In the world of indie games, some genres appear much more often than others. While this may not be the case for puzzle games, since even the usual number is decreasing yearly, it is definitely true for platformers and sidescrolling games. Tristoy is another addition to this very long list, but tries to innovate through a couple of neat features which do their bit to make it stand out, although not enough to take it to great heights.
Tristoy is the story of two characters, Freedan the prince and Stayn the wizard, who must adventure through a dungeon prison and escape. The game is a full co-op experience, which means that the game can only be played co-operatively with a friend. There are quite a number of options which permit co-op play, being the ability to play with a keyboard, using a controller, and even online through steam, even though the game itself recommends local play. The last and most innovative of the options is to play through your smartphone. This is thanks to an app made by the developers themselves called uniplay, which may be downloaded freely for iOS and Android devices and acts just like a controller, only with touch commands. Having all the options on a small screen is very handy for a platformer like Tristoy, but probably a whole range of games may benefit from this concept, and thus I strongly back the idea to be implemented in more games.
Basically, Tristoy plays like the majority of platformers in the way that you jump and bash enemies to kill them. Another unique feature of the game is the co-op element of the game. This is because while one player controls the prince, the other controls the wizard, and both have different abilities which are required to progress through the game. This is because while the prince dies relatively easily and forces a respawn at checkpoints, the wizard is virtually invincible, and even though he dies almost as easily as the prince, his death will not trigger the respawning at a checkpoint but instead he simply respawns in place. This is ideal for testing out new areas and letting the wizard die, simply because there will not be consequences for the party, unlike the unlucky situation where the prince dies. Trial and error is thus a concept which comes very early, almost immediately, into the game, and is one which will stick until the end, providing a new and rarely used mechanic in platformers, especially co-op ones.
As for commands, the one on the keyboard uses usual WASD to move but the action keys are tied to HJK, which will be awkward at first but will get used to it pretty quickly. One should point out that while both characters have an attack, only the prince’s is able to kill. The wizard can fire magic which will knock out enemies but will not dispose of them and thus the wizard must then approach and kill knocked out enemies. Again this emphasises the concept of co-op which is apparent through the game, and is a smart way to incorporate the need for communication while playing Tristoy. The game is also innovative through its implementation of split screen. The screen splits when the characters get too far to be represented in the single frame, but reunites when both are close enough. The screen splits also at an angle initially, so when a player is descending while the other remains in the same spot, the screen divides itself horizontally, while the split screen is vertical when both players are level.
As for visual style the game embraces a sort of old-but-new graphics, with the heavy use of dull colours, perhaps to represent the eerie feeling of being in this magical prison, and thus the feeling is conveyed very well. The animations of spells is also spot on, even when spamming magic attack after another. As what regards sound, the game incorporates a repetitive soundtrack which along with the visuals make the player almost feel inside the prison themselves. Voice acting from the characters is also neatly done, although I could not help myself feeling as if the dialogue is supposed to be funny the way it is acted out, but due to the circumstances faced in the game, it is a bit awkward.
Tristoy is a good game among a genre which is wilting a little due to the constant additions of games without there being one which stands out above the others. Tristoy certainly makes bold steps towards innovation with its smartphone playability and the co-op elements, as well as an interesting story which carries on through choices done by the player which build up slowly, but needs far more to reach the heights needed to shine above the rest.
Disclaimer:All scores given within our reviews are based on the artist’s personal opinion; this should in no way impede your decision to purchase the game.
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