30. WWE 2K23

It’s easy to forget the slump that the WWE 2K series saw, especially with how much WWE 2K20 was rightfully panned, but that’s why subsequent entries, like WWE 2K23, are even more impressive. It builds on the polish and combat systems in WWE 2K22 while improving the visuals further and adding new features like War Games, a new Showcase and updates to existing modes. Plus, the Royal Rumble now supports up to eight players online.

If you’ve played the previous games, then Trine 5 will feel familiar. Each hero has unique abilities to traverse environments, solve puzzles and fight enemies. Zoya can use ricochet arrows to hit switches and fire rope-arrows to tight-rope walk on. Pontius can block attacks and surf on the water with his shield, while Amadeus conjures objects and levitates enemies.

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy sports local and online co-op for up to four players with an adaptive difficulty. It’s available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch. Check out our review for more information.

"The gameplay is definitely the star of the show, and it fares a lot better than the story."

Trine 5 puts players back in the shoes of Zoya, Amadeus, and Pontius as the trio reunites once again to save the world from another evil force. The series has always stuck to telling fairy tale stories, and Trine 5 is no different in this regard. The titular trio of misfits is put up against an evil empress and her army of clockwork knights this time around, and you must do everything in your might to put an end to these mechanical soldiers and expose the villainy behind this clockwork conspiracy.

It’s a simple story that’s woefully predictable, but that’s par for the course for a Trine game at this point. The writing is pretty basic and wouldn’t be winning any awards, but the voice acting is quality stuff. Each of the three protagonists is distinct in their own way, so it’s good that we spend the majority of the story’s runtime with these characters. Knight Pontius is a hulking warrior with a natural inclination toward tasty food, Zoya is a thrifty archer with a history of thievery, and Amadeus is a depressed master wizard who lives away from his family. The trio does share occasional moments of banter between them, which can be a refreshing change of pace from the otherwise straightforward narrative.

The gameplay is definitely the star of the show, and it fares a lot better than the story. Much like prior entries, you can go with the co-op mode which gives each player their own character to control or you could choose the single-player route which allows you to seamlessly switch between the characters at any given point. My time with Trine 5 was limited to the single-player mode, so this review will be reflective of my experience with that particular mode only.

"Each of the three protagonists is distinct in their own way, so it’s good that we spend the majority of the story’s runtime with these characters."

Trine 5 is a 2.5D action platformer with a heavy emphasis on puzzle solving, so the moment-to-moment gameplay revolves around navigating through maze-like locales while overcoming all sorts of obstacles. The controls are pretty responsive which means jumping through gaps and maneuvering your character around the screen is a consistently joyous experience. Each of the three characters has a different set of abilities, and you must use them smartly in conjunction with each other to clear these labyrinthian stages.

Zoya is a master archer who specializes in using arrows to break ropes, tie ropes to objects, and grapple from one hook point to the other. Pontius is a warrior with super strength, and he can stomp on surfaces to break them, charge into stuff to send them flying across the screen, and use his shield to deflect incoming projectiles. Lastly, there’s Amadeus who can conjure different objects and manipulate them to create routes for other characters.

The level design tries to craft all sorts of interesting scenarios that challenge you to use these abilities in creative ways to get across. Puzzles can range from incredibly basic to surprisingly complex, and the game does a good job of exploring a wide range of possibilities with the given set of abilities. One thing that I particularly liked about Trine 5’s approach to puzzle design is that the solutions are a lot more straightforward than you might think – at least for the most part. There were multiple instances when I would try to get across using all sorts of finicky strategies like piling up boxes to create a staircase, only to realize that I had to use a completely different albeit straightforward approach to create a simple route to the other side of the screen.

"One thing that I particularly liked about Trine 5’s approach to puzzle design is that the solutions are a lot more straightforward than you might think – at least for the most part."

And this is why it gets really frustrating when the game occasionally resorts to solutions that have an element of awkwardness to them. While I can’t obviously talk about all such instances, there were more than a couple of times when I had to be pixel-perfect with my aim or conjure objects in weird orientations to get to the desired destination which left me flustered as to whether my solution to the puzzle was even correct or not.

As you progress through the five acts in the story, each character gets access to even more abilities which opens the door to even more complex puzzle designs. For instance, Zoya will get arrows that can reflect from a surface while Amadeus gets the ability to conjure new kinds of objects and much more. Getting new abilities does help in keeping things fresh, but juggling between the three characters and their constantly expanding move sets can prove to be too much to keep your attention at any given time. And this can compound the issue of occasionally frustrating puzzle design to an even further degree, which in turn hinders the flow of the game as you find yourself stuck for minutes on end on one puzzle with little to no clue of what to do in order to progress.

In addition to the skills that you obtain in the critical path, you can also spend accumulated currency in each character’s skill tree to increase their efficiency in combat encounters. I did invest the majority of my skill points in Pontius’ skill tree, but that proved to be largely inessential as I didn’t really end up using any of the additional tricks during these encounters. And that boils down to enemies being really easy to take down in the first place, which meant I could stick to what I knew and take on anything and everything that was thrown my way. Boss fights do require a bit of effort to take down, but it’s nothing that you can’t do in a couple of tries.

". Getting new abilities does help in keeping things fresh, but juggling between the three characters and their constantly expanding move sets can prove to be too much to keep your attention at any given time."

Much like prior entries in the franchise, art direction remains one of the strongest suits in Trine 5. The visuals are really crisp and with smart use of popping colours and beautiful backdrops, but there is also an element of inconsistency in the visual presentation. You make your way through lavish castles adorned by exquisite furniture, forests that are peppered with all sorts of plants and trees, and dimly lit dungeons filled with hazards and reawakened skeletons – and it all looks absolutely gorgeous. And while the environments and lighting do look fantastic, the character models can look pretty dated in comparison. This is especially noticeable in cutscenes, and it can really dampen the otherwise solid visual presentation.

Trine 5 is also a longer adventure than its predecessors, and it will take you well over 10 hours to beat the campaign. You can also try to get all the collectibles which adds an additional layer of challenge to the puzzles, and if you played through the game in a solo fashion – you could also go back with your friends. All in all, there’s a good amount of stuff to do which should keep you busy for quite some time.

In conclusion, Trine 5 is a sequel that knows its strengths and focuses on polishing them to an even higher degree. The story is still simple and the combat doesn’t pull any punches either, but the co-op puzzling core of it all remains an enjoyable affair through and through. Trine 5 does have a few edges, but it’s still a surprisingly solid game and probably a great choice for some fun with friends.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

Rope allows Zoya to swing from hooks and pull objects, whether it’s platforms or bookshelves. She can also create a zipline for allies to tight-rope walk on. While her bow is good for dealing with sky-bound enemies, she can also utilize Elemental Arrows, creating an icy platform to traverse some electrocuted water or igniting torches.

With ricochet properties, her arrows can bounce off surfaces for some sick trick shots, and Zoya can also dodge through enemies, planting a Sticky Bomb on them. Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy releases on August 31st for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch. Stay tuned for more character trailers, and check out Pontius the Knight’s here.

Baldur’s Gate 3

It’s a testament to the kind of year that 2023 has been that Baldur’s Gate 3 is only one of many major releases. Nevertheless, Larian Studios’ tremendous role-playing game is a dream come true for Dungeons and Dragons fans. It offers a dozen classes, 46 subclasses, over 600 Spells, 11 races, 31 subraces and many more options to customize your character.

With a massive campaign that spans over 75 hours on a single playthrough with dozens of quests and multiple locations to explore, Baldur’s Gate 3 promises peak role-playing when it launches on August 3rd for PC.

Tower of Fantasy (PS4, PS5)

Hotta Studio’s Tower of Fantasy is an open-world action RPG, albeit with a sci-fi twist. As a customizable character, players travel the surface, learning more about the fall of civilization at the hands of Omnium, and battling all manner of threats. With four-player co-op, World Bosses and numerous quests, Tower of Fantasy also features an arena mode for PvP.

The combat also employs some interesting mechanics like equipping three weapons with different roles, building up charge and switching between them for more damage, and Simulacrums to transform into a unique character. Though currently available on PC, Tower of Fantasy arrives on August 8th for PS4 and PS5.

WrestleQuest

Wrestling video games are often simulations, rarely arcade titles, with the hottest talent. WrestleQuest takes a different approach, imagining the hero’s journey from the perspective of an up-and-coming wrestler in a fantastical pixel art universe. You start as a rookie and work through the ranks by training and learning from the greats like “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Andre the Giant and more.

As you customize your wrestler’s moves and entrance, you take on all sorts of opponents and fight alongside legends like Diamond Dallas Page, the Road Warriors and more. WrestleQuest launches on August 8th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Atlas Fallen

In a world where everything has become sand and humanity is oppressed, you play as an Unnamed and discover a magical gauntlet. With the ability to manipulate and weaponize sand, you embark on a quest to take down Thelos and restore humanity. Developed by Deck13 of The Surge fame, Atlas Fallen is more of an action-adventure title with three weapons – the Dunecleaver, Sandwhip and Knuckledust – that change shape as you accrue Momentum in combat.

They can further be upgraded with over 100 Essence Stones, encouraging experimentation. Atlas Fallen releases on August 10th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, and on top of lasting 25 to 30 hours, the entire game supports two-player co-op.

Sprawl

Would it be much of a month without a retro-style FPS? Probably not, but even by boomer shooter standards, MAETH’s Sprawl looks intriguing. Set in a cyberpunk city, you control former special ops SEVEN, who seeks to escape and venture to the SPIRE, while a mysterious voice pushes her onward. Corpo forces oppose you, but thanks to the Icarus implant, you can wall-run and slow down time, slaying enemies with katanas, pistols and a shotgun. Sprawl is out in August for PC, with a more definite release date to be announced.

Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew

From the team behind Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun comes a brand-new strategy stealth title. Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is set in the Golden Age of Piracy, as you venture the Lost Caribbean with eight crewmates, each possessing unique skills. You can freely select crew members for a mission and take any approach, utilizing new magical abilities to one-up enemies.

In addition to cleverly executed strategies and split-second timing, you can pause the game and instantly rewind to a previous point to try something else. Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew arrives on August 17th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

Madden NFL 24

For the uninitiated, EA Sports’ Madden NFL series is its other golden goose that has proven a monstrous success year in and year out with even fewer changes than FIFA. However, as EA transitions from FIFA to its new EA Sports FC franchise, Madden NFL 24 offers several improvements. FieldSENSE returns for added realism and control; the AI is smarter and more reactive; Franchise Mode features Free Agency changes and new commissioner tools; and new modes like 3v3 Superstar Showdown promise some unique experiences. Launching on August 18th, Madden NFL 24 will be available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC with cross-play support.

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk

Lethal League developer Team Reptile presents a spiritual successor to Sega’s Jet Set Radio – Bomb Rush Cyberfunk. As Red, players join the Bomb Rush Crew and compete against rival crews for turf, tagging spots and earning REP while executing all kinds of tricks, whether it’s inline skating, skateboarding or BMX. Police forces will try to stop you, and new members join the crew, backed by the tunes of Jet Set Radio composer Hideki Naganuma. Bomb Rush Cyberfunk arrives on August 18th for PC and Nintendo Switch.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Based on the 1974 classic, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a new asymmetrical multiplayer title, which previously published Friday the 13th: The Game. Releasing on August 18th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC, it sees Ana Flores, Julie Crawford, Connie Taylor, Sonny Williams and Leland McKinney searching for Ana’s sister Maria.

Of course, the Slaughter family, including The Hitchhiker, The Cook and good ol’ Leatherface aren’t keen on letting them escape. The victims must use stealth and complete objectives to escape while the killers stop them. It’s pretty straightforward and backed by plenty of realistic kills.

Fort Solis

This cinematic sci-fi adventure game from Black Drakkar Games and Fallen Leaf is unique in its immersion. There are no camera cuts, loading times or a HUD, and its story is composed of four chapters with an all-star cast featuring Roger Clark (of Red Dead Redemption 2 fame), Troy Baker (The Last of Us) and Julia Brown (World on Fire). As engineer Jack Leary, players venture to the titular Fort Solis for a routine inspection and find the crew missing. Strange events begin to occur, pushing Leary to the brink. Fort Solis launches on August 22nd for PS5 and PC.

Immortals of Aveum

Ascendant Studios’ magic-based first-person shooter has been five years in the making, utilizing Unreal Engine 5.1 for its stunning visuals and Michael Kirkbride of The Elder Scrolls fame to help craft its narrative. Set in the world of Aveum, with Lucium and Rasharm at constant war, players control Jak, a recruit in the Order of the Immortals who looks to take down the big bad Sandrakk.

As a Triarch, Jak can utilize all three Colors of magic in devastating ways. With several different spells and talents, tons of gear pieces, and a meaty campaign with plenty of side content, Immortals of Aveum could be a dark horse in a jam-packed month. It releases on August 22nd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon

FromSoftware’s latest entry in the mech combat series begins with a clean slate, taking players to Rubicon 3, where megacorporations and factions battle over a precious resource Coral. As a mercenary pilot, you pilot a fully customizable Armored Core, utilizing different long-range and melee weapons while battling all manner of mechanized opposition in fast-paced combat.

Larger environments, seamless switching between projectiles and melee attacks, a new stagger mechanic, multiple endings and more await fans along with the return of the Arena when Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon arrives on August 25th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC.

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy

It’s hard to keep a band of heroes down, especially the Heroes of Trine. Amadeus the Wizard, Zoya the Thief, and Pontius the Knight embark on a new adventure to battle the Clockwork army. As a 2.5D action-puzzle platformer with co-op support, players must use each character’s skills to traverse environments in unique ways (like using Pontius’s shield to skate across water).

A new combat system and bosses, more variety with skill quests, and an adaptive difficulty to encourage replay value await fans when Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy launches on August 31st for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch.

RIDE 5

If you’ve looked upon The Crew Motorfest or Forza Motorsport and wanted something more bike-oriented, RIDE 5 may be worth checking out. The latest in Milestone S.r.l.’s motorcycle sim franchise features over 35 tracks and 200 bikes to ride. This year’s Career Mode sees players working through various Rivals to make a name for themselves, braving the dynamic weather to succeed.

Along with extensive motorcycle customization, the Race Creator lets you shape custom tracks and scenarios while riding aids help ease newcomers into the experience. RIDE 5 is out on August 24th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle

As the sequel to Invader Studios’ Resident Evil-inspired Daymare 1998, Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle is a prequel with new characters, improved visuals and a revamped UI. It also features dismemberment, a la Dead Space, and a scanner for revealing items and puzzles in the environment. While it won’t compete with Dead Space Remake, Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle may be an enjoyable blast from the past for fans of 90s survival horror when it releases on August 30th for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

As one of the playable characters, Pontius is a frontliner who protects his allies and enjoys pies on his off time. He wields a sword and shield, the former used to destroy obstructions, slay enemies and as a platform. The latter can block damage but also functions as a glider for crossing gaps, a raft for traversing water, and even reflecting light for solving puzzles.

Stay tuned for more trailers highlighting the other heroes. Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy aims to provide “at least” 12 hours of playtime and will run at 4K/60 FPS on Xbox Series X and PS5. Check out our interview with Frozenbyte here for more details.

"This time through 20 different levels, full of vibrant colors and various landscapes ranging from places like glistening gemstone caverns and dangerous underwater passageways to a flying airship soaring in the skies."

Trine games have never failed to impress with their gorgeous visuals and some of the dazzling places they take players to. What should players expect from Trine 5 on that front?

Trine 5 will be another breathtakingly gorgeous ride. This time through 20 different levels, full of vibrant colors and various landscapes ranging from places like glistening gemstone caverns and dangerous underwater passageways to a flying airship soaring in the skies. It’s going to be a visual feast.

What are the biggest changes that Trine 5 is making to its combat as compared to the previous games?

In Trine 5, the combat is more akin to what we had in Trine 2, so at times the fights can be skipped and are more organic than in e.g. Trine 4. We’ve tried to adjust enemies so they’d require a bit more tactical thinking, rather than just pure button mashing and charging in.

Some of the enemies we’ve added are pretty tough and require you to use more than one hero, e.g. the big Clockwork Guardians can’t be attacked from the front with Pontius as they’ve often got a massive shield that blocks all frontal attacks, so you have to use the Wizard of Thief to help out. Other enemies e.g. the Rat Gang Necromancers are elusive, and until you defeat them they’ll keep conjuring skeletons, so you have to prioritize the necromancers in fights or the fight will never end.

The Trine 5 boss fights are great fun as they tend to include combat with additional puzzle and platforming elements. They really put you to the test as you need to think a little, dodge explosive barrels, beams and other hazards, all the while also trying to fight.

What can you tell us about Trine 5’s new adaptive difficulty system and how it scales for however many players are playing?

The difficulty system is split into three categories: Puzzle, Combat and Resurrection, and you can change these in the middle of a save, if you feel the going is getting too easy or too hard. We’ve customized a lot of the puzzles and fights depending on the number of players in the game, so e.g. you’ll face more enemies, and puzzles might include additional elements that can only be solved with the help of other players.

"Some of the enemies we’ve added are pretty tough and require you to use more than one hero."

How much depth will Trine 5’s new progression mechanics offer? How will the new skill quest system impact the core gameplay loop?

The skill system consists of two types of skills, Unlockable skills that you gain from Skill Quests, and upgradeable skills that you can train with experience that you gather from the levels.

The Skill Quests are character specific, short side-adventures that you enter in certain points of the game within levels, which reward you with an Unlockable skill that is needed in future puzzles or fights. So for example, in the fifth level, Pontius has a Skill Quest where he learns the Sword Throw ability. After he’s gained this ability, it will be needed to solve some puzzles later in the game, e.g. as a climbing or stomping platform, or a target for Zoya’s rope.

The upgradeable skills are a reward for gathering experience vials, and will make your heroes more diverse and fun to play, especially in combat.

How expansive will Trine 5’s offerings of in-game outfit customization options be?

I wouldn’t say it’s a massive feature, the outfits are there to change the visual appearance of your characters. Some of those look really different and cool, and can help with distinguishing your fellow players in co-op.

Will Trine 5 feature cross-platform multiplayer?

Cross-platform multiplayer is really awesome and we’ve wanted to support that for a long time. I don’t have any news to share at this point though.

Roughly how long will an average playthrough of the game be?

It’s hard to estimate, because of varying experience and skill levels, but I would guesstimate at least 12 hours for a playthrough. It is probably quite a lot more for the average player though. It really depends on the difficulty settings you select, as those can have a massive impact on the challenge.

The Xbox Series S features lesser hardware compared to Xbox Series and Microsoft is pushing it as a 1440p/60 FPS console. Do you think it will be able to hold up for the more graphically intensive games as this generation progresses?

More powerful hardware is always better from a developer perspective! I think for more graphically intensive games the Series S can become a bottleneck as supporting it is required. From a player perspective I guess it’s a nice option to have a more affordable console though.

"Steam Deck is awesome! Trine 5 works on it but we’ll make some optimizations to it still to make sure players get the smoothest possible experience."

What frame rate and resolution will the game target on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S?

4K/60 FPS on PS5 and Xbox Series X, 1440p and 60 FPS on Series S.

What frame rate and resolution will the game target on the Switch in docked and undocked modes?

Switch will have1080p/30 FPS docked and 720p/30 FPS undocked modes, with some dynamic resolution scaling to keep the fps in check at the most graphically intensive places.

What are your thoughts on the Steam Deck? Do you have plans for any specific optimizations for the device?

Steam Deck is awesome! Trine 5 works on it but we’ll make some optimizations to it still to make sure players get the smoothest possible experience.

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy developer Frozenbyte seems to agree with that general notion. In a recent interview with GamingBolt, when asked about the Xbox Series S and whether its hardware will be able to keep pace with its peers as the generation goes on, Frozenbyte marketing manager Kai Tuovinen said that while the console is certainly a great option to have for those looking to purchase cheaper hardware, from a development perspective, it can potentially become a “bottleneck”, especially for the more technically demanding games.

“More powerful hardware is always better from a developer perspective,” Touvinen said. “I think for more graphically intensive games the Series S can become a bottleneck as supporting it is required. From a player perspective I guess it’s a nice option to have a more affordable console though.”

Of course, this isn’t just a hypothetical at this point. Larian Studios has been facing technical difficulties with getting Baldur’s Gate 3’s splitscreen co-op running properly on the Xbox Series S, resulting in a delayed Xbox launch for the highly anticipated RPG. Last year, Techland also talked about how the console’s GPU was holding development back.

During our interview, Touvinen also revealed to GamingBolt that Trine 5 will run at 4K/60 FPS on PS5 and Xbox Series X and at 1440p/60 FPS on Xbox Series S. Touvinen also confirmed that the game will be “at least” 12 hours long.

Earlier this year, Frozenbyte also talked about Game Pass, and how it “contributes to oversaturation of content” in spite of being “an interesting program to reach more gamers at scale.” Read more on that through here.

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is set to launch this summer for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Speaking with GamingBolt, Kai Tuovinen, marketing manager at Frozenbyte, confirmed that Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy will run at 4K and 60 FPS on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and at 1440p and 60 FPS on Xbox Series S. Meanwhile, on Nintendo Switch, the game will run at 720p and 30 FPS when playing in handheld mode, and at 1080p and 30 FPS when playing with the console docked.

Touvinen also confirmed to GamingBolt that Trine 5 will be “at least” 12 hours long. Read more on that through here.

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is set to launch this summer for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Our full interview with Touvinen will be live soon, so stay tuned for that.

We posted that question to Kai Tuovinen, marketing manager at Frozenbyte, in a recent interview, who have revealed that Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy will be “at least” a dozen hours long, though the average length of the playthrough is is “probably quite a lot more”. Factors such as the difficulty settings you choose will also have an impact on how long it takes to roll credits.

“It’s hard to estimate, because of varying experience and skill levels, but I would guesstimate at least 12 hours for a playthrough,” Tuovinen said. “It is probably quite a lot more for the average player though. It really depends on the difficulty settings you select, as those can have a massive impact on the challenge.”

Roughly a dozen hours was also the length of the previous game, Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince, though with Frozenbye suggesting the possibility of a longer runtime for its sequel, it should be interesting to see just how much bigger it turns out to be.

Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy is due out this summer for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Stay tuned for our full interview with Tuovinen.