Info about Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince: Official game description: Expand your adventure: Melody of Mystery ======================================== Trine 4: Melody of Mystery is a six-level expansion campaign for Trine 4, sold separately. New puzzles, new environments, and a fresh musical score! Already own Trine 4? Pick up the expansion on its own. Starting fresh? The Trine 4: Definitive Edition bundle includes the base game and Melody of Mystery together. About the Game ============== The Nightmare Prince -------------------- Prince Selius suffers from intensely dark dreams and, due to his magical talents, monstrous nightmares are able to slip into reality and wreak havoc on the waking world. Amadeus, Pontius, and Zoya must find the afflicted prince and resolve the desperate situation before the world is engulfed by the Nightmare Prince's shadows. Fire, water, light, magnets and electricity ------------------------------------------- Solve puzzles built around fire, water, light, magnets, electricity and more, alone or with friends, with challenges that adapt to the number of players. Amadeus conjures and levitates objects, Pontius clears the way with sword and shield, and Zoya crosses the widest gaps by grappling hook and shoots arrows from afar. Combine what the three of them can do, and most obstacles will open up in more than one way. Play alone or with up to three friends -------------------------------------- 1–4 players, in online or local co-op, across the whole campaign with no restrictions. Play alone and switch between the heroes freely, or take one each and work it out between you. Eighteen levels, and heroes who grow with you --------------------------------------------- Eighteen levels take the heroes from breathtaking ruins and haunted tombs to tranquil birch groves and blueberry forests. Skill trees let you upgrade each hero's abilities along the way, so the three of them change as the journey does. Melody of Mystery ----------------- Six further levels continue the adventure, available separately or together with the base game in the Trine 4: Definitive Edition bundle. Features -------- * The Trine series in beautiful 2.5D * 1–4 player co-op, online and local, across the whole campaign * Play as wizard, knight and thief, switching freely at any time * Eighteen levels of physics-based puzzles, platforming and combat * Skill trees for upgrading each hero's abilities * Award-winning soundtrack by Ari Pulkkinen Release date: Oct 8, 2019 Categories: Puzzle Platformer, Cooperative Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer, Action-Adventure, Physics-based Puzzle, Character Switching Mechanics, Platformer Feature scans: - Wiki: score 50; verdict: Tier 3 - The Student; summary: The audit finds no evidence of Tier 1 farming or drop-rate dependency and no Tier 2 inventory, crafting, or valuation dependency. The primary external-data issue is Tier 3 instructional reliance: players search for guides to discover hidden secrets and solve difficult hidden content. Positive reviews note guide-free completion and enjoyable co-op, and one review mentions low-severity external VPN setup friction. Under the strict priority rules, the presence of hidden-secret and guide-reliance complaints triggers Tier 3, The Student. - Steam Deck: score 70; verdict: Broken - Frequent Crashes and Unstable Online Play; summary: The audited Steam Deck experience is mixed. Core controller support is largely functional and even praised for making physics-based tasks intuitive, and the title carries a Deck Verified label. However, the dominant and most impactful theme is online co-op instability: users report crashes occurring roughly every 50-60 minutes, crashes repeated during the tutorial, and errors when joining lobbies. Additional friction includes frame drops in certain chapters and a controller-detection conflict that appears in Desktop Mode when using an external pad. No Proton Experimental toggling or launcher navigation issues were reported, but the frequency of crashes pushes the experience into the broken band. - Hardware Profile: - Summary: Across the provided Windows cohorts, the lower-VRAM group reports severe multiplayer connection and stability problems, while the 8-11GB VRAM cohort reports smooth performance. - Sample size: 42 (5% coverage) - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based. - Windows <8GB VRAM (negative, 17 reports): Users report frequent multiplayer connection and invite failures, crashes, and poor optimization, with all included reviews not recommending the game. - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (positive, 7 reports): The included review reports smooth gameplay and sufficient content on this hardware. - Caveats: 42 of 896 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based. Feature extractions: - Community Price: - Community fair range: $5.00 - $15.00 - Reasoning: Across reviews, the game is consistently described as worth playing, but value is strongly tied to discounts. Full price is seen as high for the short campaign, while sale pricing is called suitable, cost-effective, and rated higher. One reviewer rates it 7/10 at full price versus 10/10 on sale, and another says the discounted price is very suitable despite the short length. A cited promotional price around 21.59 PLN (roughly $5-6) is judged acceptable. This supports a community fair base-game price range of about $5-$15 USD, with $5-$10 as the strong sale sweet spot and up to $15 as acceptable for non-sale purchase. - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: 14.0h - Story completion: 10.0h - Session length: 0.7h - Endgame: 4.5h - Reasoning: The 10-hour quote supports a base-game story completion estimate of about 10 hours. The 14-hour quote explicitly reports base game plus DLC completion, so gameCompletion is set to 14 hours. The 4-5 hour DLC clear time supports endgame content at about 4.5 hours. The 40-minute level average is the only per-level length evidence, giving an approximate sessionLength of 0.67 hours, though it may describe level length rather than a single play session. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: Players most often report Trine 4 is fun from the start, especially in local co-op with friends or family, thanks to creative physics puzzles and a charming atmosphere. The main caveats are unstable online co-op, occasional progress loss, repetitive combat or arenas, and a less compelling solo experience. - Stance: Fun immediately - Anchor: N/A - Time to anchor: N/A - Friction: Unstable online co-op connections; Online co-op save or progress loss; Steam interface invite bug can reset progress; Solo play can feel too easy or casual for adults; Repetitive combat and arena encounters; Lack of enemy variety - Unlock drivers: Switching to local co-op or Steam Remote Play instead of online co-op; Playing with friends or family rather than solo; Teamwork and multiple puzzle solutions; Creative puzzle variety - Conditions: Playing in co-op, especially local, strongly improves the experience; Online co-op may be unstable and can cause lost progress; Solo play may feel easier and less engaging for some adults; Best with friends, family, or kids; Group size 2-3 or up to 4 players; Player preference for puzzle-platforming over combat; Controller recommended for local co-op; keyboard and mouse for the Wizard; Avoid using the Steam interface to invite on the first join due to a progress reset bug - Player Archetypes: - Co-op Socializer (buy) - Motivation: Shared fun, laughter, and teamwork with friends, partner, or family. - Playstyle: Plays local or online co-op with up to three others, communicates to solve puzzles, helps or trolls teammates, and prefers a simple, relaxed session. - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: co-op player; trio - Reference games: Portal 2; It Takes Two - Trine Series Veteran (buy) - Motivation: Nostalgia, seeing the series return to its roots, and comparing refined mechanics to earlier Trine games. - Playstyle: Plays through the campaign with prior series knowledge, often solo or with a small group, and critically evaluates puzzle design, difficulty, and replayability against earlier entries. - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: veteran; old player - Reference games: Trine 1; Trine 2; Trine 3 - Solo Puzzle Purist (buy) - Motivation: Enjoying creative physics puzzles, beautiful visuals, and a relaxed solo adventure at one's own pace. - Playstyle: Plays the campaign solo, explores levels for hidden gems and treasures, and focuses on puzzle solving rather than multiplayer coordination. - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: solo player; lone wolf - Reference games: N/A - Achievement Completionist (buy) - Motivation: Completing all achievements, collectibles, and level objectives to reach full completion. - Playstyle: Methodically replays levels to collect experience bottles, letters, treasures, and other hidden items, often using checkpoints and DLC to extend completion. - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: achievement hunter; completionist - Reference games: N/A Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Beautiful graphics and visuals (weight 0.28): Graphics are widely praised as beautiful, with many noting the stunning backgrounds and screenshot-worthy frames. The visual presentation is considered a major highlight. - Engaging cooperative gameplay (weight 0.25): Reviewers consistently praise the co-op experience as fun and satisfying, especially with two or three players. Online co-op is reported to work smoothly, and couch co-op creates memorable moments. - Fun and clever puzzles (weight 0.22): The puzzles are frequently described as fun, interesting, and clever, with a difficulty that feels just right. Many reviewers highlight the satisfying brain-teasing challenges. - Suitable for friends (weight 0.22): Reviewers frequently mention that the game is best played with friends, whether online or locally. It is enjoyable in company. - Enjoyable and smooth gameplay (weight 0.19): Gameplay is generally described as fun, engaging, and fluid. Reviewers find it pleasant and well-executed. - Multiple puzzle solutions (weight 0.18): Many reviewers appreciate that puzzles can be solved in multiple ways, encouraging creativity. This flexibility is seen as a strong positive. - Magical and soothing soundtrack (weight 0.17): The soundtrack is frequently described as magical, atmospheric, and soothing. It enhances the overall experience. - Great addition to Trine series (weight 0.16): Fans of the series consider this game a worthy entry, often calling it the best Trine yet. It retains the charm of previous titles. - Solo play is enjoyable (weight 0.15): The game is praised for being fun even when played alone, with support for both single-player and co-op. Solo players can switch between characters. - Creative puzzle design (weight 0.13): Puzzles are praised for their creative design, requiring clever use of skills and sometimes unexpected solutions. Solving them feels satisfying. - Easy and accessible puzzles (weight 0.12): Some reviewers note that puzzles are not very hard, making the game accessible. Most puzzles have multiple solutions and are easy to complete. - Good level design (weight 0.09): Level design is praised as interesting and well-crafted. The levels complement the puzzles effectively. - Varied puzzle difficulty (weight 0.09): Puzzles vary in difficulty, with some requiring a good eye and others being well hidden. This variety keeps the experience interesting. Common complaints: - Severe Online Multiplayer Connectivity Issues (weight 0.66): Online multiplayer frequently disconnects, is laggy, and often fails to connect, making the game nearly unplayable for many. Problems persist even with accelerators, and some sessions drop within minutes. - Unimpressive Clichéd Story (weight 0.21): The story is widely described as clichéd, shallow, and forgettable, with few twists or memorable moments. It fails to engage players and does not live up to the narratives of earlier Trine games. - Difficult Final Boss Fight (weight 0.11): The final boss is extremely challenging, often requiring multiple attempts and causing frustration. Some compare its difficulty to souls-like games, which feels out of place given the rest of the game. - Limited Enemy Variety (weight 0.09): The game offers few enemy types, leading to repetitive combat encounters. This lack of variety makes certain sections, like the purple cloud rounds, boring after a while. Gameplay feedback: - Strong Co-op Support (weight 0.65): Many reviews highlight that the game supports both online and local co-op, often for up to three or four players. It is frequently described as being designed with cooperative play in mind. - Puzzle-Solving Core Gameplay (weight 0.28): A large number of feedback entries state that puzzle-solving is a central mechanic. The puzzles are often described as brain-teasing and varying in difficulty. - 2D Puzzle Platformer Genre (weight 0.22): Reviews commonly categorize the game as a 2D or 2.5D puzzle-platformer with side-scrolling elements. It blends platforming with puzzle solving. - Three Character Classes (weight 0.2): The game features three distinct classes: warrior, mage, and archer (or thief/ranger). Each class has unique roles and abilities. - Character Switching Mechanic (weight 0.16): Players can switch between three different characters, both in single-player and co-op. This mechanic is central to puzzle-solving and gameplay. - Unique Character Abilities (weight 0.13): Each playable character has distinct abilities and roles that are needed to overcome obstacles and enemies. This encourages switching between characters. - Skill Tree Progression (weight 0.12): A skill tree system is present, with each character having their own skill tree and unlockable abilities. This adds progression depth. - Abilities Used in Puzzles (weight 0.12): Character-specific abilities are used to solve puzzles, and these abilities are acquired over the course of the game. Skills can be combined for puzzle-solving. - Platforming Elements (weight 0.12): The game includes platforming mechanics, often combined with puzzle-solving. It is described as a puzzle-platformer with classic platforming elements. - Supports 1-3 Players (weight 0.12): The game is designed for one to three players, with some reviews noting it is best experienced with three people. It supports online multiplayer for up to three players. - Puzzle Adventure Elements (weight 0.12): Reviews mention that the game includes riddles and puzzles, often describing it as a puzzle-adventure game. Simple puzzles and occasional brain teasers are present. - Solo Play Supported (weight 0.11): The game can be played solo, and some reviews note it is designed for solo play as well as with friends. Single-player mode is available. - Boss Fights (weight 0.1): The game features boss fights, including a final boss that requires using all characters' abilities. These are key combat encounters. Performance notes: - Frequent Online Disconnections (weight 0.21): Players frequently experience disconnections during online play, co-op, and multiplayer sessions. This is the most common complaint across many clusters. - Multiplayer Connection Instability and Lag (weight 0.18): Online multiplayer suffers from unstable connections, severe lag, and high latency. This makes competitive or cooperative play frustrating. - Poor Server Performance (weight 0.17): Server performance is frequently criticized as poor, unreliable, and occasionally unstable. This leads to laggy online play and drops. - Game Crashes and Errors (weight 0.15): The game crashes frequently, including during launch, cutscenes, tutorials, and when joining multiplayer. Various errors prevent gameplay. - Performance Fluctuations and Optimization (weight 0.15): While some find the game well-optimized with low requirements, others report frame drops, choppy framerates, and high hardware usage. Lowering settings can help. - Difficulty Joining Multiplayer Games (weight 0.11): Players struggle to join online games, often encountering errors that block access for extended periods. This prevents them from playing with others. - Controller and Input Problems (weight 0.1): Controllers and keyboards sometimes fail to respond or are not detected, especially on Steam Deck. Input method switching can also cause issues. - Regional Connection Issues (China/Russia) (weight 0.1): Players from specific regions, such as mainland China and Russia, report severe connection problems. These issues often persist even with accelerators or boosters. - Progress Loss and Restart Issues (weight 0.06): Frequent restarts or disconnections lead to lost progress. Some players must restart the game from Steam to resolve issues. - Hardware-Related Network Issues (weight 0.04): Network problems can be exacerbated by hardware deficiencies or poor host internet, leading to lag for others. - Slow Loading Times (weight 0.02): Loading times are reported to be very slow, which can detract from the overall experience. - Audio and Music Hiccups (weight 0.02): Some players experience audio and music hiccups during gameplay, which can be distracting. Recommendations: - Best Played With Friends (weight 0.37): The overwhelming majority of positive feedback emphasizes that the game shines brightest when played with friends in co-op. Reviewers consistently recommend gathering a group to enjoy the experience fully. - Good For Family And Children (weight 0.25): The game is recommended for family play, including with children, and is suitable for adults and kids alike. This suggests broad age appeal. - Great For Couples And Partners (weight 0.21): Reviewers frequently highlight the game as ideal for romantic partners or spouses, noting it works well for two players, including casual or less experienced ones. - General Positive Recommendations (weight 0.2): Many reviewers simply recommend the game with high praise, using terms like highly recommended, 10/10, and cannot recommend enough. These endorsements span various player types. - Local Multiplayer Praised (weight 0.2): Local multiplayer and couch co-op are highlighted as strong points, with recommendations for playing locally with friends. - Ideal For Three Players (weight 0.16): Some clusters specifically recommend the game for groups of three, suggesting it is particularly well-suited for 3-player co-op sessions. - Worth Buying On Sale (weight 0.14): Several clusters mention that the game is worth purchasing at a discount, and some even suggest it's worth full price. This indicates strong value perception among reviewers. - Appeals To Puzzle Fans (weight 0.12): Reviewers note that the game is a must-buy for puzzle enthusiasts and those who enjoy the Trine series' humor and puzzles. Even non-puzzle fans may find it worthwhile. - Broken Online Multiplayer Issues (weight 0.12): Multiple clusters warn against buying the game for online co-op due to severe connectivity problems, making online multiplayer nearly impossible. However, some still praise the game despite server issues. - Suitable For All Skill Levels (weight 0.04): The game is described as accessible to beginners and veterans alike, making it a good choice for players of varying skill levels. - Good For Party Settings (weight 0.04): The game is recommended for party gaming scenarios and casual players, making it a fun choice for social gatherings. - Good For Short Adventures (weight 0.04): Reviewers recommend the game for those who want an exciting adventure with a short story, divided into levels, ideal for players with limited time or casual preferences. - Not For Hardcore Players (weight 0.04): Some feedback suggests the game may not satisfy players seeking hardcore content, though its quality is still worth considering for others. Other player notes: - Series entry and comparisons (weight 0.57): Many players frame the game as part of the Trine series, frequently comparing it to Trine 1, 2, and 3. The fourth installment is often described as a return to form after the controversial third game. - Return to 2.5D roots (weight 0.18): After the 3D experiment of Trine 3, this game returns to the classic 2.5D perspective and 2D puzzle platforming. This shift is widely welcomed. - DLC adds extra content (weight 0.14): Players mention that DLC is available and includes additional levels, a boss fight, and roughly six more levels. Some note that the DLC was completed and adds to the overall experience. - Achievement completion and time (weight 0.12): Several reviewers discuss completing all achievements, with playtimes around 10 to 14 hours. Achievements are seen as a completion goal. - Nostalgia for Trine 2 (weight 0.12): Some reviewers feel the game fails to capture the magic of Trine 2, which they remember fondly. Trine 2 is often cited as peak. - Large amount of content (weight 0.09): The game offers a substantial amount of content, with more levels and longer completion times than previous entries. Players note it is plentiful. - Co-op play praised (weight 0.08): Cooperative play is highlighted as satisfying, especially when compared to games like It Takes Two. Many played through with a friend. - Story about cursed prince (weight 0.07): The narrative follows a prince whose nightmares become real and who must escape them. The story is described as ordinary or forgettable by some. - Steam and Epic availability (weight 0.07): The game is sold on Steam and verified for Steam Deck, but some versions require Epic Games Store installation. An update was noted to install Epic software. - Discounted purchase and giveaways (weight 0.07): Many bought the game at a discount or in a bundle, and some note it was later given away for free on Epic. This affects perceived value. - Connection drop issues inherited (weight 0.04): The game inherits connection drop issues from the Trine series. This is a technical complaint affecting online play. - Fairy tale art style (weight 0.04): The art style is described as western fairy-tale and fitting the series' aesthetic. It contributes to the game's charm. - Fifth installment existence (weight 0.04): A fifth Trine game may have been released recently. Some players mention its existence, though details are sparse. - Developed by Frozenbyte (weight 0.04): The game is developed by Frozenbyte, the studio behind the Trine series. This is noted by some reviewers. - Missing voice acting languages (weight 0.04): Some players note the absence of Chinese or Russian voice acting. This is a minor complaint for a few. - Plans to wait for discounts (weight 0.04): Some reviewers plan to wait for discounts on DLC and the fifth entry. They are hesitant to pay full price. - Menu easter egg level (weight 0.04): The menu page contains an easter egg level that requires full collection. This is a hidden feature for completionists. - First Trine game for some (weight 0.04): For some players, this was their first Trine game. They have no prior series experience to compare. Emotions: - Frustration (weight 0.18): Players are frustrated by severe online multiplayer issues, including constant disconnections, inability to connect, and lag that ruins co-op sessions. Additionally, an overly difficult final boss, tedious puzzles, and technical problems like bugs, crashes, and control resets compound the frustration. - Disappointment (weight 0.14): Players are disappointed by a weak story, easy and repetitive puzzles, and a lack of innovation compared to earlier Trine games. Poor online multiplayer, technical issues, and underwhelming combat also contribute to the letdown. - Enjoyment (weight 0.12): Players enjoy the beautiful graphics, fun puzzle-solving, and cooperative gameplay, especially when playing with friends or family. The charming atmosphere, music, and varied character abilities make for a delightful experience. - Satisfaction (weight 0.08): Satisfaction comes from solving clever and challenging puzzles, especially in co-op, and from the game returning to the series' classic 2D roots. The sense of accomplishment from overcoming difficult puzzles and boss fights is highly rewarding. - Joy (weight 0.06): Joy is primarily derived from playing co-op with loved ones, sharing laughter and solving puzzles together. The beautiful art style, magical soundtrack, and engaging gameplay create a wonderful experience. - Admiration (weight 0.04): Admiration is driven by the stunning visuals, detailed art style, and beautiful environments that resemble a fairy tale painting. The high-quality graphics and artistic direction are consistently praised. - Anger (weight 0.04): Anger stems from severe technical issues like save file corruption, forced Epic Games installation, and broken multiplayer servers. Unbalanced classes, frustrating boss designs, and persistent bugs that ruin progress also infuriate players. - Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the return to the classic 2D platforming formula, the beautiful visuals, and the clever puzzle design. The game's evolution and nostalgic elements are also highly valued. - Excitement (weight 0.02): Excitement is fueled by the beautiful and fresh level designs, the engaging story, and the addictive gameplay loop of puzzles and rewards. The large amount of content and new mechanics also generate enthusiasm. - Fun (weight 0.02): Fun arises from the game's flexible puzzle solutions, chaotic co-op interactions, and the emergent gameplay from unstable physics. Playing with friends or a partner enhances the enjoyment through creative problem-solving. - Amusement (weight 0.02): Amusement comes from chaotic multiplayer moments, such as players accidentally killing each other or trolling friends during co-op. The humorous dialogues and unintended physics interactions also provide laughter. - Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom is caused by repetitive gameplay, uninteresting story, and combat encounters that feel like a chore. Playing alone later in the game and simple, skippable levels contribute to the tedium. - Confusion (weight 0.02): Confusion arises from unclear mechanics, such as the skill upgrade system and the purpose of certain abilities like the bouncing ball. The game also fails to explain some mechanics, leading to player uncertainty. - Nostalgia (weight 0.02): Nostalgia is evoked by the return to classic Trine elements, reminiscent of the first two games, and memories of playing previous installments in childhood. The music and familiar mechanics bring back fond feelings. - Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance is caused by too many combat sections, overly hidden items, and issues like having to reallocate skill points after rejoining. The long, complex final boss and occasional control problems also irritate players. - Relaxation (weight 0.01): Relaxation is achieved through the game's accessible and stress-relieving gameplay, especially in single-player mode. The casual atmosphere and simple co-op with friends provide a calming experience. - Delight (weight 0.01): Delight is brought by the beautiful and vibrant fairy-tale scenarios, gorgeous graphics, and enchanting soundtrack. The wholesome story and charming characters add to the overall delightful experience. - Dislike (weight 0.01): Dislike is directed at the art style of previous games, weak mechanics, and the changed wizard mechanics. The narrator's kid-focused tone and terrible combat are also points of contention. - Dissatisfaction (weight 0.01): Dissatisfaction stems from unsuccessful combat mechanics, wave-based enemy encounters that reduce freedom, and areas that feel like small arenas. The best mechanic appearing too late and playing solo being less fun also contribute. - Love (weight 0.01): Love for the game is expressed through playing with a partner, enjoying the fun gameplay and exquisite graphics. The combination of graphics, story, and challenging puzzles creates a deep affection.}