The original Trine was welcome relief when it arrived back in 2009. Combining what made games like The Lost Vikings challenging with a delicious visual palette made for an interesting, if short, romp through a dangerous kingdom. The success of the first title has obviously spawned a much anticipated sequel, and what’s been provided is basically what fans wanted; more of the same.

Trine 2 begins where its predecessor ends, with our 3 heroes yet again out on a mission to save the world. For those who aren’t experienced with the first game, the (very loose and forgettable) story has our antagonists’ souls bound together by the “Trine”, a mysterious crystal of sorts that allows the player to switch between each character at will.

It’s with this ability that you engage puzzles, combat and orb collection at will, coming up against situations in which one or multiple skill sets are required to proceed. The key is that each character has the capacity to move, break, or attack -- as an archer, a conjurer and a warrior -- with each possessing a particular ability the others do not. So while you can go up against a horde of goblins with a bow, it’s much easier with a sword and shield.



Since only one can be used at a time, it’s exploring the environment to find the correct switch or panel to be manipulated -- whether by a grappling hook or levitation -- where the major challenges present themselves. To make things a little less linear, there are various ways to complete puzzles; in some cases I was able to abuse the physics to jam gears with objects to hold open doors or gates. It’s a testament to the engine design that allows this level of emergent freedom, especially in a platformer where rigid guidelines to player movement are usually heavily restrictive.

Frozenbyte need to be lauded for the level of ridiculous detail they have poured onto everything in Trine 2. From the moment the tutorial level loads, the stunning, luminous beauty of the world knocks you flat on your arse. You’ll find yourself stopping occasionally, just to peruse the intricate flourishes; from the way the water ebbs and flows, to the extraordinary detail in both hero and enemy animations. The detail is sometimes almost too much and can occasionally be difficult to notice an obvious path, or locate what is able to be interacted with.

Controlling Trine on the PC is a little clumsy at times, especially when the game sporadically throws combat sections at you, although it does provide subtle warnings. Switching between players is done with number keys, while fighting is mouse controlled. It’s obvious that the design of the game was done around a joypad, which feels much more comfortable in practice, particularly when you are trying to make accurate movements using a keyboard. But these are niggles, traditional controls for most players will be more than sufficient.



Where the game truly shines, however, is when you’re teaming up with two other players in the much hyped cooperative mode, which puts all three characters on screen at the same time. Allowing for simultaneous actions provides a much more fluid style of play -- especially when you’re sitting on vent or Skype and setting up a chain of actions to move past a puzzle that requires everyone to work in unison. It’s a stupid amount of fun, which is compounded by the fact that it provides a completely different experience and challenge to the single player mode, even though the campaign is identical.

In terms of new changes outside of the multiplayer component, most involve the additions of water based physics, bonus game modes, new bosses and upgrades. For the most part, Trine 2 is more of slight evolution than a revolution, but that’s hardly something to complain about. It’s a game with few real weaknesses, is accessible to players of any calibre, and provides hours of entertainment for those who like to go solo or play with friends. Considering its price, it’s almost a steal for the amount of enjoyment that can be had from it.