Trine developer Modus Games have released a new behind-the-scenes video to mark both its 10th anniversary and the newest installment in the series.
The new video, part of the Indie Access series, celebrates the music of the franchise. Composer and music producer Ari Pulkkinen discusses how his once hobby of sound design led to a professional career at Frozenbyte as the developer’s in-house music and audio director. Composer of all four games to date, including new installment The Nightmare Prince, Pulkkinen gives viewers a look into the musical details that differentiate each game, paying particular attention to the subtle shifts in Trine 4 that work to create an unforgettably dreamlike experience for new and returning players alike.
“That universe is a music box, and the Trine world is inside that music box,” he says. “This time I really wanted to make every character unique.”
Some of his favorite bits of music involve Pontius’ tutorial level, the Moonlit Forest, and a castle stuck in time. Nightmare sequences that play on each character’s fears and painful memories also contain some bits of humor, Pulkkinen says. “I try to make it funny a bit so it’s not only a horror story, it’s like this tragic comedy.”
“The magic is back” with The Nightmare Prince, Pulkkinen says, and the game itself is the best the series has been in his opinion.
“It’s audio-visually that kind of game that sucks you in because it’s so mesmerizing,” he says. “That was one of my goals for the soundtrack, as well.”
Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince returns to its roots in 2.5D this fall, boasting significantly more gameplay than its predecessors. Alongside the newest title, Modus Games will release Trine: Ultimate Collection, which includes Trine Enchanted Edition, Trine 2: Complete Story, Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power, and Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince.
As part of its 10th anniversary celebration, Modus Games is also giving away a gaming console and an ultimate collection to three grand prize winners. Details on the giveaway can be found here.
Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince arrives on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC this fall.
