[PC] Torchlight 2 (Review on pp5)

[CeeKay]

Spring 2011! time to finish the first.

[Isgrimnur]

I imagine they'll have a deathgrip on the market until Diablo III hits.  but I've been enjoying Torchlight the first.  Being able to do multi on something that's not an FPS would be a nice change for me.

[Blackjack]

I assume the Torchlight MMO is still planned? The problem with "peer to peer" (as with Titan Quest) is rampant hacking, cheats, etc. Maybe that's not quite so bad in strictly co-op (I guess the worst that happens is the game becomes too easy because everyone hacks their stats to the level cap, for example), but it tends to render loot and stats progression, and the like meaningless.

[Blackjack]

I imagine they'll have a deathgrip on the market until Diablo III hits.  but I've been enjoying Torchlight the first.  Being able to do multi on something that's not an FPS would be a nice change for me.

Cough cough *free Alien Swarm* cough cough... 

[jersoc]

i'll definitely get it. lots of good features planned and with MP no contest.

[EddieA]

This is the best gaming news I've heard all year 

[Blackjack]

We might as well paste in from the official site...
http://www.torchlight2game.com/

KEY FEATURES

    * Multi-player – Play with your friends over a local area network, or over the Internet. A free matchmaking peer-to-peer service lets you make new friends for exciting co-op play.
    * Customizable Characters – Players create and customize a character from one of four classes available and choose an animal companion. Through cosmetic, class, and gender choices, skill path decisions, and the treasures they acquire, each character can be custom-tailored to each player’s needs.
    * Moddability – Torchlight II will release with an updated version of TorchEd, the Torchlight editor. Players have the option to create their own mods, adding even more content to the world. You and your friends can download the same mod and play together!
    * New User Interface – Torchlight II boasts an entirely new, improved user interface, designed to be easier than ever for new players to pick up and play. Thanks to this intuitive interface, players have immediate access to a rich and varied world, with little experience necessary.
    * Overworld Areas – Torchlight II has large randomized overworld areas to explore with weather, time of day cycles, and random events that provide players with even more content to experience.
    * Random Dungeons – Delve into randomly generated dungeons within the game at any time for extra experience and rare loot. Dungeons in Torchlight II have even more branching paths to explore with friends filled with random events, rewards and dangers.
    * Retirement System – Once characters are sufficiently leveled up, they can “retire” and bestow specific benefits and perks onto new characters.
    * Pets – Players choose a pet to accompany them. Pets level up along with the player, and help in battle, learn spells, carry items, and perform a variety of support services.
    * Fishing – Fishing returns in the sequel! Players can take a break from the high-energy pace of adventuring to relax by one of the many fishing holes and see what they can catch. Fish have unique benefits for the player and pet, while a number of other rewards can also be discovered.

[Caine]

The overland stuff sounds like the change from D1 to D2. Sounds good to me.

[EddieA]

PCGamer has a lengthy interview with the developers.  They reveal two of the game's classes - the Outlander, a survivalist with ranged weapons and some magic, and the Railman, which is an "engineer melee warrior class".  There will be greater variety in the environments, and the game will feature random events scattered about the world, similar to Diablo 3.

[Eel Snave]

In. The first Torchlight was great fun.

[Canuck]

Out.  Either Torchlight wasn't good or I'm just not into those types  of games. Glad I only wasted $5.

[vizionblind]

Out.  Either Torchlight wasn't good or I'm just not into those types  of games. Glad I only wasted $5.

coming from a Canadian is no surprise

[Qantaga]

I'm really looking forward to this.
   
I'll be in Day 1.
 
I've loved everything Travis has done so far. Fate... Mythos... Torchlight. I've always found him to be very gracious whenever he pops up on forums or interviews. I'm a Day 1 customer of his for life.

[stimpy]

If they add the ability to rotate the camera, I will get it.
Otherwise.....out.

[morlac]

Out.  Either Torchlight wasn't good or I'm just not into those types  of games. Glad I only wasted $5.

Awesome, thanks for sharing.

[Harkonis]

Torchlight was cool, but I found I liked everything except the graphics better in Din's Curse.  Will probably pass.

[marcusjm]

With Diablo 3 coming I don't see this having much of a chance really. Especially since D3 like it's predecessors will set standards for clones to follow, better to wait a year
and then do the clone .

[CeeKay]

If they add the ability to rotate the camera, I will get it.
Otherwise.....out.

I think I could live without that.  I didn't even notice you couldn't do that in the original until you mentioned it.

[jersoc]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejqCZw4Mua4

trailer

[Azhag]

Well, considering Torchlight was essentially a tech demo to raise some cash for continuing development, I thoght it was awesome. I'm definitely in for the sequel.

[ANZAC]

All they need to do is fix the camera to rotate and zoom like the MOD did, otherwize a great little game.

[rittchard]

Multiplayer finally, sweet!!!  The only bad news is having to wait til 2011.  Grrrr.  Why is it taking so long for all the ARPG games that I like (D3, GW2, this one, Grim Dawn, etc etc) to come out?  

[EddieA]

Here's a gameplay video from Gamescom.

[Blackjack]

Here's a gameplay video from Gamescom.

The German guy is hysterically over-enthusiastic. It sounds like he wet himself. 

[CeeKay]

Here's a gameplay video from Gamescom.

The German guy is hysterically over-enthusiastic. It sounds like he wet himself. 

yeah.  silly German.


 

[morlac]

Well, considering Torchlight was essentially a tech demo to raise some cash for continuing development, I thoght it was awesome. I'm definitely in for the sequel.

I'm pretty sure that was Mythos.  IIRC Torchlight was designed from the get go to be a viable commercial product.

[CeeKay]

IIRC TL1 was put out to fill the time while they were working on the MMO version of it and also to help fund the mmo development. I wouldn't call it a tech demo but they probably used it as a test bed for ideas that will show up in the mmo.

[morlac]

IIRC TL1 was put out to fill the time while they were working on the MMO version of it and also to help fund the mmo development. I wouldn't call it a tech demo but they probably used it as a test bed for ideas that will show up in the mmo.

They have definitely switched gears then due to the high volume of sales as #2 is coming out and still not hearing much on the mmo.  Fine by me.

[EngineNo9]

I would assume this is another "stopgap" release to both satisfy fans and bring in more income as they develop the MMO.  It's not like you can do all of the backend for an MMO in a year, so it makes sense for part of the team to keep building content like this and build the fanbase in the meantime.

[jersoc]

MMOs are also very risky. Better to stockpile extra funds. With the recent development of major MMOs also going free to pay I'd imagine they are re-evaluating a lot of systems.

[EddieA]

According to IGN, Runic is planning to price the game at $20 again

[jersoc]

wow, i was expecting 30. that's great news.

[Caine]

or just wait for the inevitable $5 rolling steam/impulse/gamersgate/direct2drive sale

[CeeKay]

or just wait for the inevitable $5 rolling steam/impulse/gamersgate/direct2drive sale

that's what I thought, but I like these guys so I'm willing to pay full price so they get more money.  it'd be interesting to know how much they get paid when the price gets that low.

[CeeKay]

in a response to a joke made by Joystiq Max Schaefer said he believes they could have a Torchlight 3 out before Diablo 3.    I guess the race is on?

[Blackjack]

in a response to a joke made by Joystiq Max Schaefer said he believes they could have a Torchlight 3 out before Diablo 3.    I guess the race is on?

To my mind, Runic is the PT-109, and Blizzard is the USS Missouri, 16" guns ablazing. There's no question which boat has more power, but I would assume the PT boat can maneuver more sharply, run faster and probably reach its destination a little quicker.  

Navy Geeks know the Missouri had a top speed of about 33 knots, and PT boats of maybe around 45 knots.  

But like PT boats, I don't think Runic really wants to go toe-to-toe with a battleship.  

And really, I'm sure 249 RTSs released between 1998 and this year, and very few sold a fraction as much as SC2. Blizzard is certainly the tortoise, but the slowpoke journey for them usually ends up with a nice reward others are envious of.

[Isgrimnur]

But like PT boats, I don't think Runic really wants to go toe-to-toe with a battleship. 

Or even a destroyer (PT-109 joke).

[EngineNo9]

Well, considering that Diablo 3 is likely a 2012 game, it wouldn't surprise me to see yet another Torchlight before it is released. 

[Blackjack]

Well, considering that Diablo 3 is likely a 2012 game, it wouldn't surprise me to see yet another Torchlight before it is released.  

I bet by the time Diablo 3 comes out, Runic will have released a Torchlight prequel and a Torchlight RTS and a Torchlight FPS and a Torchlight iPhone App and a Torchlight Droid game and a Torchlight puzzle game and a Torchlight sidescroller and a Torchlight XBLA game and a...

Meanwhile, Ten Ton Hammer posted some Gamescome impressions too:
Lightning Strikes Twice – A First Look at Torchlight II
http://www.tentonhammer.com/torchlight2/previews/first-look

One of my favorite discoveries in the live demo is that the UI has been given a full revamp, making it much easier for players to quickly access important functions in the game. For example, in the original game your pet’s inventory would appear on the far left of the screen while your personal inventory would open on the far right. In Torchlight II both will open side-by-side which makes it incredibly easy to see what loot you’re lugging around and allows you to drag and drop items into individual slots between the two far easier. Call it what you will, but streamlined inventory management in this type of game is always a massive win in my books.

Speaking of pets, according to Wonder Russell, Minister of Culture at Runic Games, players can expect to see not only a return of their favorites from the original Torchlight, but a number of new pets will be added as well.

Another cool new feature is the ability to customize your characters this time around. While customization won’t be full of excessive amounts of sliders for things like tweaking the eyebrow to nose hair ratio, it will still give players new options for the basic appearance of their characters. Most notable among these options is the ability to choose the gender of your character which should be a welcome change for those players who want to play a particular class but don’t necessarily want that decision to dictate the gender of a character they’ll be playing for countless hours online with their friends.

New classes have also been added to the mix, as well as an updated version of the TorchEd editing tools. Not only will you be able to create your own custom maps in Torchlight II as you could in the original, you’ll also be able to share maps and play them with your friends online.

Last feature wasn't working in the Gamescom demo apparently. I guess the idea is to integrate it so you don't have to chase down map download files. Since I doubt they have the resources to set up their own battle.net equivalent, I'm curious how they'll handle that.

[CeeKay]

You forgot Torchlight the movie, Torchlight the Flamethrower and Torchlight the CCG.