Hands On: Torchlight 2 - PAX 2010
posted:
9/3/2010 7:51:00 PM
More On:
PAX 2010
Torchlight 2, the sequel to last year's sleeper hit, expands everything that was good about the original: new character classes, new maps, new enemies, and the sweetest feature of all: online cooperative multiplayer.
Hit the jump to see what Runic has in store.
Hit the jump to see what Runic has in store.
Following last year's sleeper hit Torchlight, Runic Games is stickin' to that old chestnut: if it ain't broke, continue to exponentially build on your success by improving on virtually every aspect of your game while providing a rock-solid point-and-click experience. What, you've never heard that one? It's a thing, I swear.
Torchlight 2 is a deceptively deep point-and-click adventure, with all the hallmarks of the genre: piles and piles of loot, 4 player classes to choose from, and sprawling maps connected by hub-towns, each with a different theme. But simply describing it doesn't do it justice: this is, in all fairness, a pre-alpha build, with two whole character classes not yet revealed and level designs/numbers not yet finalized, and it is still one of the most fun point-and-click RPGs I've ever played.
There were two playable classes on hand at PAX: the Outlander class, a marksman-style ranged character, and the Railman, a melee character who pounds enemies with a giant hammer; the character designs are heavily steam-punk influenced, and Torchlight 2 will also feature character customization, from gender to hair-style and color. Having tried both, the play styles are different even if the mechanics are the similar: you point and click to attack, right click for a special attack, and there are a variety of other powers and spells that you can bring to the battle. The difference becomes more apparent when you incorporate one of the most important new features: multiplayer.
Multiplayer monster-bashing will support up to 8 players (though that number is not set in stone) via a multiplayer lobby, and joining a game was remarkably intuitive and easy. Once you join a game the other players show up on your radar/map, and you go join the fight; it's just that simple.
Torchlight's mod community is very active, and Runic won't be leaving them out in the cold: yet again Runic will be providing the dev tools necessary to build your own levels.
Torchlight 2 is targeted for a Spring 2011 release for PC, with a Mac release following later in the year.
Torchlight 2 is a deceptively deep point-and-click adventure, with all the hallmarks of the genre: piles and piles of loot, 4 player classes to choose from, and sprawling maps connected by hub-towns, each with a different theme. But simply describing it doesn't do it justice: this is, in all fairness, a pre-alpha build, with two whole character classes not yet revealed and level designs/numbers not yet finalized, and it is still one of the most fun point-and-click RPGs I've ever played.
There were two playable classes on hand at PAX: the Outlander class, a marksman-style ranged character, and the Railman, a melee character who pounds enemies with a giant hammer; the character designs are heavily steam-punk influenced, and Torchlight 2 will also feature character customization, from gender to hair-style and color. Having tried both, the play styles are different even if the mechanics are the similar: you point and click to attack, right click for a special attack, and there are a variety of other powers and spells that you can bring to the battle. The difference becomes more apparent when you incorporate one of the most important new features: multiplayer.
Multiplayer monster-bashing will support up to 8 players (though that number is not set in stone) via a multiplayer lobby, and joining a game was remarkably intuitive and easy. Once you join a game the other players show up on your radar/map, and you go join the fight; it's just that simple.
Torchlight's mod community is very active, and Runic won't be leaving them out in the cold: yet again Runic will be providing the dev tools necessary to build your own levels.
Torchlight 2 is targeted for a Spring 2011 release for PC, with a Mac release following later in the year.
