Adventure fans unite! Not only do you have Dragon Age II to grind your sword with, but you’ve also got Runic’s follow-up to the Fate games on PC, but for download on the Xbox 360. Torchlight may not have the most original tale to tell, but when it comes to old-school hack-n-slashing, combined with loot collecting, it doesn’t get any better. If you haven’t played the Fate games (or the equally inspired Diablo series), don’t sweat it, as Torchlight is rather easy to get into. You choose from one of three warrior types – the vanquisher, the destroyer or the alchemist, each armed with their own abilities and talents. Each one is fun to play as, while you run through the tunnels of Torchlight, restoring a corrupted mining town from a fleet of monsters and the sinister forces driving them. The story’s not the heaviest thing around here, but the action more than makes up for it. As you proceed through the dungeons, you’ll gain the ability to skill up, so your attacks become even stronger than before. New items are also available depending on how well you “loot”, or ransack fallen goods from enemies.
Your ally, mainly in the form of a helpful canine or other secondary character, can power up as well, and they become quite useful as the enemy count grows in numbers. We like the dinosaur best of all, but the dog and cat serve their purpose as well. For a PC-inspired hack-n-slash title, Torchlight plays extraordinarily well with the Xbox 360 controller. You can easily map special abilities to your shoulder buttons, while retaining quick attack and other moves with your face buttons. Movement is swift and fast-paced, so you can easily rummage through secret rooms without losing track of where you need to go. The combat doesn’t change that far into the game, but the ability to evolve your techniques and powers goes a long way. You’ll go through the seven or so hours on the quest, and then embark on another one to see how a different character would fare. It’s good to see that level of replay value, because there’s not really much here outside of the single player quest.
Torchlight on Xbox LIVE Arcade doesn’t offer multiplayer of any sort, a big surprise considering how much Microsoft advertised this game across Xbox Live. Maybe an update or download pack can add a friend to the fray. Hey, it worked for Gauntlet, right? Torchlight looks like a winner. While the graphics aren’t heavily inspired like other top-down games, the dungeons look great, the character animation is solid and the attention to detail in some parts is pretty cool, especially the little glow left behind by the loot. Your surroundings start to look the same over time, but the introduction of new enemies is a nice touch. Audio consists of some solid dialogue, along with strong sound effects and decent music. Nothing amazing in terms of sound, but it’s hardly filler either. While multiplayer would’ve really pushed Torchlight to new heights, the game is no slouch as it stands. Fans of hack-n-slashers and role playing alike will equally come out in droves and make a $15 purchase., and deservedly so.
