Comments on: Titan Quest, because sometimes brains just need a break

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 22:51:50 +0000

Strangely enough, I remember the blue jewel now that you mention it. =/ It definitely felt different, but it’s hard for me to pin down precisely why.

You’re probably right, though, that most people who enjoyed D2 will enjoy TQ.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 20:10:44 +0000

Bildo’s right about the blue jewel, which confused me when I read your post, Aaron.

I agree with you on the mob deaths, though, they look too ragdoll-y (and, as I look at it, “raddoll” physics is one of the features the game boasts). The game is definitely slower-paced, too, especially in combat, and the graphics slow-down is horrendous in caves even on relatively nice hardware (GF 7800+).

I suppose I should change it from “anyone who liked Diablo 2 will like Titan Quest” to the more neutral “people who liked Diablo 2 may like TitanQuest.”

By: JoBildo

JoBildo — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 20:02:28 +0000

Aaron, you just have to press L or click the blue jewel in TQ to open a portal, anywhere. No scrolls needed or taking up space. You always have that ability and never need to find a portal to get back to town to sell.

If anything, it’s one feature that far outshines D2’s system.

But the thing for me that keeps TQ from being as engaging as Diablo 2, is that TQ’s “dungeons” are never different. Trek 2 or 3 or 4, will be the same as trek 1 with a differences only in the enemies and loot. The exploration is lost after the 1st trip through. That’s what I didn’t like.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 17:04:40 +0000

Actually, I’m a huge fan of Diablo 2 who bought Titan Quest months ago, and Titan Quest didn’t captivate me like Diablo 2 did. At first glance, yes, the two games seem to be alike in every way. But there are differences which make Titan Quest fall short.

Contact: When you strike down an enemy, it doesn’t crumple beneath your blow. Instead, the enemy bounces softly into the air like something between a rubber ball and a feather. Something about that fails to satisfy, and it might be that the enemy’s death feels unrelated to the killing blow.

Pace: Diablo 2 is a faster-paced game. NPCs move quicker, player actions animate quicker, and there’s less downtime. Diablo 2 provided portal scrolls to teleport back to town, sell your goods, buy new ones, then get right back to where you were. TQ’s more limited system of teleportation had me making boring treks back to shrines.

Dynamics: NPC heroes, equipable henchmen, and other dynamics were not copied in TQ.

Skills: D2’s branching skill system seems to have included more diversity in *visible* effect. There were fewer skills like “upgrade your sword damage” and more like “You used to torch enemies with a jet of flame; now roll a fiery boulder over them”. Qualitative over quantitative difference.

In some ways, Titan Quest was very compelling. The graphics and animations were good. But it just didn’t grab me like Diablo 2 did. Perhaps that’s mainly because D2 was the first game of its kind I played, and the first of a genre has special significance in memory.

In any case, I disagree that it’s exactly the same game and that anyone who enjoyed Diablo 2 will enjoy Titan Quest. I’m living proof that the latter claim simply isn’t true.