Troll and I for Nintendo Switch stands as an ambitious but ultimately flawed attempt by UK-based developer Spiral House to deliver a heartfelt narrative adventure.
Released on August 15, 2017, for Nintendo Switch following earlier launches on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, the game sought to immerse players in a perilous journey through the Nordic wilderness.
Despite its promise of a unique dual-character experience, Troll and I falls short in numerous critical areas, offering an adventure memorable for the wrong reasons. The storyline introduces players to protagonist Otto, a young boy who forms an unlikely alliance with a reclusive troll after fleeing from hunters determined to capture the mythical creature.
The narrative aspires to explore the bond between Otto and the Troll, both outcasts struggling to survive, but falters due to a lackluster script and inconsistent delivery.
One early scene, where Otto is forced into violence to protect himself, is intended to be poignant but is undermined by wooden voice acting and abrupt gameplay prompts that clash with the intended emotional tone. Spiral House’s ambition to craft a meaningful relationship between two playable characters is evident in the game's co-op mechanics, allowing players to switch between Otto and the Troll to solve environmental puzzles.
The duo's cooperation—Otto scaling obstacles and aiding the Troll, while the larger creature manipulates the environment—highlights the potential for engaging teamwork.
However, similar features have been more successfully executed in other adventure titles, leaving Troll and I struggling to stand out. The game's design is complicated by numerous underdeveloped features.
Expansive skill and ability upgrades, weapon durability, and a crafting system quickly clutter the experience.
Upgrades rarely have meaningful impact, and crafting is reduced to assembling colored spearheads to bypass obstacles.
Additionally, the game’s stealth segments and combat encounters, especially involving goblin-like foes known as the ahky, feel repetitive and disconnected from the main narrative.
The lack of explanation regarding enemy origins further detracts from immersion. Combat remains unbalanced; Otto's improvised weapons appear ineffective compared to the Troll's brute strength, which can instantly neutralize threats.
While efforts are made to encourage separate gameplay sequences for each character, such as requiring Otto to venture alone, the core action soon becomes monotonous—including boss battles that feel tacked on rather than climactic. Technical performance is a significant concern on the Nintendo Switch version.
Players encounter frequent framerate drops, inconsistent audio, glitchy animations, disappearing icons, and unresponsive menus.
While post-launch patches, facilitated by publisher Maximum Games, addressed some complaints—most notably by improving the mini-map functionality—many quality issues continue to persist.
The use of low-fidelity assets and the unfinished feel of the user interface contribute to an overall impression of inadequate polish. Troll and I concludes on an unsatisfactory note, the narrative unresolved and hinting at a possible sequel.
While Spiral House’s desire to create an original intellectual property is commendable, the final product suggests that a more focused approach—prioritizing core gameplay and narrative structure—would benefit future projects.
For now, Troll and I on Nintendo Switch remains an example of how ambition, when unsupported by execution, can leave even promising adventure games lost in the wilderness. Version tested: Nintendo Switch.
Review copy provided by Maximum Games.
Released on August 15, 2017, for Nintendo Switch following earlier launches on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, the game sought to immerse players in a perilous journey through the Nordic wilderness.
Despite its promise of a unique dual-character experience, Troll and I falls short in numerous critical areas, offering an adventure memorable for the wrong reasons. The storyline introduces players to protagonist Otto, a young boy who forms an unlikely alliance with a reclusive troll after fleeing from hunters determined to capture the mythical creature.
The narrative aspires to explore the bond between Otto and the Troll, both outcasts struggling to survive, but falters due to a lackluster script and inconsistent delivery.
One early scene, where Otto is forced into violence to protect himself, is intended to be poignant but is undermined by wooden voice acting and abrupt gameplay prompts that clash with the intended emotional tone. Spiral House’s ambition to craft a meaningful relationship between two playable characters is evident in the game's co-op mechanics, allowing players to switch between Otto and the Troll to solve environmental puzzles.
The duo's cooperation—Otto scaling obstacles and aiding the Troll, while the larger creature manipulates the environment—highlights the potential for engaging teamwork.
However, similar features have been more successfully executed in other adventure titles, leaving Troll and I struggling to stand out. The game's design is complicated by numerous underdeveloped features.
Expansive skill and ability upgrades, weapon durability, and a crafting system quickly clutter the experience.
Upgrades rarely have meaningful impact, and crafting is reduced to assembling colored spearheads to bypass obstacles.
Additionally, the game’s stealth segments and combat encounters, especially involving goblin-like foes known as the ahky, feel repetitive and disconnected from the main narrative.
The lack of explanation regarding enemy origins further detracts from immersion. Combat remains unbalanced; Otto's improvised weapons appear ineffective compared to the Troll's brute strength, which can instantly neutralize threats.
While efforts are made to encourage separate gameplay sequences for each character, such as requiring Otto to venture alone, the core action soon becomes monotonous—including boss battles that feel tacked on rather than climactic. Technical performance is a significant concern on the Nintendo Switch version.
Players encounter frequent framerate drops, inconsistent audio, glitchy animations, disappearing icons, and unresponsive menus.
While post-launch patches, facilitated by publisher Maximum Games, addressed some complaints—most notably by improving the mini-map functionality—many quality issues continue to persist.
The use of low-fidelity assets and the unfinished feel of the user interface contribute to an overall impression of inadequate polish. Troll and I concludes on an unsatisfactory note, the narrative unresolved and hinting at a possible sequel.
While Spiral House’s desire to create an original intellectual property is commendable, the final product suggests that a more focused approach—prioritizing core gameplay and narrative structure—would benefit future projects.
For now, Troll and I on Nintendo Switch remains an example of how ambition, when unsupported by execution, can leave even promising adventure games lost in the wilderness. Version tested: Nintendo Switch.
Review copy provided by Maximum Games.
