Trine 2

Looking for a good puzzle game that won’t make your wallet scream in agony?  Have we got the game for you! Trine 2 was released for Xbox Live on December 21st and the PlayStation Network on December 20th and is making waves among game critics.Given an 86 out of 100 at Metacritic.com, an 8.5 out of 10 at GameSpot, and a 95 out of 100 at Bit-Gamer, critics are most impressed by the incredible graphics and vivid imagery of Trine 2.  As GameSpot writes, “Trine 2’s environments could have been lifted off the screen of a latter-day Fantasia or from the pages of a particularly lovely storybook.  Deep, richly detailed levels pop with lively luminous color.”  GameZebo says, “To see it in motion it’s hard to believe it was made by a small development team and not some huge movie studio.”Trine 2’s predecessor, Trine, was also greeted by wonderful reception with a Metacritic score of 80% for the PC version and 83% for the PS3 version.  It also received GameSpot’s 2009 Editor’s Choice award and sold 1.1 million copies.  Trine 2 can be appreciated by gamers whether or not you played Trine.  Players take on the traditional roles of a wizard, thief, and knight, which are bound together by the “Trine.”  You can switch characters at any point – a necessary aspect of the game, as each character has different skills essential to completing puzzles.  GameSpot’s only criticism of Trine 2 is the lack of a unique storyline.Trine 2 is praised for its fluidity, since it allows gamers to solve puzzles in multiple ways, maneuvering your way around obstacles with “teetering structures of magic planks” when the best solution is out of reach.  Perhaps the most ingenious integration is an optional hint system that becomes available after some minutes of trying to figure out a puzzle.  Trine 2 even allows for online multiplayer capabilities so others can take on the other two roles, rendering it possible to “combine powers.”  There are customizable options that add to the replay of Trine 2, using upgraded characters to your advantage.