What Frozenbyte tried (and failed) with Trine 3 ultimately was a bad idea, but that they would move out of their comfort zone and try a new idea is a good thing because too many modern developers refuse to do anything than put out stale remakes and remasters and sequels that stagnate. Trine 4 is a return to the tried and true Trine 2 that the fans wanted, and for many, this is the real Trine 3 we were waiting for. However, there is too little and too late. It is not a BAD game, minding the stars above. It was unfortunately not willing to try to take Trine 2 and increase the complexity of the formula, instead becoming more casual and simplified. In the end, Trine 2 remains the undisputed champion of this series. I am glad Frozenbyte reversed the mistake from Trine 3 by making this game, but they tried to be too careful and as a result it was simply average, and I won't remember it like I do Trine 2.
This game is a masterpiece. For people easily impressed by loud noises and shiny objects, the game looks great and has a fantastic soundtrack. What we all care about in a videogame though is the actual gameplay, the interaction. The game has a very well done platforming aspect and combat that aren't just "good enough", but fine tuned and fair to make it incredibly rewarding to master and a game that can stand on its own on just those merits as a 2D platformer. Momentum based jumping is used, so plan your actions out. But where the real value lies is in the puzzles. The platforming aspects are great, but this truly feels like it is supposed to be played as a puzzle game. It puts you right into a ruin like Indiana Jones and gives you full reign to discover it and find your way deeper. The puzzles are everywhere, be prepared to have a full chapter added to your game notebook at your desk, because you will want to write clues down often as they come up so you can read them all back later and put them together. The rewarding sense of accomplishment from mastering the puzzles of La Mulana is its biggest strength. Along the way you will make use of your trusty adventurers laptop that you can find different software for throughout the game, which is a very novel idea that I've never seen in a game before. The boss fights are difficult exercises in platforming and combat, and each one is a treat to savor and remember after they are gone, but you will always know that you earned it once you defeat them. If you have low amounts of patience, want awesome buttons, or are the type of person that uses guides to play games, don't bother playing this because the charm and quality is lost on you, you are not the target audience. Frankly, trying to force the game to conform to your lack of spacial memory, lack of critical thinking, and lack of ability to do anything without quest markers only degrades the quality of La Mulana and other good games that are rarer and rarer these days.
