The fact that Titan Quest 2 exists is nothing short of a miracle. When the first part came onto the market in 2006, it was convincing with its innovative class system and the then-fresh setting in which you roam the mythical worlds of Greece, Egypt and the Orient. For a long time it was considered the best competitor to the then-dominant but already somewhat outdated Diablo 2.
But that wasn’t enough and the developers at the time were eventually shut down. Although some people from the old team successfully remained loyal to the action RPGs with Crate Entertainment and Grim Dawn, Titan Quest disappeared into obscurity.
At least until THQ Nordic bought the rights and revived the series. After new add-ons for the already ancient main game to test the waters, a proper sequel is now coming.
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Titan Quest 2: Pleasantly old-school gameplay
Greece in German
Since the original developers no longer exist, Titan Quest is now a German series. The add-ons were developed by Black Forest Games, and the real successor is now being developed by Grimlore Games. Strategy fans might be familiar with the name, as they previously developed Spellforce 3, which, after a few patches and expansions, is now a success, and in doing so, revived a game series that was long thought to be lost.
There were already some initial insights into the story and features when it was first announced last year. The goddess of vengeance, Nemesis, is the main antagonist in the game. Popular features from the predecessor are also returning. You will once again be able to put together your own hero class from two specializations. This also led to many opportunities for experimentation in the first Titan Quest.
The whole thing is implemented in the Unreal Engine 5, which is already flexing its muscles in the first real gameplay. The warm, Mediterranean setting comes across well and the landscapes impress with their many details. The world is built entirely by hand, so there will be no shortage of striking locations. For example, we see a kind of dam through which the masses of water rush down. The character models are designed with great detail.
Quelle: THQ Nordic
Together we are strong
The open world concept of the first part is also back on board. The idea here is to awaken the urge to explore. Verticality is set to play a major role in Titan Quest 2 (buy now). This way you will discover numerous hiding places for loot as well as quests and mini-bosses away from the main storyline.
As befits a proper action RPG, the camera shows the action from a top-down perspective as we fight our way through the hordes of enemies. The fight seems to be a bit slower than in Diablo, for example. The dodge roll, which is mainly known from modern representatives of the genre, also has its place. This makes the fight more tactical, which is another confirmation of THQ’s efforts.
Of course, this doesn’t make Titan Quest 2 a Soulslike. Quite the opposite, Titan Quest 2 has been wonderfully classic so far. There are no major innovations to be seen anywhere, but the developers seem to be concentrating on what made the first Titan Quest so much fun.
Source: THQ Nordic Special focus is placed on the enemies and bosses, who are all given special characteristics and attack patterns. It’s really cool that standard enemies are divided into factions. The different groups can then combine their different skills to annoy you a little more.
When asked, the developers explained this system to us using a fish-man faction in the game. Among other things, they have a magic class that can freeze you. If you’re unlucky, there will be a hunter who will then catch you in a net and hold you. He can also run you over.
That sounds mean, but there are of course ways to avoid these combos. You could teleport out of the net, for example, or you could have equipment that protects you against ice attacks. So you have to learn the different weaknesses and react to them. They should also have realistic loot with them. The rats that drop boots and leather armor shouldn’t exist.
