Does this Definitive Edition truly make the grade for escape room adventurers?

CHECK OUT TRACE DEFINITIVE EDITION RIGHT HERE!

TRACE Definitive Edition returns, now remastered for a dedicated Steam launch. As a point-and-click adventure, the genre is often judged by the sheer ingenuity and satisfaction derived from its puzzles, and the quality of the world built around them. The core premise, waking up locked inside a curious cabin on a strange, desolate planet, is instantly intriguing, setting the stage for a solitary journey of item collection and cryptic problem-solving. The question facing every fan and newcomer is whether the enhancements justify the price of admission and if the deeper mystery holds up to the original’s promise. Does this expanded journey of point-and-click escape rooms offer the “Eureka” moments it suggests? Read on to find out!

Unravelling the Mystery

Players wake up in a locked environment – a curious cabin that eventually expands to a strange, desolate planet – and must interact with the environment to gather items, find clues, and ultimately solve a series of hidden, interlocking enigmas – your usual point-and-click type stuff. The story is an unfolding mystery; the deeper you delve, the more the world reveals itself, forcing you to witness reflections of a dark past to understand your current predicament. Most point-and-click adventures tend to be rooted in a deep story, but TRACE Definitive Edition seems to place the focus mostly upon the puzzles and mystery rather than a deep story.

Clever Connections and Devious Puzzles

As already alluded to, the core mechanic revolves entirely around puzzle-solving and item interaction. As a point-and-click game, your cursor is the primary tool for exploration, requiring an eagle eye to spot hidden items and environmental clues. Rather than simple puzzles in similar titles, TRACE Definitive Edition encompasses more complex, logical, and often spatial challenges too. The system allows for the ability to inspect an item while holding it, adding a layer of depth to item manipulation.

There are also several slide-out menu features and inventory-type tools, such as a drawer for said inventory, a camera to help keep a visual record of things, and finally a settings menu. Despite being intuitive – move up to open your drawer, right for the camera, and so on – these elements proved to be more of a nuisance than anything as I kept inadvertently activating everything as my cursor slid past them when I was navigating the screen. Perhaps a rethink of how these aspects activate is in order. The puzzles, however, are designed to deliver frequent “Eureka” moments, which is the cornerstone of a satisfying escape-room experience, and I can indeed confirm that they do just that, delivering on that front too!

Surreal Environment

Visually, TRACE Definitive Edition offers you a true treat, as you are immersed in a surreal 3D environment bursting with detail.Everything looks familiar, but in an alien sort of way, and that is remarkable. The sweeping scenery outside the windows is utterly stunning, and the elements that you interact with are equally detailed. The sound design is also on-point, with realistic sounds and background tones to help enhance the experience and immersion further still.

The Expanding World

The world expands as you play, revealing an intricate web of interlocking enigmas, offering a complete, cohesive experience. As there is an unfolding world of sorts, this inherently supports replay value for those who enjoy revisiting puzzles or attempting to understand the deeper narrative context more fully on a second run.

Conclusion

TRACE Definitive Edition delivers a sharp, challenging point-and-click adventure. The design places the emphasis squarely on problem-solving, creating a satisfying loop of observation, item manipulation, and that all-important feeling of breaking through a seemingly impossible obstacle. While the weak story and mildly frustrating menu and inventory options might cause issues for some of us, the journey through the surreal environment and its web of interlocking enigmas is a highly rewarding experience for fans of the genre.

Grade: 8/10 – Very Good