Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gorgeous sidescroller with some violence, tough platforming.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Trine 2
What's It About?
A trio of heroes is summoned together to fight the good fight in TRINE 2. This fantasy-themed, side-scrolling action game sees a wizard, a thief, and a knight joined together to fight as one to rid a kingdom of an encroaching evil. The player can switch between all three on command to take advantage of their unique abilities as needed. The knight is the primary fighter, but he can also smash through walls. The thief, meanwhile, can use her bow in combat and to grapple up to ledges or swing across chasms. And the wizard, as a master conjurer, can summon ornate metal boxes of varying sizes that can be climbed to reach higher areas. Play continues if one or two fall, but if all three characters' health decreases to zero then it's game over and players return to the last checkpoint. As the game progresses, players can grow the trio's skills by spending vials they've collected during their adventure. One or two additional players can join in locally or online.
Is It Any Good?
If there's a more beautiful side-scroller out there, we haven't seen it. Trine 2's gorgeously colored environments are dynamic, detailed, surprisingly deep. You may be limited to moving left and right, but the world has a wondrous sense of dimensional profundity that most truly three-dimensional games would envy. And it's more than just another pretty game. The clever three-character action system provides players a wealth of ways to deal with foes and circumvent obstacles. And the smart way in which single players can continue if one or even two of the heroes have been incapacitated –- though potentially without the character(s) ideally suited to certain situations –- forces one to adapt and make do.
The controls are a little finicky here and there – particularly if you're playing on PC using a keyboard –- and some collectibles can prove maddeningly difficult to acquire, but these minor problems hardly keep Trine 2 from being a very worthwhile investment for side-scrolling adventure fans.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in media. How do you determine what's okay for your family? Where do you draw the line for tweens and teens?
Families can also discuss solving puzzles and puzzle games. Do you like them when they get hard and really challenge you, or do you prefer puzzles you can breeze through?
Game Details
- Platforms : Mac , Nintendo Wii U , PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : applying information , logic , solving puzzles , Collaboration : meeting challenges together , teamwork
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Atlus
- Release date : December 13, 2011
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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