Indie physics-based platformer Trine has been widely praised for its beautiful graphics, puzzle-solving mechnanics and combat system however its price point has drawn some criticism from the gaming community.
There is little doubt that developer Frozenbyte has created a compelling 2.5D platforming offering here, but is it really worth the £16.99+ price tag?
Despite its merits, I would say ‘no’.
The game has a very unique take on the platformer, allowing you to switch between three very different characters at an instant to tackle a variety of obstacles throughout the lengthy levels. This mechanic is on a similar level to what we saw in Sonic Heroes for GameCube/PS2, however it feels that it is much more at home – and deeply integrated – in Trine.
There is also a heavy focus on physics – the thief character can swing across chasms using a grapple, the wizard can use magic to move or throw in-level objects, the warrior can snap ropes and open trapdoors using his sword. It’s all implemented very well and perfectly fits the gameplay.
Where the game fails – for me at least – is that I do not feel that this is a complete-enough experience to justify as high a price tag. After you complete a couple of levels, it feels that the only thing keeping you playing the game is the opportunity to rake-in 30 Steam Achievements. The game is beautiful, but it feels skin-deep.
The game is not immersive enough to justify the price tag, nor are the characters’ stories compelling, it feels like a tech demo for an otherwise-impressive game engine.
