As a result of I’m an ARPG enjoyer and a significant mythology nerd, Titan Quest looks like a recreation I ought to have been an enormous fan of. Sadly it got here out throughout a time after I wasn’t actually gaming, and by the point I acquired round to making an attempt its Anniversary Version, it simply felt just a little too dated to carry my curiosity previous the primary couple hours.
However the thought of a multiplayer-optional mythology-inspired ARPG stays deeply interesting to me, so when the oldsters at THQ Nordic supplied us the prospect to take a look at a demo construct of Titan Quest II forward of its early entry launch at the moment, I jumped on the likelihood.
The demo was fairly restricted in scope, that includes simply the primary hour or so of the story, nevertheless it was sufficient to get a primary really feel for the sport. As within the unique, probably the most fascinating characteristic is the flexibility to create your personal class by selecting two completely different masteries (talent bushes). You’ll get your first mastery fairly early on, and the second solely a short while later.
Not like the unique, there’s no have to spend your hard-earned talent factors to degree up the mastery itself. As an alternative, you’ll earn separate divinity factors to degree up your mastery and unlock increased tier expertise, which feels loads higher. You additionally get separate factors for energetic and passive skills, so there’s no want to decide on between unlocking a helpful however boring passive or a extra thrilling energetic talent. You will get each.
As you degree up your expertise, each energetic and passive expertise unlock slots for modifiers that may change the best way the flexibility capabilities. As soon as once more I really feel the necessity to level out that after all of the hate Diablo III‘s talent runes initially obtained, the idea has now achieved almost common adoption within the style.
You additionally get a couple of core expertise which can be separate from any mastery (a primary assault, a dodge, and a barrier defensive potential), and these too may be leveled up and modified.
You’ll additionally get attribute factors to spend on core stats. These decide what gear you possibly can equip, and every core stat is related to a number of injury sorts, so there’s a good bit of flexibility in what path you possibly can take your construct, nevertheless it’s not fairly a Wolcen state of affairs the place you have got whole freedom to mix any stats with any gear or elemental injury kind.
I actually like the best way the mastery system is about up. The power to mix any two theoretically gives a number of potential for enjoyable and quirky builds, and the choice to fit modifiers on particular person expertise can be an important thought. Nonetheless, the precise masteries and expertise themselves left me feeling a bit underwhelmed, and that was my largest disappointment with the present state of the sport.
A part of the issue is that there aren’t very many proper now, however they’re additionally only a bit uninspired. My choices within the demo had been Earth (which is definitely principally fireplace expertise with just a few earth-themed spells), Storm (ice and lightning), and Warfare (basic goal bodily expertise to help each melee and ranged playstyles). A fourth mastery, Rogue, will likely be included within the early entry construct launching at the moment.
None of those is dangerous, and I did have an honest time smashing enemies to a pulp with my brute pressure Earth/Warfare construct, however they’re fairly primary. I’d have appreciated to see a bit extra creativity.
Equally the modifiers you possibly can slot on expertise are often (with some notable exceptions) extra like minor tweaks fairly than one thing that utterly redefines the mechanics or visuals of the talent. I feel they’re taking part in it just a little too protected proper now. That is an ARPG, a style constructed on bombast and brutal spectacle; let me get loopy!
I saved discovering myself questioning why the masteries couldn’t be extra tied into the sport’s mythological inspirations. The story and visuals of the sport actually put you into the world of Greek mythology, however the masteries might have been pulled from any random fantasy RPG.
How a few mastery based mostly on Hephaestus that allows you to conjure weapons of molten bronze? How a few mastery that allows you to channel the spirit of the minotaur to crush enemies with brutal headbutts? How a few mastery round channeling the mad blood frenzy of the Maenads to spice up your assault pace?
The sport feels just a little too old fashioned in another methods, as properly. The participant motion pace is a bit slower than I’d like, and it makes issues really feel a bit sluggish. I additionally discovered myself very starved for power (mana) and needing to spam potions loads simply to maintain utilizing my expertise. I saved wishing my primary assaults might regenerate power; it’s not that completely different mechanically, however it could really feel extra heroic than consistently chugging Fantasy Gatorade.
The demo additionally solely had a single problem setting, and it’s unclear if extra will likely be added later. The unique Titan Quest had extra problem settings, however they had been accessible solely after finishing the marketing campaign. It’s pretty frequent for ARPGs to not have selectable problem, however I feel that’s a style quirk that’s lengthy overstayed its welcome. I truly felt the issue was very well-tuned — tougher than most entries on this style, however simply barely shy of irritating — however I’d nonetheless choose the choice to regulate if I ever really feel the necessity to.
Once more, I don’t want to ship the impression that I discovered the sport boring or disagreeable to play. I principally loved myself. It’s simply missing that little additional spice to actually take it to the subsequent degree.
On a brighter word, there are some good quality-of-life enhancements in comparison with the unique. Keyboard motion is an possibility for individuals who don’t get pleasure from click on to maneuver (although it’s set to the arrow keys by default, so that you’ll have to do some rebinding if you need precise WASD motion). Potions are refilled by doing injury, so there’s no have to maintain shopping for or looting new ones. The construct I performed was additionally very polished, with no noticeable bugs or different early entry jank.
I discovered the extra creative facet of the sport to be just about residence runs throughout the board. As I alluded to above, it captures the appear and feel of historic Greece fantastically, and the opening zone is a beautiful tableau of white marble cliffs, sun-drenched seashores, and good blue Mediterranean waters. Those that are fatigued of the grimdark ambiance of most ARPGs will discover Titan Quest II a breath of contemporary air.
What little I noticed of the story appeared fairly robust, too. It felt about as devoted to mythology as an action-focused online game is ever going to be, and I actually did really feel as if I used to be residing out some misplaced Greek fantasy as I discovered myself contending in opposition to uncaring gods and tragic prophecies. I bear in mind the unique being enjoyable however camp, however this looks like a extra devoted and mature tackle the supply materials.
A element I appreciated is that the sport’s compulsory historic ruins and mystical shrines are attributed to the Mycenaeans, which is a cool nod to actual world historical past and demonstrates a degree of analysis that a number of recreation devs wouldn’t trouble with.
The voice-acting was additionally fairly robust, and the music was good, if a bit too placid to be noticeable a number of the time.
Within the construct I performed, you possibly can select solely from one in every of a number of pre-made appears to be like to your character, however the information doc included with my evaluate key mentions {that a} full character creator will likely be added later in early entry. Based mostly on the number of pre-mades, it ought to have a number of depth of choices for an isometric recreation. Transmog can be on the roadmap for additional visible customization.
The data doc guarantees about 20 hours of content material within the preliminary construct, with main updates roughly each three months and smaller patches in between. Full launch is anticipated in late 2026, and whereas Titan Quest II is PC solely proper now, the 1.0 model can even launch on Xbox and PlayStation.
TQ2 is meant as a conventional single buy (with a reduced value throughout early entry), with no micro-transactions. Nonetheless, the builders are leaving the door open to paid expansions or DLC.
Total, my impression of TQ2‘s demo was largely constructive. It feels just a little undercooked in locations, however that’s most likely to be anticipated of an early entry title. I do hope the builders get just a little bit extra bold with their talent and mastery designs, however even simply including extra masteries as is deliberate ought to assist some. And when you’re a fan of the unique that simply needs extra of the identical with a contemporary spit-shine, I feel you’ll be very pleased with Titan Quest II.
