For all intents and purposes, Torchlight for the PC is like an upgraded version of Diablo for the 21st century, complete with very interesting 3D graphics. Graphics aside, it sounds like Diablo, with the sound effects and soundtrack a throwback to the earlier, late-90s classic.

It even plays like Diablo, a devourer of mice during its heyday; I should be scared since I’m using a trackpad to  play Torchlight. But anyways, the game generates a crazy amount of loot (ala Diablo 1) and coupled with the ability to add gems (from Diablo 2), well, you get an amazing Diablo clone.

Torchlight_logo

There are also a number of improvements to the Diablo formula. For starters, your character gets a pack mule, I mean pet, from the beginning of the game. Not only does it serves as an attack dog/cat, it doubles up as inventory space and you can actually place items in it and direct your pet to go back to town and sell them! Such convenience!

The UI also conveys information better and there’s an experience bar! The character types are somewhat similar, there’s the big guy, the magic guy and the stereotypical lady that prefers shooting from long range than getting up close and personal. A special note about the last character type, she uses guns! OMG! I love it when a game like this allows guns, heh, here’s a blunderbuss to your face demons!

Graphics wise, the game seriously looks like a Warcraft III mod, which is a good thing considering the amount of 3D work in the game. You get this cool “look into another level effect” that needs to be seen to believe.

Torchlight mimics the way Diablo 2 handle each story arc in which the levels can look radically different. One moment you are going through a dungeon, 20 minutes later you are in a swamp like place with plenty of frogs and snakes (they don’t bite) for company.

This is the game that brought me back to PC gaming over the weekend. If you haven’t check it out yet, you should, especially if you are looking to get a Diablo-like fix.