Tag: live

Developer: Frozenbyte
Publisher: Atlus
Platform: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: December 21, 2011

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Trine 2? is a platform style fantasy game where you navigate physics based puzzles while utilizing the special skills of all three characters, called “Hero’s”. The first thing that turned me on to this game was its absolute beauty. I love games with a lot of color and detail, especially fantasy games, and this game definitely meets and exceeds expectations in that area. The graphics are skillfully detailed with brilliant colors without going overboard. Characters are simple yet elegant, and nearly everything is interactive. The background and foreground blend so well that I often found myself trying to interact with an object that was only in the background.

The music is very beautiful, changing smoothly and often so as not to become too monotonous, but it also doesn’t overpower the game play. The music segway is perfect when game play changes from puzzle exploration into combat with an enemy without distracting you. Overall the soundtrack is not very notable, however I think it is a terrific compliment to “Trine 2?. The game controls and learning how to navigate was at first a little bit of an effort, but once you get the hang of it you can move smoothly through the game. Other than a very slight lag in the controls when jumping around, you can easily overcome it with a little practice. “Trine 2? controls remain basic throughout the game, keeping it simple enough that should you go an extended period of time without playing you should be able to pick it up again with ease and jump right into game play.

The story line keeps to the basics as well, giving you little more than the necessarily information needed while loading the next level. While it does have a warning about “fantasy blood and violence” when you first load, I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be perfectly fine for children 7 and up to play since what blood there is during battles is very subtle and the violence is very minimal.

The main characters are Amadeus the Wizard, with the power to conjure boxes and planks, and to move objects and enemies; Pontius the Knight that fights off enemies with a sword and shield, and a hammer that he can also smash some objects and obstacles; and Zoya the Thief with a grappling hook for easier navigation through areas by swinging from wood objects.

To be honest I had never heard of this game or it’s predecessor before but for the low price, amazing graphics and details, smooth game play and puzzles, I think it is definitely worth it. The puzzles do tend to get a little frustrating at times but with persistence you can often find multiple solutions to move on. I played both the full version on XBOX and the demo version on the PC and I would have to say I proffered it on the XBOX; navigation seemed easier, but then that could be because I personally favor console games to PC anyway.

I give this game 3.5 out of 5 stars; I would give it a higher rating but the slight delay in controls was frustrating, adding a bit to the difficulty I had with some of the puzzles. For anyone who likes puzzle games I would definitely recommend “Trine 2?, the puzzles are intricate and detailed, leaving several solutions available to the player.