Titan Quest (PC)

While it quietly surpasses Diablo II and Dungeon Siege II in some key ways, Titan Quest still faithfully follows the core formula laid out to it by those games years ago. The good news is, it's the most polished hack-and-slash RPG yet.

One of the first bosses is a huge centaur warrior

One of the first bosses is a huge centaur warrior

Though graphics technology has advanced by leaps and bounds since 1999, no game seems able to truly surpass the experience provided by Diablo II.

Dungeon Siege II, for instance, came out last August. And though that game was a solid retread of the classic click-and-kill RPG formula pioneered by Diablo, it didn't really surpass the formula: it merely met it. It was an admirable game, but not a true classic.

Titan Quest goes one baby step further. The designers at Iron Lore, the studio behind Titan Quest, are obviously huge fans of Blizzard's seminal Diablo II, a game that has the reputation of being esssentially unmatched over seven years after its release. And the good news is, Diablo veterans will approve of many of the small gameplay tweaks and adjustments that have made their way into Titan Quest.

Like Diablo II, traps liven up some of the dungeon levels

Like Diablo II, traps liven up some of the dungeon levels

Myth Busters

Gorgons? Check. Harpies? Check. Centaurs? Skeletons that launch from the ground like that scene from Jason and the Argonauts? Check and check. Yup, folks, Titan Quest is set in ancient mythological Greece, complete with all the gods, demons, dieties, and grotesque monsters you can hack to pieces with a gladius sword. The storyline is some nonsense about titans -- those monstrously cruel rulers of early Earth -- who have escaped their prison to wreak havoc on mortals. The threadbare plot is stitched together by rambling, poorly acted monologues recited by various townspeople. It's all very disposable.

What isn't disposable is the addictive hack-and-slash RPG action. We didn't delude ourselves with Dungeon Siege II, and we won't start now with Titan Quest: at heart, Titan Quest IS Diablo II, right down to the subtlest details...even shared hotkeys.

The visual detail can be astounding -- look at the flies buzzing around the zombie

The visual detail can be astounding -- look at the flies buzzing around the zombie

But that's okay. Because the developers of Titan Quest are such obvious fans of Diablo II, they're included quite a few tiny touches and refinements that only huge Blizzard fans are likely to appreciate.

Key gameplay improvements over Diablo II:

  • Simpler potion drinking
  • No need for a Run button
  • Simpler item durability system
  • Streamlined town portal system
  • Instant respawns upon dying
  • Skill trees are more diverse
  • Weapon classes are more balanced

...and so on. To hardcore Diablo II fans, these changes will be welcomed with a sign of relief. But while Iron lore deserve kudos for the much-needed tweaks, it's a shame they didn't take more ambitious chances and really push the formula to new heights. On the plus side, if you liked Diablo II or Dungeon Siege II, you're sure to love Titan Quest. It is, after all, almost precisely the same game.

The grass pushes aside realistically as you pass through it

The grass pushes aside realistically as you pass through it

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