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Title: Trine 2: Director’s Cut Publisher: Frozenbyte Developer: Frozenbyte Console: Wii U Release Date: November 18, 2012 Genre: Action, Adventure Rating: ESRB E 10+ Official Site |
Trine 2: Director’s Cut on the Wii U is a fantasy platforming game that adds hints of role-playing and puzzle elements into the mix. Will Trine 2 pull you into its story book world, or leave you stuck on the opening pages? Read on to find out!
Trine 2 has pleasantly smooth controls for a platforming game, and I was happy to see that developer Frozenbyte allowed use of both the analog sticks and the D-pad (I prefer using the D-pad for platformers, for some reason). What really impressed me with Trine 2 on the Wii U was how much fun it was to play directly on the GamePad. Not only can the entire game be played with the television off (if you choose), but the full game is always running on both screens simultaneously. Off-screen play is enhanced further by the touch screen, which, depending on the character, will allow you to conjure crates or items or shoot magic arrows. The touch screen controls work wonderfully whether you’re looking at the television or the GamePad, making for a fluid gameplay experience.
The game is one of the best looking games on the Wii U. This might have nothing to do with the power of the Wii U and everything to do with the fact that the art design is fantastic – some of the best visuals I’ve ever seen in a video game. While most “high definition” games are content to stick with a palette consisting of various shades of brown and not much else, Trine 2 uses bright, bold colors to fantastic effect, really bringing out the best of your high definition set-up. There is always something going on in both the background and the foreground. The wind blows softly, birds soar overhead, fire glows, and water ripples beautifully. While on their own, these are things that usually get taken for granted, it’s something we don’t see too often in platforming games, much less on a Nintendo console. Simply put, Trine 2 looks like a fairy tale come to life.
In addition to being a feast for the eyes, Trine 2 is also a treat for the ears. The musical score is brilliant, making use of several instrumental pieces fitting the fantasy adventure your heroes are embarking on. Each stage is also loaded with soft ambient sounds specific to their location. Forest stages will be filled with birds chirping and babbling brooks, caves with haunting echoes. Every mission is bookended with a bit of story, narrated excellently, really lending to the story book feeling of the game. While the characters don’t speak often, when they do, it is to help drive the story forward, while occasionally dropping hints, and most always infused with a dose of humor. The voice acting is subtle enough to develop the character’s personalities without feeling overdone or overbearing.
Trine 2: Director’s Cut on Wii U includes the full game, plus the Goblin Menace expansion, and a Wii U exclusive stage that becomes available upon completion of the rest of the game. Trine 2 also includes a robust cooperative multiplayer experience for up to three players either locally, online, or a blend of both. The game will run an average of 20 hours for a normal playthrough, much longer if you are looking to explore every nook and cranny in the game.
Overall
I must confess that I have never played the original Trine, and at first glance, I thought Trine 2 would be just another side-scrolling fantasy RPG. How glad I was to be proven wrong. The game is a beautiful journey through a vibrant world, filled with brain-jarring puzzles, fun boss battles, and a gorgeous soundtrack. Trine 2: Director’s Cut is a fine example of exactly the kind of content sorely needed on the Wii U eShop. In the opinion of the developers, the Wii U version is the definitive version of the game, sporting enhanced graphics, a Wii U exclusive chapter, and the full expansion, which may (or may not) be released on the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3. I can heartily recommend this game to anyone looking for a fun adventure on the Wii U, great co-op play, or some of the most breathtaking visuals the system offers.
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Review copy was provided by the publisher.
