15-20 hours to complete. The newly released DLC Goblins Menace is included with an exclusive Wii U level, which makes a total of 20 levels all together.

Closing Comments

Trine 2 Directors Cut is a gorgeous game with an impressive score to boot. While the controls can fall short at times this doesn’t stop the game from being very fun and creative. Trine 2 Directors Cut is the holy grail or…Trine of the Nintendo e-shop and should not be missed.