This conspiracy made me think at every ticking second - Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy Quick Review

SHOULD I PLAY TRINE 5: A CLOCKWORK CONSPIRACY?

If you’re a fan of the previous Trine titles, then Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is definitely for you, but it also works well for newcomers. I decided to take my own advice and jump into the series even though I haven’t played a single Trine game previously. Puzzling around the kingdom was just as fun as it was frustrating. The challenging puzzles, beautiful high-fantasy art, and character customization kept me engaged, even if, at times, I wanted to scream at the television.

TIME PLAYED

I spent around six hours with Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy on my PlayStation 4 and got to Act III. Depending on your aptitude for platform-puzzlers, you might breeze through this a bit quicker, but I found myself at a standstill many times. And that was just on the normal difficulty setting!

WHAT’S AWESOME ABOUT TRINE 5: A CLOCKWORK CONSPIRACY?

• The talented trio. My favorite thing about Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy by far is its characters: Amadeus the Wizard, Zoya the Thief, and Pontius the Knight. Their interactions with each other really make the story feel like a journey across the kingdom with buddies. But even beyond the story, their distinct personalities, abilities, and movements give each character a unique play style.

Zoya was easily my favorite, with an outfit and movement that reminded me of playing Assassin’s Creed. The real beauty of Trine 5, though, is that I had to use each character interchangeably to progress through the story. Most puzzles that stood in my way had more than one solution, and alternating between the three heroes to try different methods kept the gameplay fresh.

• Grab a buddy. Cooperative gameplay is the strongest selling point of Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy. Playing as my favorite character and puzzling with a buddy was awesome. When we wanted a break from playing as the classic trio, we could switch to one of the bonus modes, where all three players have to play as the same character for an extra challenge. Conveniently, the co-op gameplay is available both offline and online, so you only need either a second controller or internet access, but not necessarily both.

• A world of wonder. The visuals in A Clockwork Conspiracy bring the fantasy setting to life. Whether I was riding a giant hedgehog or watching floating carrots and books whirl by, the game was full of exciting environments to visit. It’s not all just for show, either. Many of the graphical flourishes actually end up being part of the game’s physics simulation, adding to the complexity of the puzzles. Background elements like water regularly played a part in solving puzzles or got in the way of a perfect solution and made me rethink my approach.

• Perplexing puzzles. Trine 5 is packed with challenging puzzles that got my brain muscles working overtime. Although the narrator occasionally dropped hints, I was pretty much left to my own devices to solve these brainteasers. Though they frustrated me at times, I appreciated the game’s commitment to letting me figure out creative, outside-the-box solutions. The game features difficulty settings to make both the combat and the puzzles more approachable, but don’t expect to breeze through without a bit of mental effort.

WHAT SUCKS IN TRINE 5: A CLOCKWORK CONSPIRACY?

• The narrative. To be fair, I’m just coming into the series at the fifth installment, so I may not be the best judge of this game’s plot. However, it seems like the story was just enough to weave together a reason to travel across the kingdom, but nothing particularly heavy or unique. It’s not terrible, in other words, but I would be surprised if I remember anything about the story a week from now.

• The frustration. Sometimes, it felt overwhelming switching from platformer to puzzler, which requires slowing down and just spending time thinking about stuff. Especially when I was full of adrenaline after a battle and wanted to keep up the momentum by swinging around and bopping enemies.

💬 Will you play Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy? And who is your favorite character? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!