I do love the way the bosses are foreshadowed early on in levels, though. Merely crossing a chasm can be a real conundrum, but felling a giant beast is as simple as giving it a few whacks to its weak spots. While visually impressive, they don't require the same thought as the rest of Trine 2.

The few boss fights prove slightly disappointing. I find the game becomes easier this way because you've got more than just one brain working on problems and you can multitask, but it's still satisfying. Trine 2 is also very friendly about multiplayer gaming, allowing up to three players to join the adventure either locally or online. In a matter of moments you might slash through some goblins as the knight, switch to the thief to grapple to a high platform, then switch to the wizard to move a heavy block in front of a flamethrower. Play When playing by yourself you switch between the three heroes at will. 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.

Download free trine 2 xbox one