Titan Quest (PC) (page 2 of 2)

Particle effects galore -- Titan Quest's graphics crackle with detail

Particle effects galore -- Titan Quest's graphics crackle with detail

Diablo Does Delphi

Most of the most immediate changes have taken place on the sensory level. In fact, Titan Quest also deserves mention for being the first game to hugely out-perform Diablo II on a visual level. The game looks just sensational, making full use of the latest Direct X 9.0 shader effects as well as polygon-loaded environments that look on par with bleeding-edge PC shooters like Battlefield 2 and F.E.A.R. It's funny how much tiny details, like the way wheat stalks flex and fall away from you, can add to the experience.

Titan Quest supports dozens of class combinations, so you don't have to stick with just one mastery

Titan Quest supports dozens of class combinations, so you don't have to stick with just one mastery

Overall, the control scheme is tight and streamlined -- and definitely more intuitive than Diablo II's, we might add. But as with all challengers to Diablo II's throne, Titan Quest must ultimately be judged on the strength of its online community; after all, the Diablo series essentially started Battle.net as we know it today -- even Diablo II still has a thriving online community seven years after its launch. But because it has no central Battle.net-style gaming service, relying instead on deathmatch-style matchmaking, Titan Quest is unlikely to attract a loyal, long-term fan base. We're still hoping for the best, but developers should take note: for a game of this type, a central matchmaking service ala Battle.net is a must.

Click. Kill. Loot. Repeat.

Titan Quest is good, clean fun, and a good sight better than last year's Dungeon Siege II. But it can't be overemphasized: don't expect any drastic changes to the Diablo canon. If you're sick to death of Diablo II's reputation for mindless clicking, and long instead for a satisfying character-driven adventure, you won't have the strength to endure Titan Quest. But if you're dying for Diablo 3 and need a quick fix, this is SO your game.

Titan Quest truly out-does Diablo II on a visual scale

Titan Quest truly out-does Diablo II on a visual scale

The sleek mastery system is a definite improvement over Diablo II's cluttered skill trees

The sleek mastery system is a definite improvement over Diablo II's cluttered skill trees

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