Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy

Absolutely the best Trine from the whole series. It is so long it almost overstays it's welcome but not quite. For the uninitiated, this is almost strictly a puzzle platformer (some combat is mixed in and a few bosses but more on that later). The range of options when it comes to movements, spells and action, especially once you start combining them is staggering. This all allows for a huge variety of puzzles. Basics are explained to you along the way and you are expected to experiment and pick up the rest. The story is done beautifully, very much on the nose, but that's the whole style and it works! The art direction is great along with the level design. The platforming in this game is serious and can be quite a challenge. Not in terms of execution (although some sections require finicky rushed input), but mostly in puzzle solving. I found quite a few of them to be difficult, way harder than I thought they would be but still surmountable. Finishing the game is not difficult at all, but finding all the collectables is going to challenge you a lot more (totally fair). The combat and bosses can be little hectic. I've died far more to regular foes than to bosses. This is because bosses give you opportunity to learn their moves and what they are doing so you can outsmart or defeat them. Clever design that is almost signature move for Trine. For enjoyers of early Trine games, the emphasis here is on puzzles heavily and combat second so have that in mind if you are expecting the opposite. Everybody else if you enjoy puzzles and combining abilities in unique ways, AND you are not alergic to platformers, you will enjoy this I'm sure. Just take breaks between levels, the game will test your patience if you go too long. On the downsides, once you reach the end-game, your ability upgrades can trivialize many of the puzzles by becoming overpowered. It's not clear which puzzles are meant to be solved with superpowered abilities (i.e. it's requirement) or if it just removes the challenge. Similarly, combat for me feels awful with the Wizard so I mostly avoided using him for that purpose. Very solid entry and the best so far in the series. 8/10

A wonderfully strong addition to the Trine franchise! The series has all but cracked the code on co-op puzzle platforming, thanks in no small part to the imaginative, colorful worlds they take place in, but it's the goofy, charmingly-janky physics that really make the games what they are. This particular entry has a few new twists on the heroes' classic powers and abilities, making for some of the most complex - and yet immensely satisfying - puzzles to overcome in the entire franchise. I also really enjoyed seeing the cameos and shoutouts to the studio's other game: Nine Parchments! Highly, highly, HIGHLY recommended you play in a group of 3, and while playing it mildly intoxicated could be a ton of fun, you'll want at least one sober person with active brain cells present, because let me tell you, some of these puzzles get absolutely WILD. But yeah, definitely pick this one up for game night!

nice