Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy
- August 31, 2023
- Frozenbyte
- 20h median play time
Trine 5 comes out the gates swinging with new features that make it the strongest entry in the series.
"Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy" is a 2.5D adventure where Amadeus, Zoya, and Pontius must reunite to save their loved ones and restore peace. With an all-new cast of characters, upgraded puzzle difficulty, and a skill quest system, players can enjoy single player or co-op gameplay. The game promises to be the most action-packed and visually rich chapter in the Trine series.
Reviews
- Stunning graphics and beautiful environments that enhance the gameplay experience.
- Clever puzzles that require creative problem-solving and teamwork, especially in co-op mode.
- Improved combat mechanics and character abilities that add depth to gameplay.
- Some puzzles can feel overly complicated or unintuitive, leading to frustration.
- The story lacks depth and can feel flat compared to previous installments.
- Multiplayer experience can be buggy, with issues like desync and lost progress.
- gameplay236 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Trine 5 is a blend of familiar mechanics and new abilities, offering a mix of engaging puzzles and platforming challenges that maintain the series' charm. While many players appreciate the introduction of fresh mechanics and the cooperative gameplay experience, some express concerns about the overwhelming number of abilities and occasional inconsistencies in mechanics. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful visuals, captivating story, and the fun it provides, especially in multiplayer settings, though some find it can feel repetitive compared to previous entries.
“The gameplay sticks to the core mechanics, but introduces fun new stuff, so the puzzles are still a fresh challenge.”
“With its flexible puzzle-solving mechanics, adaptive level dynamics, captivating ambiance, and engaging storyline, Trine 5 proves to be a must-play for both loyal fans of the series and newcomers seeking a magical adventure.”
“The gameplay is top-notch, a brilliant mix of platforming, physics-based puzzles, and light combat; it does not do anything really new now but what it does, it does fantastically well.”
“There are too many useless abilities and unexplained mechanics and interactions.”
“Some parts are very frustrating and the game mechanics can be quite inconsistent at times...some of the levels were poorly designed, but again a relatively good time.”
“My only caution is that it really is a fair bit longer than Trine 4 and by the end you will have more mechanics than you know what to do with.”
- story227 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story in "Trine 5" is generally viewed as a backdrop to the gameplay, with many reviewers noting its simplicity and lack of depth compared to previous entries in the series. While some appreciate the charming and whimsical elements, others find it uninspired or bloated, with a mix of engaging moments and frustrating plot points. Overall, the narrative serves primarily to support the platforming and puzzle-solving mechanics, with varying opinions on its execution and memorability.
“An absolute beauty of a game, continuing from the story of Trine 4, this wonderful game takes you through the fantasy world we have always dreamed of, from dragons to goblins and witches.”
“With its flexible puzzle-solving mechanics, adaptive level dynamics, captivating ambiance, and engaging storyline, Trine 5 proves to be a must-play for both loyal fans of the series and newcomers seeking a magical adventure.”
“The fairytale ambient tunes perfectly complement the game's atmosphere, making you feel like you're living inside a storybook.”
“It feels too long and bloated; the story is uninspired, enemies are annoying more than challenging, and puzzles are sometimes good, sometimes unintuitive. Secrets are often so hidden you simply can't find them all on the first playthrough because there's no indication that they are there until you finish and see how much you missed, which adds to the bloat.”
“The story as a whole is not really king in this game as it just creates a backdrop for why you are doing what you're doing, but the fun is in the platforming and the puzzles, not the story at all.”
“My only real complaint is that the story is really flat and boring.”
- graphics189 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics in Trine 5 are widely praised for their stunning beauty and vibrant detail, continuing the series' tradition of captivating visuals. Reviewers highlight the enchanting art style, whimsical environments, and polished character designs, which enhance the overall gameplay experience. Many consider the visuals to be among the best in the franchise, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersive atmosphere.
“Trine 5 has everything you love about Trine: the visuals are gorgeous and polished, the music and fairytale vibe, the characters and banter.”
“The game's stunning visuals and magical world are truly enchanting.”
“As usual, the game doesn't disappoint: absolutely stunning graphics, puzzles that vary from easy to difficult, a story that unfolds every step of the way.”
“The visuals and gameplay deserve better than that.”
“Super experience, filled with physics puzzles and combat - the only downside being probably the slight change in graphics style (unless you like the animated graphics more?).”
“While the combat still feels somewhat clunky, the game's visuals and puzzle difficulty more than make up for it.”
- music136 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in Trine 5 is widely praised for its enchanting quality and ability to enhance the game's whimsical atmosphere, with many noting the return of remixed tracks from previous entries in the series. While some players expressed disappointment over the reliance on older compositions, the overall soundtrack is still considered beautiful and immersive, contributing significantly to the game's fairy tale vibe. Ari Pulkkinen's work continues to be celebrated, with many tracks described as magical and perfectly complementing the stunning visuals and engaging gameplay.
“Trine 5: a fantastically whimsical journey with enchanting music!”
“As I embarked on the enchanting odyssey that is Trine 5, I couldn't help but be swept away by its whimsical charm, captivating gameplay, and a musical score that felt like it was plucked straight from the heart of a fairy tale.”
“The musical score of Trine 5 is a masterpiece in its own right.”
“Unlike in previous games, a lot of the songs seem to be slightly adjusted songs from the previous games.”
“On the other hand, I felt the soundtrack is somewhat lackluster.”
“The music volume goes up and down, louder then quieter all on its own.”
- stability34 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to have a significant number of bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer and during cutscenes, leading to occasional crashes and freezes. While some players experienced game-breaking issues, many noted that these problems were manageable and did not severely impact overall gameplay. Overall, the stability is considered below average compared to previous titles in the series, with a mix of minor and more serious issues.
“Runs great on a medium system.”
“This was much more buggy than previous games.”
“Now for the negative: this game isn't the worst for bugs, but I would say it has had enough to call it a buggy game. We managed to fall through the map with glitching, and puzzles not working as intended in multiplayer forced us to brute force things to get it to work.”
“We encountered a few minor glitches and lags, plus some cinematics freezing.”
- humor24 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humor, featuring funny dialogue, entertaining character interactions, and a mix of lighthearted and serious tones. Players enjoy the comedic elements of gameplay, such as absurd character actions and the chemistry between heroes, which enhances the overall experience. While the humor is a highlight, some mechanics can lead to frustrating yet amusing moments, adding to the game's charm.
“Or, you can select the unlimited mode and just have 4 Pontiuses furiously pounding the ground, or 4 Zoyas pitifully chucking a sticky dynamite 5 cm in front of them and exploding it with the hilariously unsatisfying explosion sound.”
“Harder than the previous games, but still a lot of fun, with great dialogue and a funny story.”
“Switching between characters is as fluid as a virtuoso's performance, and the chemistry between them adds a layer of humor and camaraderie that's both endearing and entertaining.”
- optimization16 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is highly praised, with users noting that it runs smoothly even on machines with below-minimum specifications, showcasing stellar graphics without performance issues. Players report great overall performance, fluid character switching, and visually stunning environments, contributing to a seamless gaming experience despite occasional disconnects. Overall, the game is considered exceptionally well-optimized, enhancing its appeal.
“Exceptionally well made and optimized.”
“Beat the game with a friend in about 35 hours of casual play-time, well thought and challenging puzzles, visually stunning environments and no optimization problems at all, this game is a 10/10.”
“Great performance all the way through and very pretty visuals.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as magical and immersive, enhanced by vibrant graphics, uplifting music, and a fairy tale narrative. Players feel as though they are living within a richly detailed storybook, with the combination of visuals and sound creating a vivid, dream-like experience. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature, elevating the familiar elements of the game to new heights.
“The fairytale ambient tunes perfectly complement the game's atmosphere, making you feel like you're living inside a storybook.”
“The game delivers a familiar atmosphere and puzzles.”
“This combined with the narrator and uplifting music builds up the trademark fairy tale atmosphere.”
“It enhances the atmosphere and together with the visuals helps you immerse yourself into the game's magical world.”
- character development6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The character development in the game has received positive feedback, with players noting that it adds depth to the experience. However, some reviewers express concern that recent changes in character design and writing may reflect a shift away from the game's original Finnish roots towards a more Americanized approach. Overall, the combination of engaging character arcs and creative gameplay elements enhances the fairy tale aesthetic.
“We even had some character development this time.”
“Additionally, while I was playing this game, I couldn't help but think about how the point where Frozenbyte and the Trine series stopped being 'Finnish' enough to provide local translations in the games also coincides with more 'American' (for lack of a better word) character designs (including some retcons/redesigns) and writing policies becoming more prevalent.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is seen as a mixed bag; while the need to track down missed experience points and complete additional challenges can enhance replay value, some players feel that the requirement to go beyond mere collection for 100% achievements detracts from the overall experience.
“I also think this hurts the replayability of the game.”
“Kinda sad that you have to do more than collect everything for 100% achievements, but I guess that adds replay value.”
“Replay value is there as you will definitely miss more XP than in the previous games and will need to track it down.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Players find the game's length to be generous without being overly tedious, but the grinding aspect can become slow and frustrating. The process of determining which tools are useful often overshadows the enjoyment of experimenting with combinations, leading to a tedious experience. Additionally, the writing and character interactions contribute to the overall sense of tedium.
“The game is generously long but not tediously so.”
“So it stops being about figuring out a fun combination of tools you use all the time and becomes a very slow and tedious process of eliminating which of all the tools are definitely not going to help you there.”
Critic Reviews
Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy Review – It Takes Three
Trine 5 treads the same ground as its predecessors and falls prey to the same shortcomings, but it's a solid co-op puzzler that has some gorgeous visuals and is a great time.
80%Teamwork makes the dream work
Trine 5 comes out the gates swinging with new features that make it the strongest entry in the series.
90%Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy Review - Machine Tooled
Trine 5 offers yet more of the same, and while it's got some great puzzles and beautiful visuals, its obvious setting and overlong runtime start to grate after a while.
65%