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Trine 2
DeveloperFrozenbyte
PublisherFrozenbyte
Atlus USA (PS3 and X360)
DirectorLauri Hyvärinen
ProducerJoel Kinnunen
DesignerKim Juntunen
ProgrammerJari Kantomaa
ArtistSanttu Huotilainen
WriterMaija Koivula
ComposerAri Pulkkinen
SeriesTrine
Engine
  • Storm3D Edit this on Wikidata
PlatformsMicrosoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PlayStation 4, Nvidia Shield, Switch, Xbox One
Release
December 7, 2011
  • Windows, OS X
    • WW: December 7, 2011
    Linux
    • WW: March 31, 2012
    PlayStation 3
    • NA: December 20, 2011
    • EU: March 7, 2012
    Xbox 360
    • WW: December 21, 2011
    [1] Wii U
    • NA: November 18, 2012
    • EU: November 30, 2012
    • AU: February 1, 2013
    • JP: January 22, 2014
    PlayStation 4
    Nvidia Shield
    • WW: July 22, 2014
    Nintendo Switch
    • WW: February 18, 2019
    Xbox One
    • WW: September 30, 2019[4]
GenrePuzzle-platform
ModesSingle-player, multiplayer

Trine 2 is a puzzle-platform game developed and published by Frozenbyte.[5] It is the sequel to Trine and was released on Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in December 2011,[6] and later for Linux in March 2012. Trine 2 allows three players to play the iconic roles of a wizard, a thief, and a knight in a simultaneous cooperative mode.[7] A Director's Cut edition was released via the Wii U's eShop[8] on the console's launch day in all regions except Australia and Japan.[9] The game was also released as a launch title for the PlayStation 4 in North America and Europe in 2013.[3][2] On February 13, 2019, it was announced that a port to the Nintendo Switch would be released on February 18, 2019.[10]

A successor, Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power, was released in 2015.

Gameplay

[edit]

Trine 2 is a puzzle-platform game, requiring the player to use the skills of the three characters, Amadeus the wizard, Zoya the thief, and Pontius the knight, to navigate each game level. As with the first game, the mystical "Trine" has bound the three characters together into one common entity, and thus the player controls only one character which can be switched to the other two at any time. Each of the characters has unique abilities: Amadeus can use magic to grab onto certain objects in the game world, and create boxes and planks to be used to get around; Zoya can strike at objects with her arrows, and grapple onto certain surfaces; and Pontius is strong in combat against foes, can bash apart walls, and deflect projectiles with his shield. A combination of these elements is necessary to complete each stage in the game's world.

Characters have individual life meters, and if one character's meter depletes, that character cannot be used until the next checkpoint is reached. If all three characters lose their life meter, the player must start back at the last checkpoint. Throughout the game world are special magical vials, and for every fifty of these collected, the player receives a skill point, which can be used to gain abilities through a skill tree for each character. These skill points can be used collectively for each of the three characters, and can be traded between them.

Trine 2 also supports up to three players in a cooperative mode. In this mode, each player controls one of the three characters, but all must be unique; three players will be forced to play as Amadeus, Zoya, and Pontius. Two players can switch characters as long as both agree to the swap. If a character dies, the other players can revive the character at the next checkpoint. The skill tree is shared among all characters, based on the hosting player's saved game.

Story elements are incorporated into the game through the use of an all knowing narrator (voiced by Terry Wilton) as well as in-game scripted sequences. Scattered throughout the levels are also letters, poems, and documents which further flesh out the backstory and provide additional insight into the game's characters.

Plot

[edit]

Trine 2 takes place several years after the events of the first game. The three heroes, Amadeus the wizard, Pontius the knight, and Zoya the thief, are summoned by the magical artifact known as the Trine to embark on a new adventure. Their journey begins when they encounter a mysterious light that leads them into an enchanted forest. They soon find out that a curse has fallen upon the kingdom, and they must help Princess Rosabel, who is desperate to save her sister Isabel and restore balance to the realm.

As they venture deeper into the forest, they uncover a twisted tale of sibling rivalry between the two princesses. Rosabel, consumed by jealousy of Isabel's magical powers, imprisoned her sister in an enchanted tree, causing the land to fall into chaos. The heroes eventually confront Rosabel, only to discover that Isabel has been held captive by her sister for years, causing the forest's overgrowth and allowing goblins to invade the kingdom. After defeating Rosabel, Isabel awakens and, despite the bitterness between them, dives into the waters to save her sister.

The game ends with the three heroes returning home after their victory, while the fate of the two princesses remains unclear. However, with Isabel's magic, the kingdom and forest are set to recover.

Goblin Menace

[edit]

The heroes return home only to discover that the goblins they fought in the forest are launching an attack on their own kingdom. During the siege, Amadeus's wife, Margaret, is kidnapped by the goblins, leading the heroes on a new adventure to rescue her.

The trio travels across various locations, including a desert temple and the floating Cloudy Isles, where they discover that the goblins are led by an inventor named Wheeze. After battling Wheeze and his forces, the heroes find that Margaret was protected by the Trine all along, hidden in a shield of light due to her resemblance to an ancient goblin deity. With Margaret safe, the heroes return home, and the goblins’ invasion is thwarted.

Development

[edit]

The Humble Frozenbyte Bundle, one of the Humble Bundles, started on April 12, 2011, and featured five games from Frozenbyte, including the original Trine, as well as the games Shadowgrounds and Shadowgrounds: Survivor. It also contained an executable version along with source code for an unfinished game, Jack Claw, and a pre-order for their upcoming game, Splot.[11] By April 22, 2011, the Humble Frozenbyte Bundle had surpassed $700,000.[12] Most of the money generated by the sale went to finishing the development of Trine 2 after it was suggested by lead developer, Mike Donovan, that a sequel be made.[13]

The Linux version was delayed from the rest to allow for additional development; it was the first Frozenbyte title ported to Linux in-house, with their other games having previously been ported instead by Alternative Games. Jukka Kokkonen, Frozenbyte's Senior Programmer, revealed that the actual porting was actually "easier than expected", although he did comment that they had some trouble with testing. The port was released as a beta in late March, and is to be released on services including Desura and Gameolith. Kokkonen stated that he hopes that Trine 2 "shows that Linux can provide a proper gaming experience" and that they are "very excited to see how Linux users react to the game.”[14]

The basic porting process for the Wii U's Director's Cut edition was achieved by Frozenbyte in just two days, which gave the development team plenty of time to adjust visuals and implement the exclusive touch screen functionality, and subsequently made the game ready to be launched alongside the Wii U console launch date in all regions.[15] According to Frozenbyte's sales and marketing manager Mikael Haveri, Nintendo's initial approach and close contact with their company helped support the process of releasing the game for Wii U, and subsequently made it Frozenbyte's first self-published title without the involvement of Atlus, the game's publisher for other platforms.[16] The support for Trine 2: Director's Cut is cited as one of Nintendo's initial steps into reaching out to the independent video game development community.[16] Haveri adds that working with Nintendo has been "very freeform" and positive.[16]

Expansions

[edit]

Goblin Menace expansion

[edit]

An expansion pack for the game entitled Trine 2: Goblin Menace was released September 7, 2012. It features six new levels, a new story, and several new skills which will also be available in the original game.[17] Frozenbyte marketing director Mikael Haveri has also revealed that it will also feature several new puzzles based on light, water, low gravity and magnetic elements.[18] The expansion, originally only released for the PC platforms, will be included alongside the Wii U release of the game, and the Wii U is the only non-PC console planned to receive this expansion.[16]

On February 7, 2013, a Frozebyte representative reported on their website that due to relatively poor sales for Trine 2 on Xbox 360 Live Arcade and PlayStation 3 Network, the conversion for the expansion for these consoles would not be cost-effective, thus Trine 2: Goblin Menace was not likely be seen on Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.[19]

Director's Cut edition

[edit]
Pontius navigates platforms dangling over a pit of lava in this scene from the Dwarven Caverns chapter.

The Trine 2: Director's Cut edition, released at first only for Nintendo's Wii U console, features the original game with the Goblin Menace expansion, alongside the enhanced controls that take advantage of the GamePad controller, as well as an exclusive level called the "Dwarven Caverns". A multiplayer mode called Magic Mayhem was in development at one point but was later scrapped in favor of more focus on the Dwarven Caverns level.[16][15][20][21] Director's Cut edition also features a flexible control scheme, especially for the game's multiplayer mode which is both local and online, where players can, alongside the GamePad, use Wii Remotes, Nunchuks, Wii U Pro Controllers, and even the original Wii Classic Controllers.[16] Additionally, Frozenbyte has plans to include some Miiverse support at some point in the future, with Mikael Haveri citing that "it's opening up the possibilities of what you can do in terms of interaction with other players and so on."[16] Other additions include minor things such as patching support, although the patching process is currently unknown at this time.[16] The Wii U release is the only version of Trine 2 to be available in Japan, released on January 22, 2014, under the title Trine 2: Forest of Mystery and the Power of Three (TRINE 2　三つの力と不可思議の森, TRINE 2 mittsu no chikara to fukashigi no mori). The Japanese release was a courtesy of Nintendo.

Complete Story edition

[edit]

A patch released June 6, 2013 for the Steam version of Trine 2 upgraded it to the Trine 2: Complete Story edition, if the Goblin Menace expansion had been previously purchased. This new edition includes the Dwarven Caverns level previously available only in the Director's Cut version from the Wii U.[22] A cross-platform and DRM free release of Trine 2: Complete Story was then later made available as part of Humble Indie Bundle 9.[23] The Complete Story edition was subsequently released on PlayStation 4 in 2013.

Reception

[edit]

Trine 2 received largely positive reviews, earning a score of 9/10 by IGN,[30] and 84/100 for the Windows and Wii U versions on Metacritic,[24] as well as a score of 85/100 for the game's release on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.[25][26]

By October 2014, Frozenbyte announced that the Trine series had sold over seven million copies worldwide.[31]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Trine 2

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Trine 2 is a side-scrolling action-puzzle platformer video game developed and published by Finnish studio Frozenbyte. Released initially on December 7, 2011, for Microsoft Windows, with PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions following on December 20 and 21, 2011, respectively, it serves as the sequel to the 2009 game Trine and features cooperative gameplay for up to three players. In the game, players control one of three heroes—Amadeus the Wizard, who manipulates objects with magic; Pontius the Knight, a melee combat specialist; and Zoya the Thief, who uses archery and grappling—switching between them to solve physics-based puzzles and battle enemies in a lush, fairytale-inspired fantasy world. The story follows the trio as they are transported by the magical artifact Trine to a mysterious realm ruled by the witch queen Rosabel, where they confront goblins, the Goblin King, and other threats to rescue Princess Isabel from her sister and restore balance. The game emphasizes environmental interaction, with 13 levels across diverse settings like forests, swamps, and snowy mountains, each requiring creative use of the heroes' abilities to progress. Trine 2 received critical acclaim for its stunning visuals, orchestral soundtrack composed by Ari Pulkkinen, and seamless co-op mechanics, earning high scores from outlets like IGN (9/10) and GamesRadar+ (4/5). An expanded version, Trine 2: Complete Story, launched in 2013 for PC and later ports including PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in subsequent years; a similar Director's Cut edition was released for Wii U in 2012, incorporating the Goblin Menace DLC with additional levels and abilities. This edition bundles the full campaign, extra content, a digital artbook, and the soundtrack, enhancing accessibility with improved controls and support for modern hardware. As of 2025, it remains available on various platforms through digital storefronts and backward compatibility.

Gameplay

Core Mechanics

Trine 2 centers on a trio of playable characters—Amadeus the Wizard, Zoya the Thief, and Pontius the Knight—each equipped with distinct abilities that facilitate puzzle-solving and combat in a single-player context. Amadeus conjures wooden boxes and planks to create platforms or bridges, and he can levitate small objects to manipulate the environment or redirect hazards. Zoya employs a grappling hook to swing across gaps or reach high ledges and fires arrows from her bow for ranged attacks against enemies or switches. Pontius, suited for close-quarters engagement, wields a sword for slashing foes, a shield for bashing obstacles or stunning adversaries, and a hammer for powerful ground pounds that shatter barriers. The game's drives core interactions, enabling players to stack conjured boxes for elevation, swing from grappling hooks to traverse chasms, and leverage momentum from Pontius's charges to topple structures or enemies. These mechanics extend to environmental puzzles involving elements like fire, water, and gravity, where characters must redirect flowing liquids, ignite fuses, or alter object trajectories to progress or defeat goblins and other creatures. Combat integrates seamlessly, as Zoya's arrows can freeze or explode on impact, Amadeus's disorients foes, and Pontius's strikes clear paths through hordes. Levels unfold in lush, side-scrolling environments that encourage exploration through branching paths, hidden alcoves, and verticality, often populated with hazards such as spikes, flames, thorny vines, and patrolling goblins. Puzzles emphasize creative combinations of abilities, like using Amadeus to build a stack for Zoya to grapple higher or Pontius to break blocking a , while experience orbs collected from defeated enemies and secrets grant skill points for upgrades that enhance abilities, such as extended range or stronger arrows. In single-player mode, players switch between characters at any moment using dedicated controls—typically number keys or shoulder buttons—allowing fluid adaptation to challenges, with unused characters controlled by cooperative AI that follows the active player's lead or holds positions as needed. This system promotes strategic depth, as effective progression often requires rapid toggling, such as levitating an object with Amadeus before striking it with Pontius, all while navigating the AI-assisted companions through perilous sections.

Multiplayer and Progression

Trine 2 supports both local and online multiplayer for up to three players, with each participant controlling one of the three heroes—Amadeus the Wizard, Pontius the Knight, or Zoya the Thief—simultaneously throughout the campaign. This setup encourages teamwork, as players must coordinate their unique abilities to solve physics-based puzzles and combat enemies, with the option for mixed local and online participation. In single-player mode, absent heroes are controlled by AI companions, which follow the active player's lead and assist in basic tasks, though their effectiveness can be adjusted via the game's difficulty settings ranging from easy to hardcore. in the game results in respawning at the last checkpoint without permanent penalties, such as loss of progress or items, allowing players to retry sections immediately and maintaining a forgiving pace for sessions. Progression occurs through a skill tree system for each character, unlocked by earning experience points from defeating enemies and collecting glowing blue experience vials scattered throughout levels. Accumulating 50 experience points grants a skill point, which players can allocate to enhance abilities, such as the Wizard's improved for manipulating heavier objects, the Thief's arrows to freeze foes, or the Knight's charge attack for breaking through barriers and covering greater distances. Each character features a dedicated tree with up to five upgradable skills, promoting replayability by experimenting with different builds across multiple playthroughs. Collectibles further drive exploration and advancement, including approximately 400 experience vials across the base game's 13 levels, often hidden in secret areas or requiring creative use of abilities to reach. Hidden chests containing poems and paintings—12 of each—also encourage thorough searches, unlocking and adding narrative flavor without directly impacting progression. These elements, combined with the 13-chapter structure, enhance replayability by rewarding completionists with fully upgraded characters for harder difficulties or co-op challenges.

Plot

Main Campaign

The main campaign of Trine 2 reunites the three heroes—Amadeus the wizard, Zoya the thief, and Pontius the knight—through the mystical Trine artifact, drawing them from their separate lives to address a burgeoning darkness corrupting the kingdom's natural landscapes. This shadowy force disrupts the harmony of , awakening aggressive goblins and twisting the environment into hostile territories, prompting the trio to embark on a quest to uncover and halt its source. The narrative unfolds across 13 levels, emphasizing the heroes' evolving camaraderie as they navigate diverse realms together. Throughout their journey, the heroes traverse lush forests, treacherous mudpits, icy expanses, and cavernous depths, facing escalating threats including the hulking Goblin King. These encounters reveal the corruption stems from a deep-seated conflict between royal sisters and Rosabel, whose familial betrayal has unleashed widespread chaos, pitting themes of environmental preservation against destructive ambition. The heroes' arcs highlight their individual strengths complementing one another, fostering bonds of friendship amid the peril. The campaign builds to a climactic confrontation in the goblin-overrun heart of the corrupted domain, where the heroes strive to liberate the imprisoned , purge the malevolent influence of Rosabel, and restore equilibrium to the ravaged realms. This resolution underscores the narrative's core themes of unity and ecological balance, while subtly alluding to unresolved dangers that linger beyond the immediate victory.

Goblin Menace Expansion

The Goblin Menace expansion continues the story of Trine 2 as a standalone campaign, picking up after the heroes' victory over the main game's threats. Upon returning home, Amadeus the wizard, Pontius the knight, and Zoya the thief discover their town under by a vengeful horde seeking retribution for their previous defeats. The is orchestrated by , a cunning goblin inventor who commands a mechanical equipped with engines and automated contraptions, directly endangering Amadeus's village and leading to the kidnapping of his wife, . This setup forces the trio to reunite and pursue the goblins across perilous landscapes, emphasizing their reliance on combined abilities to counter the foes' technological advantages. The narrative unfolds across six new levels, each advancing the rescue mission through diverse challenges that highlight escalating goblin ingenuity. The heroes begin by defending their town in "The Heroes Return," then are transported via wyvern to the arid "Deadly Dustland," where they explore ancient ruins and evade massive sandworms in "Belly of the Beast." Progressing to "Brackenridge Rise," they infiltrate goblin workshops and assemble a stolen flying carriage to reach the goblin stronghold on "Cloudy Isles," involving cavernous treks, aerial skirmishes reminiscent of goblin ship battles, and confrontations with mechanized guardians. The campaign integrates new skills into the story, such as Amadeus's advanced conjuring for creating multiple objects or planks to dismantle machinery, Pontius's enhanced shielding against explosive devices, and Zoya's grappling hook upgrades for navigating tech-laden environments, underscoring themes of adaptive teamwork against Wheeze's innovations. The climax occurs in "Goblin Machinations," a fiery volcanic lair where the heroes storm Wheeze's central factory and battle his colossal machine in a multi-phase showdown, culminating in the rescue of from the inventor's clutches. As the dust settles, the heroes achieve a hard-won victory, with revealed to have been safeguarded by the mystical Trine artifact. This temporary triumph allows the group a moment of respite, but the persistent goblin menace suggests ongoing perils beyond their immediate horizon.

Development

Production Process

Trine 2 was conceived as a direct sequel to the game Trine, with aiming to enhance the core formula through refined mechanics and visual fidelity. The development team focused on introducing new character abilities, such as the thief Zoya's for traversal and Pontius the knight's upgraded for defense and physics interactions, while expanding enemy types and puzzle complexity to encourage in co-operative play. Level emphasized greater variety, incorporating diverse environments like lush forests, shadowy caverns, and industrial forges, each leveraging the game's physics-based interactions with elements such as , , and . These improvements built on the original's foundation, prioritizing seamless integration of action, platforming, and puzzles without a rigid design document, allowing for iterative evolution during production. The production was handled by Frozenbyte's internal team, comprising programmers, level designers, 3D modelers, animators, concept artists, and texture specialists, who collaborated closely to realize the game's art-driven aesthetic. The studio utilized its proprietary engine, rewritten from the ground up between summer 2009 and summer 2010, to support advanced features like dynamic lighting, intricate particle effects for magical elements, and robust multiplayer synchronization. This engine overhaul enabled more detailed visuals, with hand-crafted assets and improved animations that enhanced the fairytale atmosphere, while maintaining portability across PC, Mac, and console platforms. Artists and programmers worked in tandem to prototype level features, ensuring that environmental and physics simulations aligned with the narrative progression. Key challenges included balancing co-operative puzzles to accommodate solo and multiplayer experiences, where open-ended solutions required extensive testing to prevent frustration or exploits. Engine transitions posed technical hurdles, such as recalibrating for new interactions—like a specific frog-related sequence that demanded two weeks of —and optimizing for varied hardware, including console-specific constraints. Voice recording sessions, conducted in 2011 after hiring a dedicated to flesh out dialogues, integrated story elements more deeply into levels than in the predecessor, though timing pressures necessitated rapid revisions. These efforts culminated in a polished product, with beta testing and player feedback gathered through pre-release activities including a playable demo at , providing valuable input during alpha and beta phases that year.

Funding and Pre-Release

The development of Trine 2 received significant financial backing through the Humble Bundle, launched on April 12, 2011. This pay-what-you-want promotion featured the original Trine alongside other Frozenbyte titles such as Shadowgrounds, Shadowgrounds: Survivor, Jack Claw, and a prototype of Splot. The bundle quickly gained traction, surpassing 100,000 units sold and $500,000 in contributions within its first 48 hours, and ultimately raising over $700,000 by late April with total proceeds exceeding $900,000 by the end of the campaign. These funds were instrumental in enabling to complete Trine 2's production without further delays, as the studio noted the bundle's success alleviated critical financial pressures during the sequel's development phase. Frozenbyte handled self-publishing for the PC version of Trine 2, leveraging platforms like for distribution, while partnering with Atlus USA for the console releases on and Xbox 360. To build pre-release momentum, the studio showcased a playable demo at the in June 2011, where attendees experienced early levels emphasizing the game's enhanced physics puzzles and cooperative elements. This demonstration helped generate industry interest and media coverage, positioning Trine 2 as a standout sequel to its predecessor. Marketing efforts focused on trailers that highlighted the game's lush, hand-painted art style and orchestral soundtrack, creating substantial buzz among players familiar with the first Trine. Pre-release incentives, such as access to a co-op multiplayer beta for those who pre-ordered, further engaged the community and allowed early testing of online features. Community feedback from Trine also informed development, particularly in refining co-op mechanics; players' requests for online multiplayer—absent in the original's local-only mode—directly led to its inclusion in Trine 2, enhancing accessibility and replayability.

Release

Platforms and Dates

Trine 2 was initially released on December 7, 2011, for Microsoft Windows and macOS via Steam. A Linux port followed on April 4, 2012, through the Humble Store. The game launched on consoles starting with PlayStation 3 in North America on December 20, 2011, via PlayStation Network, while the European PS3 release was delayed until March 7, 2012. Xbox 360 received a worldwide release on December 21, 2011, through Xbox Live Arcade. The Wii U version, titled Trine 2: Director's Cut, debuted in North America on November 18, 2012, and in Europe on November 30, 2012, exclusively via the Nintendo eShop. All initial console releases were digital-only. Subsequent ports of the base game, often bundled as Trine 2: Complete Story, expanded availability. The version launched on November 15, 2013. Trine 2 arrived on Nvidia Shield (Android) in July 2014. The port of Trine 2: Complete Story released on October 8, 2019. Finally, the version became available on February 18, 2019.
PlatformRegionRelease DateNotes
Windows, macOSWorldwideDecember 7, 2011Via
WorldwideApril 4, 2012Via Humble Store
December 20, 2011Digital via PSN
March 7, 2012Digital via PSN
WorldwideDecember 21, 2011Digital via XBLA
November 18, 2012Director's Cut, eShop
November 30, 2012Director's Cut, eShop
WorldwideNovember 15, 2013As Complete Story
Nvidia ShieldWorldwideJuly 2014Android port
WorldwideOctober 8, 2019As Complete Story
WorldwideFebruary 18, 2019As Complete Story

Editions and Expansions

Trine 2 received its first major expansion with Trine 2: Goblin Menace, released on September 7, 2012, for PC, , and platforms. This added six new levels to the campaign, along with new skills for the three protagonists—such as enhanced conjuration for the wizard Amadeus, improved archery for the thief Zoya, and advanced shielding for the knight Pontius—expanding gameplay options and puzzle-solving mechanics. It was offered as a standalone purchase for $9.99. A special edition titled Trine 2: launched exclusively for the on November 18, 2012, in and November 30, 2012, in via the eShop. This version bundled the base game and Goblin Menace expansion, while introducing the exclusive Dwarven Caverns level and integrating features, including off-screen play, touch controls for object manipulation, and motion-based aiming. Priced at $19.99, it provided 20 levels total and enhanced visuals optimized for the console. In June 2013, released Trine 2: Complete Story for PC, incorporating a free patch that added the Dwarven Caverns level to existing owners of the base game and Goblin Menace. This edition bundled all prior content into a single package with 20 levels, and it later launched on in November 2013, on October 8, 2019, and in February 2019. The Complete Story versions maintained cross-platform support for local and online multiplayer while adding minor quality-of-life improvements like improved controls and achievements. Additional variants include franchise bundles on , such as the Trine series collections that incorporate Trine 2: Complete Story alongside other titles in the series. No significant updates or new expansions have been issued since the 2019 Nintendo Switch port.

Audio

Soundtrack

The soundtrack for Trine 2 was composed by Finnish musician Ari Pulkkinen, who continued the orchestral style established in the first Trine game, emphasizing sweeping fantasy motifs with medieval influences to evoke the title's fairy-tale atmosphere. The score features lush strings, brass, and woodwinds, creating an immersive backdrop that blends heroic themes with ambient environmental cues. The base original soundtrack consists of 21 tracks totaling approximately 57 minutes, including standout pieces such as the "Trine 2 Main Theme," a heroic that opens the game with triumphant , and level-specific compositions like "Muddy," which captures the eerie, ambient ambiance of the swamp environments with subtle, misty undertones. Other notable tracks highlight character themes, such as "The Mighty Warrior Pontius," underscoring the knight's bold actions with rhythmic percussion. In the game, the music integrates dynamically, adapting to gameplay by transitioning from serene puzzle-solving layers to intensified combat variations, enhancing tension during enemy encounters without relying on any licensed tracks—all compositions are original. The soundtrack was first released digitally as the Trine 2 Soundtrack in December 2011 through platforms like and , featuring two exclusive orchestral renditions not found in the standard version; a physical limited edition CD was included in the European Collector's Edition of the game. For the Menace expansion, Pulkkinen composed a separate 9-track OST in 2013, running about 28 minutes and available digitally via AriTunes, with themes extending the fantasy style to new desert and mechanical settings.

Voice Acting

Trine 2 introduced full to the series, marking a significant departure from the first game's reliance on silent environmental and text-based . The sequel features a professional narrator who provides voiced cutscenes and overarching narration to advance the plot, alongside dynamic character banter that occurs during , particularly when players switch between the heroes Amadeus, Zoya, and Pontius. This dialogue emphasizes humor and personality clashes, enhancing immersion in the puzzle-platforming experience. The principal voice cast includes Terry Wilton as the Narrator, as Amadeus the wizard, Brian Bowles as Pontius the knight, and Victoria Kruger as Zoya the thief. Additional roles, such as the young girls Isabel (voiced by ) and Rosabel (voiced by Charlotte Moore), along with enemies and various non-player characters, were filled by supporting actors to bring the to life. These performances were selected for their ability to convey whimsical, lighthearted tones that align with the game's fairy-tale aesthetic. Voice recording for Trine 2 took place in sessions shortly before the game's December 2011 release, with developers at noting a last-minute push to finalize the script for the . The emphasis during production was on crafting short, reactive lines that trigger based on character actions and level events, fostering a sense of ongoing interaction among the heroes without interrupting puzzle-solving flow. This approach allowed the voice work to integrate seamlessly with the , providing occasional humorous asides that accompany musical cues. The game launched with English as the primary language for , supported by in multiple languages including Simplified Chinese, Czech, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese-Brazil, Russian, and Spanish. Dubbed audio was provided in French and later expanded to German via patches, particularly for console versions like the Director's Cut, ensuring accessibility for non-English speakers while maintaining full support across all localized versions.

Reception

Critical Response

Trine 2 received generally positive reviews from critics, earning aggregate scores of 84/100 on for the PC version based on 55 reviews, 85/100 for the version based on 37 reviews, and 85/100 for the version based on 28 reviews. The also scored 84/100 from 25 reviews, while the Complete Story edition on later platforms like maintained an 84/100 aggregate based on 9 reviews. awarded the game a 9/10, highlighting its open-ended puzzle-solving and strong co-op features as standout elements that would appeal to puzzle enthusiasts. Critics widely praised the game's stunning hand-drawn art style, which features vivid 3D visuals creating intricate 2D levels with fairy tale-like environments, including detailed elements like curlicued vines and atmospheric weather effects. Puzzles were commended for their intuitive physics-based design, allowing creative improvisation and multiple solutions using the three heroes' abilities. The atmospheric , including immersive and effects, further enhanced the enchanting world, often described as rivaling high-budget film scores in quality. Local and online co-op for up to three players emerged as a highlight, praised for its seamless integration that fosters collaboration without frustration, making it a "truly great co-op experience." Despite the acclaim, reviewers noted several shortcomings. The main campaign's length was frequently criticized as short, clocking in at around 8-9 hours for the story, which some felt limited despite collectibles and experience upgrades. Occasional AI glitches and bugs in single-player mode, such as companions getting stuck or progress-resetting issues in levels like Eldritch Passages, were mentioned as minor but disruptive annoyances. The game's difficulty was also called easy overall, with simplistic combat and imprecise platforming that failed to challenge seasoned players, leading to repetitive sections. Platform-specific feedback varied. The Wii U Director's Cut was lauded for its integration with the , allowing full off-TV play with crisp visuals and intuitive controls directly on the screen, enhancing portability for solo sessions. The port of the Complete Story edition was appreciated for its handheld portability, fitting the system's on-the-go style, though some noted minor control mapping issues and unskippable tips as small drawbacks.

Commercial Performance

Trine 2 contributed significantly to the commercial success of the Trine series, with the franchise as a whole surpassing 7 million units sold worldwide by October 2014 across platforms including PC, , , , and others. No official updated total sales figures for the series have been announced since then, despite releases of Trine 3 (2015), Trine 4 (2019), and Trine 5 (2023). Estimates for Trine 2 specifically indicate approximately 3.4 million units sold on alone, reflecting strong performance for its digital edition, the Complete Story version. These figures underscore the game's role in elevating the series' total sales, building on the original Trine's 1.1 million units achieved by late 2011. The title's market reception was driven primarily by digital distribution channels, with robust sales on and , where it benefited from frequent bundles and promotions that enhanced accessibility for players. Physical releases were limited, including a European collector's edition for PC and Mac in 2011, but no major retail versions followed the Wii U's digital-only in 2012. Later ports, such as the 2019 version, maintained digital exclusivity, contributing to ongoing sales without significant physical distribution. Trine 2's commercial performance laid the foundation for the series' longevity, directly influencing the development of sequels including Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power (2015), Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince (2019), and Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy (2023). Its enduring popularity is evident in continued sales on modern platforms like the , where the 2019 port integrated it into the Trine Ultimate Collection, with no major updates issued since. The game's artistic achievements were recognized with the Best Artistic Achievement award at the 2012 Nordic Game Awards, highlighting its broader impact within the industry.

References

  1. https://store.steampowered.com/app/35720/Trine_2_Complete_Story/
  2. https://www.mobygames.com/game/55405/trine-2/
  3. https://www.ign.com/games/trine-2-complete-story
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  6. https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/01/04/trine-2-review-2
  7. https://mashthosebuttons.com/review/trine-2-review/
  8. https://www.frozenbyte.com/games/trine-2/
  9. https://www.psu.com/news/trine-2-dev-details-new-character-skills/
  10. https://strategywiki.org/wiki/Trine_2
  11. https://boswerlk.wordpress.com/2012/08/06/trine-2-pc/
  12. http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/index.php?topic=39172.0
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  16. https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/691087-playstation-4/67914525
  17. https://www.ign.com/wikis/trine-2/Skill_Trees
  18. https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps3/997595-trine-2/faqs/67145
  19. https://trine.fandom.com/wiki/Collectables
  20. https://www.ign.com/wikis/trine-2/Walkthrough
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  22. https://www.ign.com/wikis/trine-2/Story
  23. https://www.ign.com/wikis/trine-2/The_Goblin_King
  24. https://www.frozenbyte.com/games/trine-2-complete-story/
  25. https://gamerwalkthroughs.com/trine-2-walkthrough/
  26. https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/681934-trine-2-goblin-menace/faqs/72429
  27. https://www.choicestgames.com/2013/08/trine-2-review.html
  28. https://www.frozenbyte.com/games/trine-2-goblin-menace/
  29. https://gamingmodreviews.wordpress.com/2015/06/14/trine2-goblin-menace/
  30. https://varewulf.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/trine-2-goblin-menace-dlc-having-a-gander/
  31. https://www.neoseeker.com/trine-2-goblin-menace/faqs/1823070-trine-2-gm.html
  32. https://gamingbolt.com/trine-2-complete-story-building-an-epic-2d-adventure-on-playstation-4
  33. https://cheesetalks.net/frozenbyte1.php
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  35. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/humble-frozenbyte-bundle-success
  36. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/humble-bundle-backed-by-4-7-million-in-venture-capital
  37. https://www.frozenbyte.com/2013/11/splot-where-are-you-at/
  38. https://www.polygon.com/game/trine-2/1833/
  39. https://atlus.com/atlus-titles/trine2/
  40. https://www.gamesradar.com/e3-2011-trine-2-hands-on-preview/
  41. https://gamingbolt.com/trine-2-details-emerge-release-trailer-unvieled
  42. https://www.vg247.com/pre-order-trine-2-access-co-op-multiplayer-beta
  43. https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/12/06/trine-2-release-date-announced
  44. https://www.eurogamer.net/trine-2-release-dates-announced
  45. https://www.trine2.com/site/index.php?page=buy
  46. https://www.psu.com/news/trine-2-handed-european-release-date/
  47. https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Wii-U-download-software/Trine-2-Director-s-Cut-677126.html
  48. https://www.metacritic.com/game/trine-2-complete-story/
  49. https://www.droidgamers.com/news/game-news/trine-2-complete-story-out-now-on-google-play-but-no-one-can-play-it-yet/
  50. https://www.xboxachievements.com/game/trine-2-the-complete-story/overview/
  51. https://gamingbolt.com/trine-2-goblin-menace-released-with-launch-discount
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  53. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-colour-of-money-trine-2-dlc-and-sale
  54. https://www.frozenbyte.com/2012/11/directors-cut-out-now-in-the-u-s/
  55. https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-trine-2-directors-cut/19011/
  56. https://www.dekudeals.com/items/trine-2-complete-story
  57. https://store.steampowered.com/franchise/Trine
  58. https://www.discogs.com/master/687184-Ari-Pulkkinen-Trine-Original-Soundtrack
  59. https://www.discogs.com/release/7517917-Ari-Pulkkinen-Trine-2-Soundtrack-Special-Edition
  60. https://downloads.khinsider.com/game-soundtracks/album/trine-2
  61. https://open.spotify.com/album/5eioYQgcYJOfQhsxFjqV6a
  62. https://www.reddit.com/r/Trine/comments/apigh9/dynamic_soundtrack_possibilities/
  63. https://www.frozenbyte.com/2011/12/trine-2-special-edition-soundtrack-now-available/
  64. https://www.engadget.com/2011-11-20-trine-2s-european-collectors-edition-comes-in-physical-form.html
  65. https://music.apple.com/us/album/trine-2-goblin-menace-original-soundtrack/1567935126
  66. https://ari-pulkkinen.bandcamp.com/album/trine-2-the-goblin-menace-soundtrack
  67. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2298521/
  68. https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/Trine-2/
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  70. https://gameinformer.com/games/trine_2/b/ps3/archive/2011/12/21/trine-2-offers-big-improvements-across-the-board.aspx
  71. https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Trine_2
  72. https://www.neogaf.com/threads/trine-2-wii-u-patch-now-live-at-least-in-eu.509868/
  73. https://www.metacritic.com/game/trine-2/
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  76. https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/12/20/trine-2-review
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  86. https://www.frozenbyte.com/2012/05/trine-2-awards/
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