Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy, the latest installment in the long-running Trine series by developer Frozenbyte that is being published by THQ Nordic, returns with its signature blend of co-op puzzle-platforming adventure. This time, it reunites players with the familiar and beloved trio of heroes – Amadeus the Wizard, Zoya the Thief, and Pontius the Knight – for another epic quest. The game manages to build upon the strengths of its predecessors and will certainly appeal to long time fans, but isn’t without its shortcomings – here’s our take on the latest Trine.
The story, a classic fairy tale narrative, unfolds as the trio embarks on a mission to thwart an evil empress and her mechanical army of clockwork knights. While the plot is rather simplistic and predictable, it’s redeemed to some extent by well-executed voice acting that breathes life into the distinctive personalities of the main characters. The banter and interactions between the trio provide moments of levity within an otherwise straightforward storyline, and the storybook-like narrative delivery fits the theme well.
Where Trine 5 truly shines is in its gameplay. Much like its predecessors, it offers both single-player and co-op modes. The core experience revolves around 2.5D action platforming intertwined with intricate puzzle-solving – often of the physics-based variety. Each of the three characters possesses a unique set of abilities, and you must strategically use them in combination to navigate through labyrinthine levels.
Zoya, the master archer of the series, excels at manipulating ropes and grappling from one point to another. Pontius, the burly knight, wields a ton of strength, enabling him to break obstacles and deflect projectiles with his shield. Lastly, Amadeus, the more introspective wizard, can conjure and manipulate objects to forge new paths for the team to traverse.
The puzzles in Trine 5 vary in complexity, offering a satisfying blend of challenges, although occasionally, they resort to solutions that feel awkward and overly precise – to the point where you almost wonder if you’re even trying the right things. The addition of new abilities as characters progress through the game keeps the gameplay fresh, but it can also become overwhelming, especially in single-player mode without someone else to bounce ideas off of and share skillsets with. Juggling between characters with expanding move sets can lead to moments of frustration, where you might find yourself stuck on a puzzle for extended periods searching for what you might be overlooking.
Furthermore, the combat in Trine 5 remains the weakest part of the series, and sometimes feels like an element that would work better when tied to puzzle gameplay instead of straight up combat mechanics. Encounters with enemies feel uninspired and repetitive, offering little strategy or depth. The boss battles are a great example of how things could have been though, as they manage to inject creativity into the combat by incorporating puzzle elements.
Visually, Trine 5 is a bit of a mixed bag. While the environments are once again beautifully designed with crisp visuals and vibrant colors and fairytale-like visual effects, the character models in the game’s cutscenes can appear somewhat dated, which is an area where the game needs a modern update that elevates it above the previously released games.
On the plus side, Trine 5 offers an extended adventure compared to its predecessors, with over 10 hours of gameplay in the campaign. The inclusion of collectibles adds replay value and additional challenge to the puzzles as well, and the option for cooperative play with friends enhances the experience.
In summary, Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy builds upon the series’ strengths, offering a visually enchanting world and an engaging core puzzle-platforming experience. However, it remains hindered by a simplistic narrative, occasionally frustrating puzzles, and lackluster combat. Nevertheless, for those seeking a co-op adventure with friends, Trine 5 still manages to provide enjoyable moments in its magical world. For fans of the series this should be an instant purchase.
Score: 8.0/10
Press Play Media 