DreamWorks Trolls Remix Rescue review (PS5)

DreamWorks Trolls Remix Rescue, developed by Petit Fabrik and published by GameMill for multiple platforms including the PlayStation 5, aims to bring the colorful and cheerful world of the Trolls franchise to life in an exciting new adventure. Set after the events of Trolls World Tour, the game starts with a poppin’ Trolls party, but takes a turn when the smooth jazz-loving Chaz puts the entire Troll Kingdom under a trance with his hypnotic saxophone, leading to a quest to save the kingdom.

One of the standout features of the game for fans of the Trolls franchise is the extensive character customization, allowing players to create their own unique Troll with various hairstyles, facial features, clothes, and more. This adds a fun layer of personalization and connects players to the Trolls universe – especially those who’ve at some point enjoyed collecting these trolls.

The level designs in Trolls Remix Rescue are impressively large for a 3D platformer and they offer a good amount of exploration. However, there can be some confusion about which paths to take within a region, leading to occasional backtracking and frustrations and the path forward isn’t always intuitive. The gameplay itself is a standard 3D platformer with elements of combat, with a focus on jumping and exploration. As players progress through the adventure, they unlock additional skills and abilities as well, adding depth and variety to the gameplay.

Part of the game’s appeal lies in its mini-games, which provide a nice break from platforming and combat. These rhythm-based challenges are engaging and incorporate popular songs from the Trolls soundtrack, which is lovely fan service. The boss fights also offer a fun gameplay experience that fits well with the source material, requiring players to outrun pursuing enemies in sync with the music.

Unfortunately, Trolls Remix Rescue is not without its flaws and it has a few rough edges. The camera proves to be a significant issue while playing, frequently obstructing the player’s view and causing frustration, especially in co-op mode with two players on screen. Additionally, there are some technical bugs, such as clipping through objects and hit detection issues with enemies – leading us to believe this could have used a bit more development time and was rushed out for the holiday season.

Visually, the game captures the vibrant and colorful world of the Trolls franchise, though it falls slightly short of the cinematic quality of the films. The character models are well done, but animations may feel a bit stiff at times. The level designs, however, showcase a good variety of environments within each region, and the soundtrack stands out as a highlight, adding to the game’s charm and keeping players engaged.

In summary, DreamWorks Trolls Remix Rescue offers a competent 3D platforming experience with enjoyable moments and audiovisual elements pulled from the movies. However, the gameplay at launch is hindered by camera issues and technical bugs. Fans of the Trolls franchise will likely find enjoyment in this game, but others may want to wait for potential updates or a discounted price.

Score: 6.5/10