Titan Quest

"Titanic Fun!"

I'd heard a lot about Diablo 2; how fun and addicting it was, but never bought it because it was rated M. When Titan Quest came out, I went and bought it as soon as possible because I'd heard it was very similar to Diablo 2 and rated T. While Titan Quest is, at it's base, and standard hack 'n' slash RPG, it's a very unique and solid one.

Graphics: 9/10

Even with the graphical settings turned down low so my aging computer can run this game, the visuals still look amazing. The 3D graphics are crisp, detailed, colourful, and varied. Even better, Titan Quest uses rag doll physics, which greatly enhances the fun factor. Do you have any idea how satisfying it is to do a "War wind" (A spinning attack) and see those pesky monsters go flying everywhere? One might slam into a tree and slide down while another could be knocked off a cliff, where their body will roll down it's face. With a few exceptions, most of the effects look very cool as well, such as an icy trail from a freezing axe, an electrical aura about your hands, or a thunderbolt from the sky. These graphics are top-notch.

Sound: 8/10

The soundtrack is one of the better ones out there, with very authentic, area-fitting scores. It give the game a very epic, deep, heroic feel. As for the voice acting, this is one of the few games that incorporates it everywhere. Some of the accents sound a bit corny and off, but they're still very well done. For example, there are a number of storytellers throughout the game who will tell you off the great myths and legends of the time...I've often become totally engrossed in those stories, they're so well told. My only complaint is that sometimes the sound cuts out for short periods of time. Annoying, but nothing major. Also, I found I couldn't play the game while listening to other audio on my computer - When I tried, it was very choppy.

Game play: 9/10

Seldom have I played a game so addicting as this one, though some argue that addicting does not equal fun. I'm here to tell you that Titan Quest is both addicting and fun. In the beginning, you can choose from eight masteries, then, at level eight, you can choose a second, creating your class. For example, I chose the warfare mastery, which made me a warrior, then, at level eight, I took storm as my secondary mastery, which classified me as a thane. The game involves going through a fairly linear campaign, completing side quests along the way, and collecting items, weapons, and armour, all while fighting scores of mythological beasts through ancient lands. Sounds pretty old and straightforward, right? Well, in a way it is, and yet, it isn't. I got right into the game and felt right at home but at the same time, it was unlike anything I'd ever played. One of the things I liked best was the item collection. It was unique, in that, there were several different classes of items. A rusty short sword in grey text - useless, a spiked mace in white text - Ok, nothing special, a Double Headed Axe of destruction in yellow text - Ooh...Nice, a Flaming Hooked Sword of destruction in green text - *Butterflies in stomach*, or, Frostbite, a chilling pick axe-type weapon in blue text - *Is in awe* The combat system was very detailed, with lots of different methods of fighting with lots of different attacks and buffs. The monsters were exciting, varied, and some were just plain cool - Like the Tiger men in China or the Centaurs in Greece. Yep, Titan Quest is one of the most fun games I've played this year.

Story: 8/10

One of the features that really makes this game stand out is its setting. There are far too many games out there set in the Dark Ages, but Titan quest takes place in ancient times in locations such as Greece, Egypt, Babylon, and China. The plot is that the Titans have broken out of their prison, where the gods had placed them when they had been defeated. However, the gods aren't answering the people's prayers, so it looks like it's up to you to stop the Titans and their monster hordes. Yeah...One man against thousands (I slew nearly 15,000 of 'em, by the way) of terrible beasts and their incredibly powerful masters...Sounds good, let's get hacking!

Length/re-playability: 8/10

I beat this game once on normal in two weeks, and it took me nearly 40 hours. So even though this game is still rather pricey, you'll definitely get your money's worth out of it. And I haven't even tried a new character yet or the game's two other difficulties...Not to mention multi player! When it comes to sheer hours of play, Titan Quest is hard to beat.

Overall: 9/10

What can I say? This game is titanically great in every aspect.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/09/06