Diablo 3 placebo needed

[Denithor]

You're gonna get zerged in TQ also, trust me.

Dungeon Siege + expansion I had lots of fun with years back. Today the graphics are probably total shit - DS2 might be somewhat better from that perspective.

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
The item system (completely random rares, uniques, sets. etc.) is what made the games fun for me.

Agree with this 100%. I totally wish Blizzard would follow this model in WoW but I suppose it might unbalance the game too much. But I remember spending weeks hunting for a King's Sword of Haste for my warrior on D1 (anyone else reload constantly in the city to change what Wirt had on offer?) and rolling through the same battlefields many many times in D2 looking for that last item to complete a set.

As a note - TQ follows this model exactly. A great mix of randoms and set pieces. You're going to want to install the TQ Vault mod that lets you pull items from inventory out of the game to store so you can collect all the parts of set gear.

 

[Danwar]

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky

Edit: I just watched videos for both Titan Quest and Sacred 2. In both, it really looks like you (mostly) focus on a single target at a time, rather than spamming Nova / Firewall / Whirlwind / Multi-Shot / etc. and taking out an entire horde in a few clicks. Is the combat generally slower-paced than Diablo II, or are there massive AoE spells or abilities later in the game? On the other hand, what's the item system like in each game... is it bland, or can you have powerful items with random stats dropping from time to time?

Titan quest (depending on the class you choose, ie any of the spellcaster classes) there are many aoe type of spells available and you can rip through hordes of enemies just like you did on Diablo 2.

and the item system in Titan Quest is 'almost' identical to diablo. you get the color coded quality items , white, yellow , green , blue , purple , depending on their rarity. they are mostly random drops , and there are also pieces that when worn together form a set. theres also charms and runes to put in items similiar to how you added gems in Diablo.

Titan Quest is so similar to Diablo (even more than sacred imo) that you could show the game to someone and tell them its Diablo 3 and they'd believe you.

 

[ibex333]

Originally posted by: JackSpadesSI
When Diablo 3 was announced last summer it was enough to get me back into Diablo 2 ? mostly for nostalgia?s sake. I played it for about two months and had fun, but I was sad at just now corrupted the game?s economy had become since I left it years before.

Blizzard is being SO stingy with Diablo 3 news and updates that it is driving me crazy. I?m feeling the itch for a fix, but I don?t think I want to go back to Diablo 2. It was (and is) great and all but I need something else? I need Diablo 3. Since Diablo 3 is probably a holiday 2010 release at best (it kills me to admit that) and a Spring 2011 release at worst I need something to tide me over.

I want a hack n? slash game with a high level cap and randomization on the maps and weapons. Platforms I own: PC and Xbox 360. Preferably the game would be at least semi-new. Is Sacred 2 any good?

Please help!

Sacred 2 is HORRIBLE. Don't bother with it. I spent most of my time wrestling with the camera and not really playing. The interface is clunky, and AI behavior is retarded. Enemies will often chase you forever, even into towns, past the guards, etc.. Ridiculous. Story is virtually non existent. Graphics are excellent though. Wasted potential. IMHO, the original Sacred was MUCH better. Play that instead, along with it's Underworld expansion.

Aside from that, I STRONGLY recommend:

1)Darkstone, if you haven't tried it already. (yes I know it's very old)
2)Fate (shitty graphics but very nice gameplay, very similar to Diablo. Pick the Dog though- the cat will drive you nuts with it's incessant meowing.)
3)Titan quest+Immortal Throne (Feels like a shitty game when just starting out, but gets much better very fast, and really grows on you. Please do yourself a favor and stay away from the easy to get hacks. Once you get all the best items and stuff, you will quickly burn out and you will miss out on a great game)
4)The Witcher (not exactly Diablo style, but still an awesome game)

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

I second Darkstone if you haven't played it. If I remember correctly it was released as a tide-over for Diablo II and it did the job well.

 

[Wheelock]

Titan Quest was a cool game, I own it and the expansion. But it was flawed. My problem with it was twofold:

• It lacked personality. This ranged from the quests and enemies themselves to the equipment to the little things, like the rather bland looking interface buttons/information boxes.

• Gameplay balance didn't feel very refined... melee characters were absolutely eaten alive by ranged attacks, especially later on.

 

[Dumac]

Originally posted by: Wheelock
Titan Quest was a cool game, I own it and the expansion. But it was flawed. My problem with it was twofold:

• It lacked personality. This ranged from the quests and enemies themselves to the equipment to the little things, like the rather bland looking interface buttons/information boxes.

• Gameplay balance didn't feel very refined... melee characters were absolutely eaten alive by ranged attacks, especially later on.

That why you use skills to close the distance, stun enemies, or heal.

I do agree about the quests, enemies, and equipment lacking personality. It's not like D2 where I get armor and think "this looks badass". Diablo 2 beats it in most regards, but TQ is still solid.

 

[matas]

I am playing Titan quest immortal throne. I am a level 11 pyro. The visuals are nice, but the gameplay not as good as d2. Isn't there are game called Loki? gonna google it, i think it is kinda like the d2 and titan quest..

 

[JSt0rm]

Originally posted by: ibex333
Sacred 2 is HORRIBLE. Don't bother with it. I spent most of my time wrestling with the camera and not really playing. The interface is clunky, and AI behavior is retarded. Enemies will often chase you forever, even into towns, past the guards, etc.. Ridiculous. Story is virtually non existent. Graphics are excellent though. Wasted potential. IMHO, the original Sacred was MUCH better. Play that instead, along with it's Underworld expansion.

to each their own but the camera is A and D to rotate around the character and W to move wherever you are facing. 1234 rotate combat arts and f1 thru f4 rotate weapons. pretty much all you need to know. M is map and right click and hold on the map to slide it around. C F and E are all the character screens.

story is what it is It's not trying to be more then a grinder thats what it is. Like D2. Character development was daunting to say the least and for sure takes some time to learn the ins and outs.

 

[coloumb]

Originally posted by: ibex333


Aside from that, I STRONGLY recommend:

1)Darkstone, if you haven't tried it already. (yes I know it's very old)
2)Fate (shitty graphics but very nice gameplay, very similar to Diablo. Pick the Dog though- the cat will drive you nuts with it's incessant meowing.)
3)Titan quest+Immortal Throne (Feels like a shitty game when just starting out, but gets much better very fast, and really grows on you. Please do yourself a favor and stay away from the easy to get hacks. Once you get all the best items and stuff, you will quickly burn out and you will miss out on a great game)
4)The Witcher (not exactly Diablo style, but still an awesome game)

I've seen FATE a few times on the shelf and thought it looked too much like a kiddie dungeon game [and looks a lot like WoW] - but it's cheap so it may be worth a try. Darkstone also looks very similar to FATE [graphics wise] - but not a bad thing as both are comparable to D1/D2.

TQ/Immortal Throne - :thumbsup:

Witcher - definitely a fun game [more so if you get the unrated sexified version] - but it was too linear IMHO.

Sacred 2 - I've only played the demo but had fun with it.

As usual - I'd say get all of the above if you can find them in the bargain bin so you won't feel too bad if the game isn't your cup o tea.

 

[Finalnight]

Dungeon Siege II

 

[CurseTheSky]

Originally posted by: Denithor

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
The item system (completely random rares, uniques, sets. etc.) is what made the games fun for me.

Agree with this 100%. I totally wish Blizzard would follow this model in WoW but I suppose it might unbalance the game too much.

This... oh my God absolutely this.

I've played WoW off and on since beta 2 (took a 6-8 month break a few months after release, came back after battlegrounds and played through MC / BWL / ZG / AQ20 / etc. / played through both expansions so far, etc.), and the one thing that doesn't make it a "great" game for me is the item system. I don't think ridiculously powerful items should drop anytime I'm out killing stuff in Icecrown, but having a a very slim chance of a any number of numerous Heroic Naxx or Ulduar-quality epics dropping from average mobs would be much more satisfying. Throw in some randomly-generated but still extremely useful lesser quality items (rares, sets) and runes / gems to improve your gear (non-crafted), and it would be like a whole new game. They had it nearly perfect in Diablo 2 (outside of massive amounts of Magic Find gear or repeated boss runs), why screw it up so bad in WoW?

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky

Originally posted by: Denithor

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
The item system (completely random rares, uniques, sets. etc.) is what made the games fun for me.

Agree with this 100%. I totally wish Blizzard would follow this model in WoW but I suppose it might unbalance the game too much.

This... oh my God absolutely this.

I've played WoW off and on since beta 2 (took a 6-8 month break a few months after release, came back after battlegrounds and played through MC / BWL / ZG / AQ20 / etc. / played through both expansions so far, etc.), and the one thing that doesn't make it a "great" game for me is the item system. I don't think ridiculously powerful items should drop anytime I'm out killing stuff in Icecrown, but having a a very slim chance of a any number of numerous Heroic Naxx or Ulduar-quality epics dropping from average mobs would be much more satisfying. Throw in some randomly-generated but still extremely useful lesser quality items (rares, sets) and runes / gems to improve your gear (non-crafted), and it would be like a whole new game. They had it nearly perfect in Diablo 2 (outside of massive amounts of Magic Find gear or repeated boss runs), why screw it up so bad in WoW?

My point exactly - why'd they take a nearly perfect model and fuck with it?

Add to what you said - wish there were some truly random item drops in the boss fights instead of everyone wears the same T7/T7.5/T8/T8.5 gear depending on how far your guild has progressed and how good your rolls are. Static items should only be from crafting and set pieces and there should be random drops that are potentially just as good to excite the "loot whore" in all of us.

Because for me that was 90% of the fun factor in D2 - wondering just what will drop during my next run. WoW - not so much. Mostly just a grind, unless I'm hanging with friends.

 

[Liet]

Originally posted by: Phew

I want a hack n? slash game with a high level cap and randomization on the maps and weapons

NETHACK is your game. 100% random maps, every game, so infinite replayability. No level cap that I know of, although you can 'win' (ascend), but few accomplish that. I came close once, in 100s of hours of play time.

It's perma-death with no save games (not without modding). You can save, but only for the purposes of resuming play later. Once you die, that's it, start over at lvl 1 with a new character.

Oh, it's 2D tile graphics (ASCII graphics if you're really hard-core), keyboard only controls, and no sound. Yet it's the best game I've ever played.

EDIT-Also, single player only.

Wow, thanks dude! I used to be ADDICTED to Moria when I was a kid. I still remember eating Slime Molds and whacking things with my Holy Avenger Javelin... Jebus. If I remember NetHack correctly, it was a bit more complex but very similar.

I'm disturbed at the built-in Ironman, though. When you've invested 40 hours in a character, it sucks to get screwed in a random encounter. Is there a way to turn it off?