Torchlight 2 Review/First Impression

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"Years after the end of the original Torchlight, The Alchemist gets corrupted by the Ember Blight coming from the Heart of Ordrak, the evil being who had been the source of the corruption under the town of Torchlight, and then destroys the town. The player character takes on a quest to stop this villain, who is using Ordrak's power to disturb the balance between the world's six elements."-Wikipedia

Runic Games never sizes to impress me with its simple yet engaging and addicting games. Set after Torchlight 1, the player jumps right into action from the get-go as he journeys to best The Alchemist antagonist who is overcome with corruption.
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Brief Overview​

You have four classes to pick from:

Outlander

"Outlanders are nomadic explorers who search the world for treasure and hidden magic. There is no formal organization of Outlanders; they are former outlaws, thieves and pirates who have taken to collecting the world's ancient lore and forgotten artifacts."-
Outlander - Torchlight Wiki

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Berserker

"Berserkers are the most ferocious fighters of the Valgang tribes of the icy north. Driven by a hunger for fame and glory, they head south, seeking adventure. Berserkers draw power their from totem animals: Vur, the Wolf; Dralk, the Dragon; and Krax, the Raven."-
Berserker - Torchlight Wiki

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Embermage

"Embermages are highly-trained soldiers of the Empire who have studied the magical properties of ember and -- unlike Alchemists -- have learned to replicate its effects without actually drawing power from the mineral directly. Embermages are said to work closely with Vanquishers to crush the enemies of the Empire."-
Embermage - Torchlight Wiki

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Engineer

"Engineers are the technological experts of the Empire, and are responsible for constructing and maintaining its Herkonian Embercraft transports. They have come to the continent of Vilderan to help open up the frontier, oversee ember mines, and explore ancient dwarven ruins. As such, they have become honed warriors, taking up massive two-handed spanners as weapons and wearing Ember-powered armor."-
Engineer - Torchlight Wiki

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There are currently four difficulties: Casual, Normal (Default), Veteran, Elite, and Hard Core.

An additional difficulty, New Game Plus, allows existing characters to be brought on over from Torchlight 1 to Torchlight 2.

*NOTE* Enemies are upscaled.
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Pets & Companions​

There are several companion pets you can choose from. Each pet can carry your items to sell or hold. I assumed the pet would not be very powerful and die at the beginning, but I was proved wrong by the pure brutality and decent DPS the pet was able to put out at the beginning of Torchlight 2. As time progresses, you are able to give the pet fish which you can harvest from fishing holes scattered around Torchlight 2. When picking a pet, it’s important to know that the only difference between the different kinds of species you can choose from is purely cosmetic. However, you can give your pet collars which boost their effectiveness in battle. You can also set the pet to be in three modes: Aggressive, Defense and Passive.
"• Aggressive means the pet will seek out and attack any nearby enemies.
• Defensive means the pet will only attack if the player attacks or is damaged by an enemy.
• Passive means that the pet will never attack or cast spells. “-
Pets (T2) - Torchlight Wiki
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Socketables ​

"Gems (or Socketables) are items in Torchlight II, which can be placed into sockets in armor or weapons, enhancing them with additional enchantments. Each item may have one to five (or possibly six?) sockets, and certain specialized enchanters can add sockets. "- Gems (T2) - Torchlight Wiki

Socketables are like enchantments you can place on your armor and weapons that add extra damage points. For example, there are socketables that give +8 fire resistance and socketables that give +7 fire damage.

Socketables play an important part of the game for their extra protection and extra damage dealt and protection. Ultimately, socketables help you survive and thrive.
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Gameplay ​

In the beginning, the controls were familiar to me because I had already played the original Torchlight and the controls were the same. You use click-to-move to navigate your way around Torchlight 2 like you did in the original and you left click enemies to do a normal attack on them and right click to do a "special" attack on your enemies. You also have a skills bar in which you can place potions onto and of course, skills. You can place up to 10 skills/potions on your skills bar but you also can place two "special" attacks to Tab through. Runic Games has added a brand new feature, the charge bar. The charge bar slowly builds up during combat and once the bar has been completely filled, a specific class skill activates giving the player an additional advantage. I would have liked to see Runic Games incorporate the W, A, S, D keys for moving around and allow the user to rotate through skills on their skill bar using the mouse wheel. There was no real tutorial level where new users could build up and polish their skills which was disappointing. The controls are your typical hack-and-slash controls though, just keep clicking and you'll eventually win. The lore was forgettable but I didn't expect much of a lore anyways. I do wish that the inventory had more slots. Overall, I find the flaws easy to overlook and not a big hassle.
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Review​

Click, Click, Click! That was a familiar noise to everyone in my house that night as I sat at my computer screen, shooting skeletons and ratlins with my dual pistols as my pet bird swooped down from the sky and devoured my enemies. After finishing Torchlight 1, I craved for more. My craving has finally been appeased with Runic Game's Torchlight 2! However, have they completely satisfied my craving leaving me screaming for yet another Torchlight sequel? I think so! Here's why!

Upon starting up the game, I noticed the menu and UI were similar to that of Torchlight 1. Therefore, no major UI overhaul was done, nor did I desire for the UI to be changed as I thought the UI fit the game. However, when I went to create my character, I noticed the weak customization options that it offered. Although the customization options in Torchlight 1 were near none, Torchlight 2 has added three customization options: face, hair style, and hair color. You also have the option to name your character. Alongside, you have the ability to create a companion pet to fight alongside you as noted above in the Overview section.

The game’s graphics have been called “cartoonish” but the graphics felt just right for the game. The soundtrack you will hear throughout the game is astounding! Never does it get repetitive or annoying but rather it brings an effect on the gamer whilst playing. Although, I’ve found that the pet sounds can get irritating sometimes. For example, I choose the hawk as my pet and I became very irritated as it glides above my head gawking every twenty or so seconds.

It amazes me how fun such a simple game can be. Honestly, the only controls you really need to know are the left and right mouse button and some hot keys. Typically, you only really need to be eying three keys during battle. So again, how can a game involving so little controls and strategic planning and “cartoonish” graphics be so amusing? Well, that’s a good question! Unfortunately, I don’t have the answer. It just is! Honestly, I’ve been investing so many hours into this game that while I’m typing up this review, all I’m thinking about is how badly I want to get back into the game again.
However, there are still additional flaws visible within the game. I really would have wished for enemy circles to be bigger. When you’re fighting a large group of enemies, it’s hard to figure out who you’re attacking. Also, I would have enjoyed more dramatic cut scenes throughout the game. Overall, the cons are very easy to overlook. Especially when you’re busy hacking and slashing and button smashing all night long, eager to level up and obtain another skill.
There was not a single time throughout the game that I felt like I was grinding to level up. In fact, I thought Runic Games did an excellent job balancing the leveling system. The leveling system is neither hard nor easy but balanced. The wide varieties of skills you’re offered from three different categories are all unique and interesting as well. Each class receives three different categories of skills they can choose from and ultimately decide the outcome of how your character performs and behaves during combat.

Overall, I’ve had a very fun time playing Torchlight 2 and will continue having fun playing Torchlight 2 until I beat the game on every single class available. Runic Games has also stated that they approve and promote modders for Torchlight 2. Ultimately, this game is sure to bring the user back for more countless hours of fun. Honestly, I can see myself playing this game for many months to come. For a mere $20, I’m thrilled that I purchased this game and will certainly be recommending it to my friends and family.

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Tips & Tricks​

***TO BE ADDED AND UPDATED***​

If someone wants for me to add something, let me know!
If you want to compliment/criticize, post below!

 

Is it just me or it looks more of the same formula? I'm not saying it's not entertaining though...

Also only having to mind 3 buttons repeatedly doesn't sound a good feature... We had enough of dumbed down gameplay with D3, a monkey can play it, of so simple it is.

On ARPGs only Path of Exile does something fresh, with mechanics that require actual planning and a lot of thinking... I want a challenge (intellectual, not just increasing monster damage), not a zynga-like all-rounder...

 

It depends on your build. Depending on which skills you choose to have (whether you want to go all skills or masteries or other passives or combinations) you will need more than 3 buttons, obviously.

TL2 is very cohesive as a game. Everything is integrated together really well. It's hard to describe, but the challenge to me is all around you the minute you step in. You have to literally explore the entire map you're on to find the key and the locked chest, try not dying, find secret portals, phase beasts, saving money for gambling or transmuting later on, when to send your pet back into town (HINT: I try to do this when, 1) its inventory is almost full, 2) when the map is semi-cleared and I'm trying to walk to the other side that isn't explored that way by the time I see action my pet will be on its way back). It's not a very strategic game if that's what you mean. It's a true blue hack-and-slash game.

 

Definitely one of the best hack-and-slash games I've played in a long while. The loot drops are numerous and item variation seems innumerable so far. I'd even say it's a good alternative to Diablo III. I'm getting to a point in my life where I prefer a somewhat tongue-and-cheek atmosphere to the dark-for-the-sake-of-being-dark and violent atmosphere of Diablo, especially in hack-and-slash games.

Only drawback is I only had 2 hours of play before the wife got home - that and I'm starting to get carpal tunnel in my mouse hand

I also picked an Outlander.

 

Good to see another Outlander! As time progresses throughout the game, you start getting more and more hooked because of the skills you'll unlock which definitely add to the amusement of slicing and dicing through enemies.

The same formula to the original Torchlight? I'd say so. It follows the same formula as your typical hack-and-slash RPG as well but Runic Games has added their own special favor into this game ranging from the classes, weapons, and even graphics. If your looking for something that involves strategic planning in battles, you might want to go elsewhere. Honestly, I intend to leeroy through the entire game and so far, I've been successful.

 

I never allow a women to interfere with my game time Also are your sure its carpal tunnel? I thought I was getting that and it could just be cold mouse hand.

Saving this game for the M11x when I go away on business! Cannot wait.

 

Baka is interested in trying out the engineer ._. Baka has game but hasn't been in mood to play it yet