Vlad_77's Blog

Blizzard ALWAYS says" "it'll be ready when it's done." So, Diablo III fans will have to wait at LEAST another full year. But, fear not intrepid dungeon delvers! New developer Runic Games has your fix and at a cool 19.99 USD your get a LOT of game!

Torchlight is a Diablo clone in terms of gameplay, and in fact the team that developed Diablo II is the creator of this wonderful bit of digital crack.

Is it derivative? Yes? But then again so is Diablo - it is derivative of such mainframe classics as Rogue, Hack, Moria, and others. Is Torchlight fun? You bet it is! If you like dungeon crawlers you are going to LOVE this one! The graphics have a sort of World of Warcraft look to them and the gameplay is simply superb.

Looking for a deep story? Well you won't find it in Torchlight. If you want that sort of thing - which is a GOOD thing - then snag Dragon Age: Origins. But for sheer monster bashing, loot finding joy, Torchlight delivers and is a wonderful to behold as a Koufax curveball.

I mentioned that you get a lot of game for 19.99 USD. The dungeon level of the main campaign are huge, and each "level" is multi-level. Also, as in the first Diablo, the dungeons are randomized so replayability as well as "farming" for better weapons will keep you coming back again and again. After you beat the main campaign, you unlock the infinite dungeon. Well, if any of you have played the rather charming "Fate", then you get the idea. In fact, some of the developers of "Fate" were also involved in the making of this little (?) gem.

Still not enough game for you? Okay, how about this?? Runic has included the very same editor it used to create the game's level's and is it very mod friendly.

Torchlight has a very nice leveling system and while the character classes differ at first, it is quite fun to do a buffed combination build. My rogue character has some serious magic skills as well as some considerable melee as well with the uber creamy cool Geomancer, a weapon that knocks the baddies halfway across the county.


Runic has taken an interesting approach in that they have released this game as single player only first. The multiplayer version is due for release in 2010. Still, there is SO much game here for a sawbuck that you won't miss the multiplayer.

It really is a fun game and accessible to all. Even your kids can play it. The monsters are cool, the controls polished so very well, and make no mistake, at hardcore level, this game gets VERY challenging.

There have been many Diablo clones. Some were excellent and received little attention such as Darkstone. Others are fun, like Loki and Legend: Hand of God. Titan Quest is, or WAS the best action-RPG Diablo clone. But, there's a new sheriff in town, and its name is Torchlight!