Torchlight II Preview

Gaming Illustrated is offering a brief preview for Runic Games' upcoming (next week, in fact!) action-RPG Torchlight II, which contains a look at the game's various features. Here's a snip:
Arguably the most anticipated feature of Torchlight 2 is the cooperative mode. This upcoming ARPG will offer a multiplayer option that allows gamers to play with friends via LAN or over the Internet for free. Runic Games has reported that there will be no subscriptions and no items sales for online play.

Torchlight 2 will have a free matchmaking service that enables players to team up with new friends and begin new games or join existing games with old pals. There will still be the offline single-player mode for those who prefer to lone-wolf Torchlight 2. Whenever you finally dominate the primary campaign, the New Game Plus feature will let you restart the game with your skill-loaded character. New Game Plus lets your character keep all their skill, gold, and gear and beckons you to try Torchlight 2 again with more difficult enemies and gameplay.

Some other features that may energize new and old fans are the TorchEd editing system and improved pets and fishing features. TorchEd is the Torchlight 2 editor that enables players to build their own mods. Players can design mods with more content and make the mod available for friends to download and play cooperatively.