Developer: Frozenbyte
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Tested on: PS5
Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy – Review
It’s almost been four years since we last saved the world again as the three Heroes of Trine in Trine 4. The fourth installment of the series presented longtime (and new) fans with a fun fantasy story with a lot of humor and quirky characters. Not only did the game nail its aesthetics and atmosphere, but the gameplay stood tall on its own as well. We very much enjoyed the whimsical fantasy adventure of Pontius, Zoya, and Amadeus, and we were more than happy when we got our hands on their newest outing with the release of Trine 5. Once again, we had a lot of laughs playing through this one, even if the developers are playing things a bit too safe at times.
Story
Trine 5 is a direct sequel, and it revolves around the three Heroes of Trine that we have come to know and love from the previous installments. After saving the world once again, Zoya the thief is up to her old tricks, Pontius is performing his knightly duties, and Amadeus is currently processing the separation of him and his wife. Even so, it seems that the heroes will be reunited soon, as they are invited to a ceremony to honor their good deeds. However, this ceremony was an evil ploy by Lady Sunshine Crownsdale to capture the heroes and execute them. The heroes have been accused of illegitimately claiming the power of Trine as their own. The trio of heroes manages to escape with their lives, and they will have to turn the odds in their favor again now that the entire world has turned against them.
Overall, the story is again rather fun to play through. You’ll be treated to an amusing fantasy adventure with great writing and witty dialogues. While the narrative will not win any awards, the overall premise is entertaining and the game manages to captivate you to keep pressing onwards.
Graphics
As this game is pretty much a direct sequel of Trine 4, it’s only normal that the graphical style has not really changed. This fifth installment will treat you to new interesting fantasy-inspired areas with beautiful backdrops and colorful views. The heroes themselves have also not really changed compared to the previous game, except for a few cosmetic options that allow you to change a few minor details such as their outfits’ color schemes, or having the option to change hats and backpacks. Everything is clearly crafted with care, and it’s a joy to progress through the campaign to see what the game has in store for you next.
Sound
The charming voice cast makes their return for this new sequel, and it’s once again the dialogues that are the highlight here. Don’t get us wrong, we thoroughly enjoyed the soundtrack too, but the short witty dialogues in levels and during cutscenes are what truly make this a silly fantasy adventure. The sound effects are also quite satisfying, and they provide great feedback for the onscreen action. All in all, the game’s sound design is on point.
Gameplay
Just like the previous games in the series, Trine 5 is a Puzzle-Platformer in which you’ll go through different stages with the three Heroes of Trine. You’ll be able to swap between characters at will to solve different environmental puzzles, and you can play through the game on your own or with other players. Both formats work perfectly fine, but at times you’ll get a better overview when playing solo. To solve puzzles, you’ll have to use the abilities of the three heroes. Amadeus can conjure objects, making it easier to reach higher places or cross gaps, while Zoya can fire arrows and use her rope to swing from items or create bridges. Last but not least, there’s Pontius who can use his sword to battle enemies or his body weight to ram into heavy objects and obstacles. As you progress through the game, you’ll also gain more experience, and with this experience, you can level up your characters’ skills. You can easily redistribute the invested skill points later in case you want to try other options. The biggest problem Trine 5 faces is the fact that it plays things too safely and that it’s pretty much more of the same.
The game is fairly straightforward when you come to grips with the different heroes’ abilities. You’ll have some very easy puzzles being thrown at you, but also puzzles that will require a bit more creative thought. There is not always a single solution to puzzles, and at times you might even cheese your way out of a harder one. For the most part, however, things never get too complex when it comes to solving puzzles that allow you to progress. Puzzles in secret areas of levels can prove to be a bit trickier at times, but even here, things never get too complicated. Depending on how quickly you are able to solve all the game’s puzzles, you could clear the game in roughly eight hours. This might not sound very long, but seeing as Trine 5 comes at only half the price of a Triple-A title, this can still be considered a fairly meaty package. The game does have some replay value for those who truly wish to collect everything or those who decide to tackle the game with some friends.
Conclusion
Trine 5 offers more of the same as the previous game, which is not really a bad thing, except for those who were looking for something new being thrown into the mix. There are some finer new mechanics here and there, but Trine 5 plays it safe and guarantees that fans of the series can go on another adventure with familiar faces and well-polished gameplay elements. We very much enjoyed this new installment of the series, but we also hope that a potential sequel might add something new to the equation to spice things up. Nonetheless, this one’s an easy recommendation.
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