That's really cool, but it would have been nice to get a heads-up before I found myself stuck at the bottom of an ice slope for a little too long.

The wizard's platforms, for instance, can be stuck to swinging spiked maces, resulting in a pendulum conveyance. It does fail to teach the player some important mechanics, though, resulting in slight exasperation when you don't realize a solution is even possible.

I love it when a game lets me off my leash and tells me 'have fun,' – and that's the kind of game Trine 2 is.

The brilliance of Trine 2 is that it mostly leaves the choice of which hero to use up to you. You have three heroes at your disposal: a wizard that can conjure blocks and platforms, a thief with a bow and grappling hook, and a knight with sword, hammer, and shield. Players run from left to right through fantasy spectacles, surmounting obstacles and slaying a few goblins along the way. If you played the first Trine, you'll find a very familiar game here. Trine 2 easily makes for one of the prettiest games of the year. There is always something amazing to distract you. Each scene, from forests to caves to lazy beaches, shines with rich detail and startling lighting effects. The first thing I noticed about Trine 2 is its stunning visuals.

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