A new PC game was released this week that received little fanfare or press. It’s called Torchlight, by Runic Games, and sells for a quite reasonable $20. What you’ll get for your money is a very polished, streamlined Action-RPG with detailed 3D graphics, excellent presentation, effective interface, superb sound and infinite re-playability. Sounds perfect. Also sounds a lot like Diablo.
There’s a reason for that. Several members of Runic Games once worked for Blizzard where they created Diablo and Diablo 2. Even the music sounds like the lost tracks of Diablo and once again there’s a reason for that: composer Matt Uelman, who scored both Diablo games, also composed the music for Torchlight.
So, for all intents and purposes, Torchlight is a Diablo-clone. Or Diablo rip-off. Or, if you’re in a kind mood, a Diablo-Homage.
Whatever it is, it’s every bit as addicting as Diablo, which is high praise indeed.
But, despite its polish and awesome gameplay, I can’t help but be troubled by Runic Games’ inability to branch out and explore new territory. I mean, there’s paying homage to your past work and then there’s outright plagiarism. But can the creators of Diablo actually plagiarize themselves? Is it even fair to call out Runic Games on this matter? By comparison, is it fair to trash Harmonix for making Rock Band, which is a rip-off of Guitar Hero, considering Harmonix originally created Guitar Hero?
In the case of Torchlight, I feel the designers stayed too close to Diablo. One aspect of this is the creatures you’ll fight, most of which you’ll immediately recognize. Remember those tribal headhunters in Diablo 2 that blew darts at you? They’re back, they just have a new name. In fact, just about everything in Diablo 2 is back, including socketed items, transmutation, Town Portals, chest stash, a vendor who sells mysterious items that may or may not be magical, random dungeon generator, skill trees, etc. You name it and if it was in Diablo, it’s in Torchlight.
This refusal to stray from what worked 10 years ago pays off, as it still works today and it remains just as addictive. But I can’t help but feel this queasy sensation about the developers. I can’t help but wonder if Blizzard is entertaining the idea of a lawsuit, the parallels are just so close. As if Runic Games is taunting Blizzard to come after them with lawyers in tow.
If you loved Diablo, you’ll love Torchlight. It’s that simple. You get a ton of game for only $20, though it doesn’t have a multiplayer component. Apparently, Runic is working on an MMO version of Torchlight that will bridge the gap. Assuming, that is, Blizzard doesn’t sue them out of existence in anticipation of Diablo 3.
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