Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power (PC) Second Opinion Review

By Shanker Varma 05.11.2015

Review for Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power on PC

Fans of the first two titles in the series would have been overjoyed to hear the news of a third entry of Trine, especially as it adds full 3D. Anyone who played this in Early Access could see that Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power had the potential to be something special, and the final version delivers, as new gameplay elements bring a breath of fresh air to the franchise. Unfortunately, the story is clearly unfinished, and big features of the previous games are inexplicably missing, which lets down something that could have been very magical.

Upon starting Trine 3, control is taken of the knight Pontius, who is hunting a sheep thief in front of a setting (or perhaps rising) sun. The beautiful vistas in the background are surpassed only by the magnificent music that plays throughout the level. The voice actors give life to each of the three protagonists and draw in anyone who may be playing, or even watching the action unfold. The striking visual and audio delights are as captivating in this third entry as they were back when the Trine series was first introduced in 2009. Starting with praise of the game's appearance and sound shouldn't be taken as a slight on the actual gameplay, but praise for just how magical an atmosphere they create.

Soon after finishing the first level, Zoya is introduced, or reintroduced, to the world. Since the last game, she has learned to attach her grappling hook to various points, which creates new puzzles that involve manipulating the environment in new ways, such as pulling platforms out and tying them down so that she can use them to avoid danger. Taking the series into 3D has let the developers add new depth to old abilities, like Zoya using her grappling hook to move through levels, which is now very reminiscent of swinging through New York as Spider-Man.

The new camera angle is arguably best shown when Amadeus, the wizard, is introduced and it is necessary to move up a flowing stream of water to progress. Boxes must be placed carefully at various points to create a path to safety. Sadly, while this shows off the new camera angle, it also highlights the limitations it has brought about. Previously, boxes would be created by drawing them with the mouse or analogue stick, but now they are conjured with the press of a button. This isn't a huge step back, but it does cause the game to lose one of the series' unique points that made it more engaging.

Screenshot for Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power on PC

Collectibles have always filled the levels in the Trine series and they return once again in the form of hundreds of Trineangles. Some are obvious and easy to obtain, while others are cleverly tucked away and require creative use of some, or all, of the three heroes and their abilities. At this point, one of the game's larger shortcomings is made very apparent, as these collectibles would usually be used to earn experience and upgrade abilities in each character's skill tree. Not only are these trees missing, later stages are locked behind collecting Trineangles, turning what was once an optional extra for fans who wanted a greater challenge to a mandatory task for anyone looking to finish the game.

As an unfortunate consequence of losing skill trees, the gameplay itself has lost some of its more interesting features. No longer does combat involve freezing enemies with ice arrows, shocking them with the Storm Hammer or trapping foes in cages. This leaves the action very lacking because it quickly becomes repetitive, as each character executes the same moves with no chance of developing any new techniques. On its own, this is bad, but, when compared to the richness of the previous titles, it is a true shame to see.

To make matters worse, Trine 3 is clearly unfinished, as it ends very abruptly, leaving its audience yearning for more. This is usually an effective way to lead into a sequel, but it doesn't feel like a cliff-hanger ending - rather, a story that was cut short. The developers have since explained that the full tale is about three times as long, and budget constraints led to the game shipping without a satisfactory conclusion. The story itself is told very well through the narrator and the characters' voices, and it keeps the player's attention through its content and execution. Sadly, this isn't enough to hide the disappointment of gearing up for a journey that goes practically nowhere.

Screenshot for Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power on PC

Cubed3 Rating

5/10
Rated 5 out of 10

Average

Fans of the first two Trine games will surely find something to enjoy here, even if it isn't a complete game by the team's usual, high standards. A short, but magical, journey can still be immensely enjoyable, and there was potential for that to happen with Trine 3. Unfortunately, the lack of features that were prominent in earlier titles and the sudden, unresolved, ending to the story is likely to leave more disappointment than satisfaction in the hearts and minds of many who play this. Newcomers to the series are urged to play the first two titles, as they are still fantastic adventures and should be experienced by anyone in search for an adventure that is rich in action and platforming.

Developer

Frozenbyte

Publisher

Frozenbyte

Genre

Adventure

Players

3

C3 Score

Rated $score out of 10  5/10

Reader Score

Rated $score out of 10  0 (0 Votes)

European release date Out now   North America release date Out now   Japan release date None   Australian release date Out now   

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