Anyone else got a email with code to enter the open beta?
What's your impressions so far?
Compare it to Diablo 3 (if you have it), what do you like or dislike compare to it?
Edit: My opinion of the game so far...
Only played TL2 Open Beta and D3 Open Beta.
Graphics
For me graphics is a matter of taste for each of his/her own. With that said, I do like the graphics of TL2, even though it looks alot cartoonish, it feels similiar to it's predecessor.
Comparing it to Diablo 3, I feel that D3 has a more grim a darker environment, which is funny as alot of people were complaining about rainbows and being to colorful.
The skills of both games are "colorful/flashy" and you can distinguish each skill from each other.
Story/Quest
The story picks up from Torchlight 1, nothing really complex about it, however it's feels almost too similar to Diablo 2. But as it's just the beta I can't really tell how it will be further down the line.
I did expect a bit more from TL2 storywise, not a rehash of D2.
Compared to TL 1, instead of one Dungeon (and one town), that you delve deeper down, it's a open world with dungeons scattered here and there and several towns that you'll visit.
You can choose to follow only the main-quest line if you'd like but occasionally you'll find a quest-giver in the open world next to a dungeon, which you can do.
A big upgrade from TL1, definitely something that I like.
Comparing it to D3, I'd say TL2 has more sub-quests, but they tend to be similar, aka go fetch something or kill this, get to pick your item reward. What I've noticed as well is that the NPC's don't interact as much (so far in the game) as in D3; were for example you wanted to rescue the Blacksmiths wife, and he ran with you and open the basement door and came down with you.
I presume it's the AI engines limitation...
Combat
In TL2, each class has a charge bar in the bottom middle of the screen that fills up when you use certain skills. When the bar gets a charge or gets full, a skill gets enhanced and more powerful, or you gain certain abilities; all depending on the class you play.
My initial reaction to it was good, but after playing a bit more, it feels that each class isn't as unique as i hoped for, also the fact that all uses mana bar for skills makes it even less.
Combat feels a bit clunky, I had a hard time targeting enemies, even after playing for a few hours.
I played on Veteran which is the second highest out of four difficult levels. Dying is almost non-existant due to chucking down health potions. You can spam as much as you want your skills for the same reason with mana potions, but later on that.
When you do die, you have the option of returning to Town without any loss or choose to restart on that level with some gold loss.
Gold is not a problem as the game gives you more then enough or just by selling items you don't need.
Basically I felt that there was no challenge in the game.
I do like that certain mobs use similar skills that you can obtain yourself.
And when they cast them you can see what it is. That ~should~ create a more strategical approach to the combat but I realized that I could choose to ignore it and just take the hits gulping down another HP pot.
So the combat is pretty straight forward; kill before getting killed.
Skill system
The skill system is similar to when D2 released and you can only refund skill points until level 10. So far in the game I've misplaced 3 points which I won't be getting back.
I can't say if there will be a skill refunder later in the game, so it's rather unforgiving.
Each class has 3 Skill trees which specializes on different things. Putting point in one skill will increase it's efficient, however I don't like that you can increase one skill 15(!) points. For me it feels too much.
There is no restriction on where to put the points if you have access to the skills, so if get to level 14 and unlock new skills, I can put points in tree 2 fresh lvl 14 skill, even if I have no points whatsoever in that tree. So basically you skip out on the bad ones and cherry pick the ones you think are best.
There are also waaaay too may passive skills in each skill trees.
In the end I'm just using one maybe two skills and then auto attacking the rest of the time.
Why? Because a lot of skills offers less then 100% of weapon damage, so why bother using skills when you do more damage auto-attacking? In the loot section further down splash dmg will be covered.
When you level up, as well as getting one skill point per level you also get 5 stat points which you can put into Strength, Dexterity, Focus and Vitality. Each gives extra bonus to certain things.
Strength increases crit damage and base damage
Dexterity increases crit change, dodge and fumble
Focus increases mana pool and execution skill (dual-wield; chance to hit with both weapons)
Vitality increases hp and block chance with shield.
As a Embermage you want to ofc increase Mana so you add mostly into Focus etc.
A thing to add is that items have now two requirements for usage.
Either you gain the required level or the required stat(s). This gives you the option to power-level your stats to gain a item earlier in expense to other stats.
Comparison to D3, you have way more chooses to make when it comes to skill. You don't get the option to hand pick which skill you want, but with the runes changing a skill, Diablo 3 offers more customization then TL2.
As of stats D3 doesn't allow you to customize your stat points as they are automatically assigned to you, but you don't really have alot of real choices in TL2 (like in D2) unless you want to gimp your character.
Loot
I'd say that the loot system is almost, if not the same, as in TL1.
And it seems far too random for me. Rares can drop from chests and regular monsters. When you encounter a rare pack, he can drop green and sometimes a rare, but even the rares aren't that good. Legendaries are best and I've had some from both chests and random mobs...
Comparing this to D3, you're out hunting for packs or just run minibosses/bosses to get the better loot. It's a more consistent drop system.
Runes in TL2 are like in D2 they give, +7 lightning dmg or 5% more goldfind etc. and can be socketed to the items.
Resistance for each element is ofc in the game and reduces damage from it.
The biggest issue I have and which irks me a lot, is that weapons do splash damage.
For melee it's every weapon, like sword, polearm, mace etc, ( except claws, but they ignore armor instead .)
For ranged the ones with splash weapon is shotgun and cannon. As I mentioned before; I was auto-attacking my way through the game due to this.
Character/Pet
Each class has a option of gender and can customize face, hair and hair color.
That's it. People are complaining that D3 has no customization, but I can say that it doesn't really matter, since in TL2, after gaining some gear you won't notice the difference between characters, since it will be all covered up.
Pets got a upgrade from TL 1. You can use it to sell items and now buy potions and scrolls from town, which frankly is awesome.
You can feed it fish to transform it and gain new abilities for a short duration and equip it with three items.
Now at the creation screen you have a larger pool of pets to choose from, which you can also get in different skins.
Conclusion
If I'd have to choose between Torchlight 2 and Diablo 3, I'd pick D3, due to my taste when it comes to gameplay, story etc.
However, with TL2 being mod-able, a lot of things can be change to your own taste.
Scrapping a lot of skills or making runes change skills, like in D3, giving more options.
It boils down to how good the editor will be though, but as it stands right now, TL2 doesn't add enough from TL1 to make it worthwhile for me.
If you got more questions, feel free to ask.
What's your impressions so far?
Compare it to Diablo 3 (if you have it), what do you like or dislike compare to it?
Edit: My opinion of the game so far...
Only played TL2 Open Beta and D3 Open Beta.
Graphics
For me graphics is a matter of taste for each of his/her own. With that said, I do like the graphics of TL2, even though it looks alot cartoonish, it feels similiar to it's predecessor.
Comparing it to Diablo 3, I feel that D3 has a more grim a darker environment, which is funny as alot of people were complaining about rainbows and being to colorful.
The skills of both games are "colorful/flashy" and you can distinguish each skill from each other.
Story/Quest
The story picks up from Torchlight 1, nothing really complex about it, however it's feels almost too similar to Diablo 2. But as it's just the beta I can't really tell how it will be further down the line.
I did expect a bit more from TL2 storywise, not a rehash of D2.
Compared to TL 1, instead of one Dungeon (and one town), that you delve deeper down, it's a open world with dungeons scattered here and there and several towns that you'll visit.
You can choose to follow only the main-quest line if you'd like but occasionally you'll find a quest-giver in the open world next to a dungeon, which you can do.
A big upgrade from TL1, definitely something that I like.
Comparing it to D3, I'd say TL2 has more sub-quests, but they tend to be similar, aka go fetch something or kill this, get to pick your item reward. What I've noticed as well is that the NPC's don't interact as much (so far in the game) as in D3; were for example you wanted to rescue the Blacksmiths wife, and he ran with you and open the basement door and came down with you.
I presume it's the AI engines limitation...
Combat
In TL2, each class has a charge bar in the bottom middle of the screen that fills up when you use certain skills. When the bar gets a charge or gets full, a skill gets enhanced and more powerful, or you gain certain abilities; all depending on the class you play.
My initial reaction to it was good, but after playing a bit more, it feels that each class isn't as unique as i hoped for, also the fact that all uses mana bar for skills makes it even less.
Combat feels a bit clunky, I had a hard time targeting enemies, even after playing for a few hours.
I played on Veteran which is the second highest out of four difficult levels. Dying is almost non-existant due to chucking down health potions. You can spam as much as you want your skills for the same reason with mana potions, but later on that.
When you do die, you have the option of returning to Town without any loss or choose to restart on that level with some gold loss.
Gold is not a problem as the game gives you more then enough or just by selling items you don't need.
Basically I felt that there was no challenge in the game.
I do like that certain mobs use similar skills that you can obtain yourself.
And when they cast them you can see what it is. That ~should~ create a more strategical approach to the combat but I realized that I could choose to ignore it and just take the hits gulping down another HP pot.
So the combat is pretty straight forward; kill before getting killed.
Skill system
The skill system is similar to when D2 released and you can only refund skill points until level 10. So far in the game I've misplaced 3 points which I won't be getting back.
I can't say if there will be a skill refunder later in the game, so it's rather unforgiving.
Each class has 3 Skill trees which specializes on different things. Putting point in one skill will increase it's efficient, however I don't like that you can increase one skill 15(!) points. For me it feels too much.
There is no restriction on where to put the points if you have access to the skills, so if get to level 14 and unlock new skills, I can put points in tree 2 fresh lvl 14 skill, even if I have no points whatsoever in that tree. So basically you skip out on the bad ones and cherry pick the ones you think are best.
There are also waaaay too may passive skills in each skill trees.
In the end I'm just using one maybe two skills and then auto attacking the rest of the time.
Why? Because a lot of skills offers less then 100% of weapon damage, so why bother using skills when you do more damage auto-attacking? In the loot section further down splash dmg will be covered.
When you level up, as well as getting one skill point per level you also get 5 stat points which you can put into Strength, Dexterity, Focus and Vitality. Each gives extra bonus to certain things.
Strength increases crit damage and base damage
Dexterity increases crit change, dodge and fumble
Focus increases mana pool and execution skill (dual-wield; chance to hit with both weapons)
Vitality increases hp and block chance with shield.
As a Embermage you want to ofc increase Mana so you add mostly into Focus etc.
A thing to add is that items have now two requirements for usage.
Either you gain the required level or the required stat(s). This gives you the option to power-level your stats to gain a item earlier in expense to other stats.
Comparison to D3, you have way more chooses to make when it comes to skill. You don't get the option to hand pick which skill you want, but with the runes changing a skill, Diablo 3 offers more customization then TL2.
As of stats D3 doesn't allow you to customize your stat points as they are automatically assigned to you, but you don't really have alot of real choices in TL2 (like in D2) unless you want to gimp your character.
Loot
I'd say that the loot system is almost, if not the same, as in TL1.
And it seems far too random for me. Rares can drop from chests and regular monsters. When you encounter a rare pack, he can drop green and sometimes a rare, but even the rares aren't that good. Legendaries are best and I've had some from both chests and random mobs...
Comparing this to D3, you're out hunting for packs or just run minibosses/bosses to get the better loot. It's a more consistent drop system.
Runes in TL2 are like in D2 they give, +7 lightning dmg or 5% more goldfind etc. and can be socketed to the items.
Resistance for each element is ofc in the game and reduces damage from it.
The biggest issue I have and which irks me a lot, is that weapons do splash damage.
For melee it's every weapon, like sword, polearm, mace etc, ( except claws, but they ignore armor instead .)
For ranged the ones with splash weapon is shotgun and cannon. As I mentioned before; I was auto-attacking my way through the game due to this.
Character/Pet
Each class has a option of gender and can customize face, hair and hair color.
That's it. People are complaining that D3 has no customization, but I can say that it doesn't really matter, since in TL2, after gaining some gear you won't notice the difference between characters, since it will be all covered up.
Pets got a upgrade from TL 1. You can use it to sell items and now buy potions and scrolls from town, which frankly is awesome.
You can feed it fish to transform it and gain new abilities for a short duration and equip it with three items.
Now at the creation screen you have a larger pool of pets to choose from, which you can also get in different skins.
Conclusion
If I'd have to choose between Torchlight 2 and Diablo 3, I'd pick D3, due to my taste when it comes to gameplay, story etc.
However, with TL2 being mod-able, a lot of things can be change to your own taste.
Scrapping a lot of skills or making runes change skills, like in D3, giving more options.
It boils down to how good the editor will be though, but as it stands right now, TL2 doesn't add enough from TL1 to make it worthwhile for me.
If you got more questions, feel free to ask.
