We all love those classic RPGs from the 16-bit era, with games like Secret of Mana especially standing out. Trinity Trigger is a game that set out to capture the sense of nostalgia we all have for these JRPG and that is what this game delivers. Both the good and the bad.
Like that classic SNES game, Trinity Trigger sees you take control of three heroes, with you controlling one directly and either switching between the other two or playing with friends in co-op. The music is also similar to the classics, and many features call to mind the older game. It would not be a stretch, in fact, to say that Trinity Trigger is a spiritual sequel to Secret of Mana specifically.
Do not expect to see a deep and complex combo system or skill trees and unlocks, and many mechanics are a bit simple. You have your dodge, basic hit and special attack, but there are some other aspects as well. This includes the weapon wheel, which feels like an innovation on the title that inspired this.
Trinity Trigger has eight main weapons to use and learn about as the game goes on and the various characters can switch between these weapons quickly via the weapon wheel. Different enemies and bosses react differently to different weapons, so you will need to use a bit of strategy in order to find the best time to swap between weapons and go on the offensive. You can also upgrade the various weapons, giving them new abilities and enchantments and while it is not major, there is enough of a customization system here to give you a play style that you feel fits best for you.
Trinity Trigger has a basic setup of going to different areas and towns, some with a theme, interacting with people, finding things, stocking up and heading out again for more dungeons. This is not trying to be original at all and that is part of the point. Everything feels formulaic, but not in a generic way, and instead in the sense of intentionally trying to hit certain notes as if following an established plan, and done so well, that you cannot help but smile.
There are some hiccups with a stamina mechanic limiting how much you can attack enemies. Attacking too much drains the meter and causes you to do less and less damage, which can get extremely frustrating when dealing with certain enemies. The AI-controlled allies could be a bit better as well, and can sometimes get in the way, but it never feels too bad thankfully. And best of all, the online co-cop works perfectly, making fo a smooth and fun experience when playing with friends.
The action never gets overwhelming, and some of the bosses and dungeons are truly unique, but what stands out the most is the excellent art style. This looks and feels like what Secret of Mana would look like if it were made today, and the soundtrack is also a feast for the ears. This is helped by having composers who worked on JRPGs of the best, including Secret of Mana and as such, feels natural to the genre.
Trinity Trigger also has an interesting take on the narrative as our protagonist, Cyan, is marked to be a warrior of chaos, destined to battle with the warrior of order, and is attacked by assassins soon into the game. After this, he meets a woman who is seeking a different path and soon they join up with another in finding a new way to save the world. The narrative could easily be handled poorly, but here is where Trinity Trigger sets itself apart, as the game subverts some of the traditional norms and does go out of the way to acknowledge that things the situation is far deeper and more complex than the idea that order is good and chaos is bad, and the situation has more to it than everyone realizes.
Trinity Trigger is a special game that manages to do what so many others fail at. It is a spiritual sequel to a classic game and a throwback to the genre as it played in a specific era, and yet is extremely accessible to all and never ends up as too niche for newcomers to get into. What makes Trinity Trigger work though is how this was made by the developers of these classic games, who set out to prove this style still works today, and they were most certainly correct in that assumption.
Even with the flaws mentioned, this is a wonderful game and a must-play for any RPG fan. Indeed. this was made for fans, and the fact that it is also accessible for those new to the genre shows just how much skill the developers have when it comes to the matter of making games. This is an easy game to recommend, because it does so much right, by looking at what the past did right and building on those aspects specifically.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
