Because players can always buy their way out of a mistake the act of dying gives off a gacha-style mobile game feeling. Similarly, solo players can spend in-game currency to avoid death and respawn right where they were slain. In-game, there's a vendor that allows Torchlight 3 players to spend in-game currency to roll for random weapons and loot, despite the loot in the game being plentiful on its own. While the developer reportedly cut out of a lot of those earlier elements, the game still feels like an MMO. It's considerably better on multiplayer, but there's a strange divide between having characters who can do multiplayer and characters who can only do single player. It's worth noting that, before releasing in this state, Torchlight 3 was actually a free-to-play MMO called Torchlight Frontiers. Beyond that, though, Torchlight 3 has a variety of features that conflict with the very nature of the game.
Its classes are interesting, its gameplay is solid, its dungeons do their job, and the graphics stand apart from Diablo 3, Wolcen, and the like. However, it's worth noting that the basic components of Torchlight 3 shine the most. Whether it's a literal dungeon or the bigger map areas in Torchlight 3, the more inviting design helps the game stand out from its darker contemporaries.
The game's natural graphics are quite beautiful, and the artsy design of its dungeons strikes a nice balance. It wouldn't be a good isometric dungeon-crawler without interesting dungeons, and Torchlight 3 also delivers on this front. The standard controls do feel a bit clunky at times, but for the most part, this can be overlooked. There's just enough variety where it's fun, yet not so much that players will feel overwhelmed.
This mostly translates well to Torchlight 3's gameplay, which sees players click their way through a couple of basic attacks with several skills at the ready. Couple the various pairings here with one of Torchlight 3's pets that have a variety of buffs, and it's easy to get lost in building the perfect class. One Torchlight 3's Forged class may be healing itself while dishing out damage, and another could be doubling down on its already heat-oriented abilities with the "Flaming Destroyer" relic. This means that no two classes will play the same, as one Sharpshooter may unleash poisonous attacks and summon spiders, while another slows and freezes enemies with ice.
TORCHLIGHT 3 WORTH IT PRO
RELATED: 10 Pro Tips for Torchlight 2 on Switch You Should KnowĮach of these classes have two skill trees and a third unlocks depending on what relic players choose. The Forged is a robot not unlike a Dungeons and Dragons Fighter that can dish out serious damage.
The Dusk Mage has access to light and dark spells that rely upon and build upon the other, while the Railmaster delivers massive melee damage backed up by a literal train. The Sharpshooter is all about precision and controlling swarms of enemies. There are hints of the standard warrior-rogue-mage structure, but each class has its own flamboyant personality. There are 4 classes in Torchlight 3, each with their own unique qualities and playstyles. This shock eventually wears down, opening players' eyes to a beautiful game world, some unique class designs, and a solid dungeon crawler, but it must be said that the shock never fully goes away. This is mostly due to Torchlight 3's attempts to reconcile a lot of moving parts that, while delivering a mostly fun and workable experience, can feel like excess. Torchlight 3 opens up by forcing players into a conflict they can't fully understand, simply being told to immediately fight, kill, and run errands that ultimately don't make much sense.