Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power

Genre: 3D Puzzle-Platformer

Players: 1-3 Co-Op (Local, Online)

.

Review:

(Note: This game is included in Trine Series 1-3, along with Trine Enchanted Edition, and Trine 2: Complete Story. It is also included in Trine Ultimate Collection, along with Trine: Enchanted Edition, Trine 2: Complete Story, and Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince.)

Trine 3 takes the series of Puzzle-Platformers into 3D, with puzzles centering on three swappable characters using their unique abilities to get past puzzles and enemies now allowing players to move around more freely… for better or worse.

Graphically, this game is brilliant. While there are a few rough edges here and there (shadows still look a bit rough, there are framerate issues in places, and at one point during my play-through a large jewel began freaking out onscreen during a cutscene in a very distracting manner), for the most part this game is a visual marvel, with lush, colorful, detailed environments, wonderful lighting effects, and some truly magnificent water effects. Despite its age (it’s a half a decade old), this game still manages to be in the top tier of Nintendo Switch games as far as the graphics go.

As for the gameplay… well… Okay, look, here’s the thing. On the one hand, it’s really nice to finally be able to control these characters in 3D. When it works, this makes for some thrilling new possibilities for both the presentation and the game’s puzzles. However, often it makes for some really frustrating platforming as the fixed camera makes it hard to judge where things are.

The change to 3D has also affected the characters. The knight makes out the best here, as he gains a newfound mobility by being able to use his shield as a makeshift hang glider of sorts. However, it’s now far more frustrating and difficult to move objects into place as the wizard, and the poor thief’s grapple ability has been severely limited as well, now only being allowed in designated spots onscreen. As a result, a lot of the excellent gameplay of the series is hindered by struggles with the controls, struggles with the camera, and frustration at not knowing just where to go.

Funny enough though, the one thing most improved by this change is the problem that has plagued the series since the beginning – combat. While combat in this game isn’t great, it isn’t the tedious frustrating mess that other games forced on the player, since moving in three dimensions now gives players some degree of strategy in combat. Still, sacrificing reliably good controls and decent platforming simply to take the series bad combat and make it into serviceable combat isn’t a particularly good trade.

Players considering buying this game as a part of the Trine Ultimate Collection should be aware that the physical version of this collection requires a sizeable download to play the first three Trine games, as well as a download for the added DLC content for Trine 4. Please keep this in mind when deciding which version of the game to get.

In the end, Trine 3 still has excellent gameplay, and its graphics are for the most part phenomenal. However, the move to 3D has really been a mixed bag, and more often than not it’s not a change for the better. This is still a good game for fans of the genre, but it’s a step down from both its predecessor and its successor.

tl;dr – Trine 3 takes the Puzzle-Platformer series into 3D, retaining the series formula of using three characters with distinct abilities to get past obstacles. However, this change has mixed results – the combat is better, but the platforming is much worse. It’s still a decent game, but it’s not as good as the second and fourth titles in the series.

Grade: B-

^{You can support eShopperReviews on Patreon! Please click HERE to become a Sponsor!}