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Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/7575
MacDirectory 135
GAME REVIEW
TORCHLIGHT > SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR DIABLO FANS
WORDS BY KEONI CHAVEZ
Torchlight is a game created by Runic
Games, which boasts in its company the
co-designers of Blizzard Entertainment's
Diablo, which will come as no surprise to
those who have already played it on the
PC. Torchlight plays as an extremely well-
streamlined Diablo, but it features its own
unique flavor that will endear it to fans of
Diablo and new players alike.
The gameplay centers around the
eponymously named town of Torchlight,
which sits above a vast dungeon
composed of many levels. The town is the
focus of mining operations for the ore
called Ember, which provides great
magical energy that powers items and
people, yet also ultimately corrupts all it
touches. As the player descends the
dungeon, he encounters layer after layer
of previous civilizations, each destroyed by
the use of Ember. It is up to the player to
discover the final source of this corruption
and save the town of Torchlight from
becoming nothing more than a historical
footnote.
The player takes control of one of three
characters: the Destroyer, a melée
combatant; the Vanquisher, a ranged
attack specialist; and the Alchemist, a
magic user. Each of these characters is
stock, and cannot be modified in any way
upon their initial choice, which MMO
players have become accustomed to
doing. As with Diablo, each character
bears his own branching set of skills that
the player may invest points in, which
unlocks special attacks and abilities which
will come in handy during gameplay.
One of the more interesting features of
Torchlight is the character's pet. The pet
may be either a dog or a cat, and the
player may name it whatever he chooses.
This pet accompanies the character
throughout the course of the game,
fighting alongside as the descent is made.
What makes this pet special is the depth
of its function.
The pet may be equipped with items like
necklaces and rings that will affect its
stats, to make it more effective in battle. It
may also be taught to cast spells, such as
the ability to summon creatures that will
fight for the character, or to heal the
character at need. The pet may carry
items as well, and has a number of item
slots equal to what the character holds.
What's more, the pet may be sent back
above to the town of Torchlight, to sell
your items for you, which is a huge
benefit, obviating the need for the player
to truck all the way back himself just to
make some money. It should be noted,
however, that while the pet is gone, the
player loses the benefit of whatever spells
the pet might cast during battle, so it's
important to choose the pet's departure
time wisely.
Finally, the pet's actual form may be
altered by feeding it different kinds of fish,
which the player must fish for in the
various pools found throughout the
dungeons explored. Each type of fish
changes the pet into something different,
like a large spider or a fire elemental. This
in turn affects how the pet fights, allowing
different strategies to be employed.
Unlike Diablo, there is no multiplayer
component to Torchlight, which might
be a factor weighing against it for some
people, but the game feels very
complete as it stands, especially
considering the $19.95 price that the PC
version commands, which will likely carry
through to the Mac version.
Unfortunately, the Mac port was
abandoned by its previous developer,
forcing Runic Games to look for another.
There is no current release date available,
but it will likely come out this year.
If you are a fan of the original Diablo, or even
if you've never played it before, Torchlight is a
game to watch out for in 2010.
Name Torchlight
Developer Runic Games
Web Site