Reader Review: Torchlight

E3-bridge-fight-troll-lavaDo you have what it takes to get a review published right here on Kotaku? Ben does, as he randomly generates 300 words all of which spell Diablo.

Yes, that’s right, we’re now publishing reader reviews here on Kotaku. This is your chance to deliver sensible game purchasing advice to the rest of the Kotaku community.

And thanks to the very kind chaps at Madman Entertainment, purveyor of all kinds of cool, indie and esoteric film, the best reader review we publish each month will win a prize pack containing ten of the latest Madman DVD or Blu-ray releases.

This review was submitted by Ben Latimore. If you’ve played Torchlight, or just want to ask Ben more about it, leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Torchlight (PC)

From (some) of the developers of Diablo comes a new dungeon-crawler in the vein of Diablo. (Note to self: How many times will I say Diablo in this?)

Loved

Plays like Diablo: While there are several changes to the gameplay, Torchlight plays a lot like Diablo — slug through a dungeon, level up, collect and sell loot, etc. While it may seem milked as a game formula, it’s still a lot of fun.

Massive content like Diablo: Torchlight has 100 experience levels for the three classes, several difficulty levels, randomly generated dungeons and lots of items to collect. To explore everything in-game, it’ll take a while. Like Diablo.

Accessibility like Diablo: The system requirements for this are absolutely INSANE. As in low. Nearly every new computer out today should be able to play it. Like Diablo. There’s even a Netbook mode. A NETBOOK MODE. THAT ACTUALLY IS MEANT FOR NETBOOKS. AND ACTUALLY SPEEDS THE GAME UP. And at $20, even the price is accessible.

Mods like Diablo: I understand this shouldn’t be here yet, as the editing tools haven’t been released yet, but several mods have been released already as proof-of-concept. And Runic is promising to release everything for the game for modders. Artwork, models and everything. Total game conversions will be possible. Diablo-style.

Hated

No multiplayer, unlike Diablo: Torchlight, unlike Diablo, is a single-player affair. No jumping in and helping your friend. Happily, like Diablo, Runic is making a Torchlight MMO, in about two years we’re going to have multiplayer anyway.

Torchlight is the formula for the perfect game — while the lack of multiplayer makes me sad, the price, content, accessibility and potential mod community will keep you satiated until Diablo 3. By the way: I said Diablo 16 times.

Reviewed by: Ben Latimore

You can have your Reader Review published on Kotaku. Send your review to us at the usual address. Make sure it’s written in the same format as above and in under 300 words – yes, we’ve upped the word limit. We’ll publish the best ones we get and the best of the month will win a Madman DVD prize pack.

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