Torchlight II Review for Nintendo Switch

Torchlight II, the sequel to Torchlight, developed by Runic Games releases is now available on the Nintendo Switch system, PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, and Xbox One. 

A fantasy RPG game, Torchlight II takes off after the previously playable character The Alchemist goes on a rampage after being unable to be taken down by powerful adversaries. In the wake of the destruction, you become a character trying to make sense of what is happening and in the end, attempt to defeat the evil that is corrupting your world.

In the beginning, a semi-interactive and personalized character creation section is available for players to make decisions about what they want their dungeon crawler experience to be.

Four choices for class, two for gender, and many different face/hair style choices. Pretty much your basic character creation options. For those more interested in getting to the gameplay of Torchlight II, there is an option to randomize everything and move on. There is also a section to choose your companion animal, which I must say was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make as a gamer (and I’ve played Detroit: Become Human). Do I want a fantastical rainbow unicorn, a sleepy panda bear, or the classical loyal wolf? (Hint: I chose the cute wolf).

The moment after creation, Torchlight II gives a quick explanation for your adventure and motivation, however I felt it lacked a clear narrative if you have not played the previous Torchlight game. Yet after this, the story took off quickly, throwing you into the ruined landscape with enemies approaching from every direction.

Without much orientation, I was left by myself (and my dog buddy) to figure out the controls and capabilities my character had. The mechanisms are very intuitive: as usual you have your health bar and mana bar for magical purposes and various other trigger buttons that you can program for either physical or magical attacks, or potion intake shortcuts. You find different clothing and weapons in your journey from either purchases or defeating monsters, and have the option to enchant or outfit the items to give them special attributes that make your character even stronger.

An aspect of the Torchlight II I appreciated was the fame portion of your experience collection. Along with leveling up normally, you also accumulate fame that makes you more well-known across the lands. Some games, even when you almost control the entire country, make you seem worthless and meaningless when you interact with NPCs (@Todd Howard).

The customization progress you achieve as your character gets stronger is a very interactive, intuitive, and strategic advancement system I enjoyed toying with as I decided what elements I wanted my character to encompass. This includes spells/skills and stats, as well as additional items to wear as you make your character more experienced. You can even dress your animal companion to give them better protections, which will make any pet owner very happy!

The dungeons you explore in Torchlight II are unique, ranging from forests, caves, ghost pirate ships, and more. The music is ominous yet inspiring, and the storyline threads all of these elements together nicely.

While a better explanation of how to play Torchlight II as well as a better interface when selecting your items and looking at your player’s stats would improve the game significantly, the overall quality of Torchlight II stands out, making Torchlight II a fun way dive into a world where you are a well-known hero who challenges danger in the face and comes up victorious.

END SCORE: 8/10

Check Out the Torchlight II Trailer:

Torchlight II is rated T for Teen and available for digital download worldwide on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 for $19.99.