Torchlight Review Page 2

04 Nov 2009 at 16:11:53 by Paul Younger
Systems used to review this title: (PC)

What’s great about Torchlight is the easy learning curve and the sheer pace of the game. Even the early levels have you fighting massive groups of monsters, and I did find myself thinking “Shit, I’m not going in there” on more than one occasion. Some areas can feel like a massacre as you unleash your skills into the pack, there’s stuff flying all over the place, bodies exploding and monsters teleporting around the room. It can get rather mental.

Having been an avid follower of Diablo 3’s development for a long time now, there’s a lot in Torchlight that ‘feels’ similar. Sure this game is more light-hearted in style, but even after the first mine levels when you enter the labyrinths, the scenery looks similar to what we have seen in portions of Diablo 3 gameplay . Runic has even got its monsters to come bounding over walls and up ledges as you traverse the walkways, a feature Blizzard was keen to point out in early Diablo 3 demos. 

Torchlight is a vibrant game with a rich palette that helps bring the levels to life, and the spells effects are highly colourful which gives a feeling of power with every one you unleash. Visually the game looks fantastic and Runic has gone all-out to make it as accessible as possible to all PC gamers no matter how old their rig is. There’s even a netbook mode which goes to show the development team are keen to get Torchlight everywhere.

What Runic has done very well is address many of the issues that annoyed Diablo players. A great example is the stash. No need for mules in Torchlight as there are two stashes, one for the character currently being played and another which can be shared between the  other characters you’ve created. Find an item suitable for your other character? Simply drop it in the shared stash, log off and then login with your other character to grab the item from the shared stash.

Included are four game difficulties from easy to the  most extreme Very Hard. In all modes you can select to have a single life and when you die that’ s it, “game over man!”. Anyone who played Diablo Hardcore will know it’s extremely difficult and adds a great deal of replay value, a factor not lost on the Runic team.  Replay value has always been key to keeping action RPG fans hooked, and pulling from its vast experience with randomly-generated dungeons in Diablo, Runic has ensured Torchlight will keep you playing as the levels change.

Similarities with Diablo don’t end there, and in what could possibly be considered a cheeky nod to the classic, there are many in-game sounds that sound oh so familiar. The sounds of weapons and scrolls being dropped and even the music harks back to Blizzard’s classic. Unsurprisingly, the music has been composed by Matt Uelmen, the very chap behind the original Diablo soundtracks. This was a great move on the part of Runic as the soundtrack is brilliant, adding a familiar and wonderfully nostalgic feel to the game.

While the lack of multiplayer may be a disappointment, Runic has a trick up its sleeve. The developer will soon release editing tools for the game which will mean fans will be able to create their own levels, thus increasing the game’s lifespan, assuming the editor is both accessible and versatile.  Torchlight modding may just catch on and keep the game at the forefront of action RPG fan’s minds until the next game in the franchise is released.

With Diablo 3 nowhere in sight, and a development team that obviously knows what the player wants from an action RPG, Torchlight is a great title, especially at the price point of $19.99 USD. The price alone makes up for the fact there’s no multiplayer.  This is a stand-out action RPG that’s both addictive and hell of a lot of fun to play, even if it’s only single player.  Runic Games, we salute you and we’re looking forward to what’s in store further down the line with Torchlight.

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