"Titan Quest 2" played: "Diablo" competitor, made in Germany
The Munich-based development studio Grimlore is celebrating a successful entry into the Early Access phase with the action role-playing game "Titan Quest 2".
(Image: Grimlore)
This was unexpected: The early access version of “Titan Quest 2” was released during the THQ Nordic showcase. The Munich-based development studio Grimlore obviously hit a nerve with this, as according to official figures, 300,000 copies of the game were sold in the first 72 hours. Are fans in for a future “Diablo” killer?
“There are 'Diablo' clones a dime a dozen, but only a few have been convincing in the long term.” The cult hit “Titan Quest” by Iron Lore was different from Blizzard's top dog: colorful antiquity instead of a gloomy demon scenario, a free class system, and more tactics instead of wild mouse clicking. The Early Access version of the successor inherits the best features of its predecessor and offers around 10 hours of gaming fun, which will be expanded in the coming months. The final version is scheduled for release in 2026.
This time, too, players will land in ancient times. After the goddess Nemesis destroys Sparta in the intro, our hero lands on a foreign coast years later. No sooner has he helped a few inhabitants than the aforementioned Nemesis reappears and sets off in pursuit of him. No wonder, our adventurer is blessed with a few talents that could be dangerous for the goddess.
Tactics instead of action
What is noticeable after just a few minutes: “Titan Quest 2” discovers slowness in the genre. We don't have to constantly press mouse or gamepad buttons, nor are we attacked by hundreds of enemies. Compared to “Diablo 4,” the pace of the game is pleasantly different but not boring.
"Titan Quest 2" angespielt (5 Bilder)
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)Our hero is sent on an adventure by a talking urn, frees prisoners of a cult, and has to flee from the goddess's lightning under time pressure. The first two chapters cover the usual scenarios in the genre. From the island beach to dark caves or mountain peaks. Everywhere there are side missions or things to discover off the beaten track. Small switch puzzles provide variety.
Smooth gameplay
The game offers the familiar principle of fighting, looting, and leveling up. With each level up, the hero can distribute his skills and attributes across several talent trees. Magic and melee skills can be combined and offer room for experimentation without getting out of hand like in “Path of Exile”. Weapons and armor, on the other hand, offer few unique features. Spears, shields, swords, and magic staves are the genre standard, nothing more.
So it's off against fish people, spiders, or bandits. They usually attack in small groups and are then quickly mowed down by ice arrows or axe blows. Only with elite opponents or the few boss fights did we have to make several attempts during our hours of play. There was no frustration in this early Early Access version, as each death opens a portal that transports us back to the scene of the crime.
The game already looks mature. The controls guide us intuitively through battles and the detailed landscape. Of course, the Early Access version lacks visual variety. We would finally like to see a genre representative where unnecessary loot doesn't accumulate so quickly in the inventory. Fortunately, we can sort it automatically or sell the scrap at merchants in the settlements. But all that can still change.
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According to the roadmap, development studio Grimlore is planning major content updates for the Early Access version every three months, with new story chapters and character editors. The class system will also be expanded and additional languages added. Currently, players can only choose the English language version. Players can also look forward to co-op multiplayer, which can already be tested. However, a PvP mode is not planned. According to current plans, the final version will be released simultaneously for Windows and consoles in 2026.
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Interim conclusion
The Early Access version of “Titan Quest 2” is a promise for the future. It already offers a short but mature gaming experience. Genre fans in particular who find “Diablo 4” too hectic or “Path of Exile 2” too complex should enjoy this tidy adventure from ancient Greece. Of course, this early version lacks visual variety, and it remains to be seen how Grimlore will integrate new content, such as multiplayer, into the game. Several “Diablo” clones have already failed in this respect. The start is at least successful and whets the appetite for more.
“Titan Quest 2” has been released for Windows in the Early Access version. It costs around 30 €. The final version will cost around €50. USK not tested.
(afl)
