Torchlight II Previews

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Written by WorstUsernameEver on May 24th, 2012

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Progression works much the same as before, but with updated skills and Fame points also make a return. Each class will have three extensive ability trees that will allow for some drastically different builds, while stat points can be assigned as you see fit. The interface is intuitive and organized with your backpack, as well as your pet's, being organized into tabs for gear, potions and spells.

Torchlight 2 will also offer much more variety in the environments you'll be visiting. Even in the first hour of the game, I encountered a number of different world environments and two distinct types of dungeon. A number of options for playing will be available to you as well, with offline single player, LAN and internet as your options when firing up a game.

The combat system's mechanics have been slightly improved upon, but the emphasis is more on a better interface which gives players an easier way to sift through their huge inventory of weapons, potions and accessories . As far as the combat itself goes and the amount of action you see, it's definitely is a bump in the excitement factor. Occasionally we came across a few stragglers hanging around that could be killed rather easily, but when walking into a new area we were suddenly attacked by many foes which actually was a good sign. The action in the beta was well-balanced this time around allowing us not to be bored with repetitive enemies. One the major additions to the on-screen combat meters is the charge bar. With the charge bar, players who hack themselves into a frenzy at a more frequent pace will see their characters perform at a higher level. Yes, your character turns into a mad man with a purpose. All four have distinctive abilities when their bars are maxed out, but more importantly all four deliver critical hits on their opponents. Seeking out enemies and forcing the action is the best way to take advantage of your charge bar because as you rack up the kills with it maxed out you'll be rewarded with class bonuses that help you gain experience and skill points. It's a nice addition to keep the player always in the mix no matter where they are in the game.

Before I leave the landscapes behind, know that Torchlight II has taken the same adventuring evolution seen between Diablo I and II. No longer confined to one collection of claustrophobic catacombs, Torchlight II has your hero traversing aboveground between locales, stumbling across occasional dungeons along the way. This modern structure allows for more meaningful side-quest distractions that are not completed over the course of single-minded gameplay. True, the original had similar side-quests in the form of scrolls which sent you to secluded small dungeon areas from town, but these optional endeavors are integrated seamlessly here.

Can I touch on how much fun I had yet? The gameplay in Torchlight II is truly unparalleled. Combat felt faster and smoother than its predecessor, and a new charge bar promises stat bonuses with continuous attacks to keep you on your feet. Your pet can once again travel back to town to sell any unwanted loot. Even this system has been improved, though, now equipped with the option for your pet to buy essentials like health potions or identification scrolls while gone.

Gameplay itself is wonderfully addictive, though a little boring on anything below Elite difficulty. Veteran proves a bit of a challenge, but mostly only in the sense that if you forget to keep an eye on your HP now and then, you might get roasted. Elite forces you to use actual tactics a bit, albeit simple ones.

The server browser is easy enough to use, and pairing up with partners is done via the use of portals, which works well enough. Lack of voice chat is kind of a downer, but text is there and helps some.

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