PS3 Informer

PS3 Preview: Trine

Trine is a game that catapulted itself from relative obscurity into the limelight when gameplay videos for the game were first shown in November. PS3 owners were captivated by the level of detail and incredible art direction apparent in the downloadable PSN title. In development by aptly-named Finnish studio Frozenbyte Games, Trine is set to release in the Spring of 2009. It will be a download-only title, and currently remains a PS3 exclusive.

Frozenbyte is currently known for its downloadable PC action game, Shadowgrounds: Survivor. Shadowgrounds was a top-down sci-fi shooter which also placed a heavy emphasis on gorgeous, detailed level design. Trine is set to take graphical even further and set new standards for the look of PSN downloadable games.

The premise of Trine is radically different from Shadowgrounds. Rather than running and gunning, you’ll be running, jumping and puzzle-solving in this creative side-scroller.

The Warrior unleashes the pain against a group of skeletons in Trine.

Trine is set in a fantasy world where the player can create and use physics-based objects to beat hazardous puzzles and threatening enemies. Levels sprawl across impressive castles and strange machinery, as the player seeks out a mysterious device called the Trine in a quest to save the kingdom from evil.

The basic premise behind the game is that the player will control any one of three different characters at a time. In keeping with the game’s fantasy setting, the three characters that can be swapped out are the Thief, the Warrior and the Wizard.

The gameplay is based on fully interactive physics - each character's different ability helps the player battle an army of un-dead and defeat hazardous contraptions. The player can at any time freely choose whoever is best suited for the upcoming challenge or puzzle: The Wizard is able to summon objects to help solve puzzles and create new ways to overcome obstacles, the Thief uses her agility and dead-on accuracy to swiftly surprise the monsters, and the Warrior unleashes mayhem and physical destruction wherever he goes.

The Wizard conjurs a platform out of thin air in Trine.

Another interesting aspect of the games design is the ability to magically summon objects as the Wizard class. The magician may be physically weak, but his ability to conjure up useful items to overcome obstacles makes him indispensable. To summon a platform object, the player simply gestures with the Sixaxis, in effect drawing the item out of thin air. A very cool concept and a nice use of the often-neglected motion controls on the PS3.

Trine is currently due out in the second quarter of 2009, which means any point between April and June. We eagerly await more information about this promising title.

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