Titan Quest II Review-in-Progress – BETTER THAN DIABLO IV?

It’s been almost 20 years since the first Titan Quest was released to us mere mortals, yet ARPGs have improved a lot since then. The genre isn’t anywhere near as ancient as Zeus, but does Titan Quest II do enough to stand out from the pack? Or will it get the big ol’ sack? Let’s have a gander.

Versatile Myths

One of the first things you’ll notice is just how easy it is to pick up and play, especially on a gamepad. The original was known for having… a few chinks in the controls department, but this sequel has come a long way. Sure, mouse and keyboard still win when you’re doing inventory Tetris or rearranging your skill tree like some ancient Excel sheet. Though the actual gameplay suits controllers just as well, with plenty of skill shortcuts and a very intuitive button layout and feel.

There’s something so satisfying about thwacking dudes with different skills and modifiers, as they keel over before they even know what’s hit them. From a total of 4 different Masteries, there are around 35 active skills, 50 passives and 300 modifiers to choose from, which is a pretty strong selection so far. I rolled with a Rogue/Earthbender hybrid that would make even the famous Melon Lord sweat. I just love how grand these skills come across, as they crash into enemies with a crunch that’s as nice as cracking open a tinny on a warm summer night. Ahhhh…

The bosses don’t mess around either. I mean, it’s called Titan Quest for a reason. But I do like how the game encourages you to stay on the offensive to earn health and stamina potions, as it turns each showdown into something akin to a big fat Greek wedding, where you can somehow see through crowds of people doing the Zorba. Except in this case, it’s giant gods poppin’ spells. The best part is, you don’t need a next-level PC that would rival Kratos to get high frame rates on epic settings. And while it did stutter at certain traversal points for me, it was nothing too major.

Straight Outta Olympus

Speaking of Greece, the ever-changing visuals and music are a feast—excuse me, “giortí” for the eyes and ears. Even though Titan Quest II is in early access, there are treasures, quests and happenings to be found all over the joint, with a fair mix of eldritch-looking monstrosities to rough up a bit.

That said, the amount of loot management is too damn high. There are chests that spout out so many bloody items that it lags the game and fills up your entire inventory in two seconds. Cue the comparison button, a trip to the closest portal and a huge dump of loot onto the nearest shopkeep. Every. 20. Minutes… Yikes.

The story is not good either. If I could sum it up in a shoddy Southern European accent, it’d be
“You DARE defy ze DIVINE? Now you shall DIE! AH! AH! AH!” It’s the kind of storytelling that uses plot purely as a vehicle. In other words: something you’ll forget about five seconds later. The voice acting is up to snuff, but from what I’ve seen so far, the fated battle with Nemesis will probably (definitely) fall short of the prophecy.

Decision

Titan Quest II hasn’t burst into pole position, but it’s polished just enough to keep things rolling. The combat’s a blast, the visuals are lush, and it plays great on a controller. However, it’s bogged down by a touch too much inventory clutter and a story that should’ve been thrown into the River Styx. Still, if you’re after a solid ARPG with fierce Greek flair and rewarding exploration, this one’s worth a crack. Just bring along your dusty loot bag and layers upon layers of patience for vendor trips on the regular. Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait too long for the 1.0 release.

By Anthony Culinas – Reviewed on PC

Unscored

Titan Quest II keeps the hack-and-slash fun alive with controller-friendly combat and crunchy skills that smack harder than a Greek god’s fist. While the loot explosion feels like opening Pandora’s box every five minutes, and the story’s as memorable as yesterday’s ouzo hangover, there’s enough polished ARPG action here to tide you over until the 1.0 version.

This game was reviewed using a download code provided by THQ Nordic. The Beta Network uses affiliate partnerships, however, this does not influence reviews or any other content published. The Beta Network may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links that are on the website.