The Trine series is back with its biggest adventure! In their fifth outing, the Heroes of Trine are pitted against dastardly and duplicitous villains, who will stop at nothing to seize control of the kingdom. The clock is ticking to save the world of Trine!
Players take control of the three heroes - Amadeus the Wizard, Zoya the Thief, and Pontius the Knight - and must utilize each character's unique abilities to navigate the game's challenging 2.5D environments. Reviewers praise the cleverness and satisfaction of solving the game's puzzles, which often require experimenting with different character combinations and abilities to find the optimal solution. The game introduces new abilities for each hero, which players can unlock through a skill quest system. This allows for a greater variety of puzzle-solving options, keeping the experience fresh. The adaptive puzzle difficulty system adjusts the challenge based on the number of players, ensuring both single-player and co-op experiences remain engaging.
Players enjoy the depth and versatility of the three hero characters. Amadeus can conjure a variety of objects to aid in navigation, Zoya's grappling hook and bow allow her to reach high platforms and take out enemies from a distance, and Pontius' heavy armor and shield can protect the party and be used in creative ways to solve puzzles. The skill quest system expands the capabilities of each character, unlocking new abilities that open up additional puzzle-solving opportunities. Reviewers praise the synergy of these character abilities, as players must often combine the heroes' skills to overcome the game's challenges.
While the game is primarily focused on puzzle-solving, the combat system has been improved, providing a welcome respite from the puzzles. Reviewers note that the introduction of new enemy types and boss battles creates engaging scenarios, with the satisfying feel of each character's attacks and abilities. The adaptive difficulty system adjusts the challenge of combat encounters based on the number of players, ensuring both solo and cooperative play remains engaging and balanced.
The cooperative multiplayer experience is a standout feature, allowing players to team up with up to three friends, either locally or online. Reviewers highlight the synergy and communication required when playing in co-op, as players must coordinate the use of each character's abilities to solve puzzles effectively. The adaptive difficulty system ensures the co-op experience remains challenging and rewarding, with puzzles designed to take advantage of the added manpower. Many players note that the cooperative gameplay is the optimal way to experience the game, as the shared sense of accomplishment and the ability to experiment with different character combinations adds depth and replayability.
The game's 2.5D environments have been praised by reviewers as some of the most beautiful and detailed in the series. The whimsical, fairy tale-inspired world transports players, with each new area offering a fresh and captivating visual experience. Reviewers note that the environments are not just aesthetically pleasing, but also intricately designed to facilitate the puzzle-solving and platforming gameplay. Hidden rooms, secret passages, and optional challenges encourage players to thoroughly explore each level, further adding to the sense of discovery and replayability. The game's use of lighting, color, and particle effects contributes to the overall sense of immersion, with many players highlighting the visual splendor as a key factor in their enjoyment of the gameplay.