Where do I start with this one? Torchlight III has to be the biggest disappointment of 2020 for me and even though I like it more than Minecraft Dungeons it still made it higher on my list than it. Here’s why.
Unlike Minecraft Dungeons, I could actually have fun in Torchlight III. The problem in this game isn’t the gameplay. It’s everything else. The large sprawling maps of Torchlight II are gone and replaced by small, somewhat linear, lifeless environments with no soul. Torchlight III was originally Torchlight Frontier and Torchlight Frontier was originally supposed to be a free to play MMO complete with cash shops and microtransactions. This is not what anyone wanted and so Echtra Games decided to go back to Torchlights “roots” by making it an actual sequel to Torchlight II with online multiplayer as an option instead of it being the only way to play.
It also went from a free to play game to a buy to play one. The problem is Torchlight III is just Torchlight Frontier. Torchlight III added base building, smaller levels, a mobile-like progression system. As a matter of fact, while I was playing Torchlight III I kept comparing it to mobile games because it felt like one to me. The unlock system is very similar to other mobile games on the market, but instead of having to buy the upgrades, I got them for free. This sort of battle pass system should’ve never made it to the final game. Free or not all it did was slow progression and make the game feel lifeless.
There are even big buttons that you have to hold down on the UI which is exactly what you do in mobile games. It even looks like a mobile game. Torchlight III is a dumpster fire of a game with really good gameplay, but it having good gameplay wasn’t enough to save it for me. The skill trees have been neutered compared to past games and none of the skills I used outside of two or three looked cool. The visual feedback just wasn’t there for me. Playing as a mage was incredibly disappointing so I switched to the dude that has a mine cart following him around. A mage should have devastating skills that cover up entire areas. You know… as they did in Torchlight 2. It didn’t take long at all to get cool looking abilities in Torchlight II. You started the game with one and it just got better from there. In Torchlight III, there are one or two cool-looking moves and a bunch of shit ones. I would be here complaining so much if they at least performed well.
They don’t. I had to respec my character multiple times because most of the moves I tried were absolutely useless. I stuck with what worked. Building up my minecart and completely ignoring the melee skill tree. I ignored an entire skill in an ARPG game. I’ve never done that before. By the time I reached the end, I just wanted it to be over. I didn’t even play this with my wife (even though she really wanted to play with me) because I couldn’t stomach going through this game again. One time was enough for me. I went in with low expectations and it still managed to disappoint me. The way the world is designed screams phone game to me. The short zones, battle pass, simplified loot system (which is actually pretty cool if I’m being honest), etc. Torchlight III is a phone game that we were suckered into paying for and it easily earned the number 3 spot on my list.
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Top 10 Worst Games of 2020
Sword Art Online Alicization Lycoris
Hi,
I’m Omar. I’m the founder of drakulus.com and the new founder of Petescorner.net. I cover every type of game genre there is and I’m using all of the skills I learned over the last 7 years working on Drakulus to make Pete’s Corner the best it can be. My favorite types of games are strategy, RPGs, and Shooters. That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy other types of genres. Those are just my top 3. You can expect my brutally honest opinion on what I think of games in long reviews, editorial pieces, and game news coverage.
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