March 2011
Torchlight
Ok, to start I wanted to just write “Beyond Good & Evil HD” and be done with it, but I believe I already wrote a bit about the original so…new game highlight time! Torchlight isn’t a slouch of a game by any means. As a Diablo-like ARPG, I think it naturally lends itself to a PC setting where you can use a KB/M combo. The Xbox 360 port was handled quite well, they managed to squeeze the game’s control scheme into a controller which is always impressive. As far as general gameplay, you know what you’re getting into here. Lots of monster slaying, potions drinking, and loot collecting, with an extra side of inventory management. One innovation that Torchlight introduced was your pet which could take loot back to town to sell and whatnot. It wasn’t a terrific looking or sounding game, but it was fun to play. I definitely enjoyed replaying it on Xbox after dumping hours into it on PC. It’s not quite Diablo III on console, but it’s a good, cheaper alternative.
Shoutouts to Fight Night Champion, Beyond Good & Evil HD, Dragon Age II, Top Spin 4, Homefront, Full House Poker, Crysis 2, Lego Star Wars II, Shift II, and WWE Allstars.