Torchlight Review

 I'm not sure what just happened

So I started playing Torchlight about 3 days ago, I hadn't played an ARPG in ages and had only ever beaten the 2nd game, so I figure why not let's knock this thing out real quick.

I have done nothing but play Torchlight for 3 days.

This isn't going to be much of a review. My build was shoddy, the character I picked was weak, Torchlight 2 is better and the ARPG style of game goes way deeper than I'll be getting in to here. But as I barrelled through the ember mine, slamming spell after spell into hordes of foes. Instantly trashing 99% of the loot I came across to the instant vendor pet dog. Spotify blaring some random metal song in the background, more than anything else, I felt nostalgic for something I never personally did.

Diablo 2 is perhaps the most iconic example of the genre, but what always struck me as odd was the idea that some people can just play through the entire game without even realizing. With the same energy as binging a short TV series. This game with a myriad of gear upgrades, stats, skills, build variations and randomized dungeons and quests. You could just log in and start playing as easily as you could make a coffee.

I didn't grow up with Diablo, my own popcorn game vices fell elsewhere. But I kind of embraced that energy playing Torchlight. I wasn't really invested in the story, overthinking my gameplay, caring much about gear beyond some basic numbers and didn't bother to farm. I just turned my brain off, put on some tunes, and clicked my mouse approximately 5800 times. It was pretty fun.

Still stings when your theorized personal build can't actually hold up in the endgame though

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