Three Diablo Clones Reviewed

[GameBanshee News]

In preparation of Diablo III, 411mania.com has taken a closer look at three of the better Diablo clones that have been released over the past several years: Titan Quest, Sacred, and Divine Divinity.

Released in 2006, Titan Quest looks superb as it sports then-cutting edge graphics which are still good even by today's standards along with advanced bloom and lighting effects and of course my all-time favorite mechanic, ragdoll physics. Monsters go flying and guts litter the landscape as your hero cuts and explodes his way through the extensive campaign. Since the game is based in an ancient mythological setting, the monsters also follow suit. You'll face the tried and true undead hordes, but then go against more memorable foes like dragons, titans, Minotaur and golems. With the game's excellent graphics, these guys look great. The game does have a tendency to lag a bit though even on slightly more advanced systems. Poor optimization if you ask me.

Since Titan Quest takes after Diablo so well, the game's skill and level system will feel very familiar to you, but there are no set classes and you can invest in any skills you want. Upon reaching level two, you get to choose your first school of mastery and every time you level you'll get a few stat points as well. There are eight mastery schools in all and they range from elemental casting abilities like earth and nature to warrior masteries in damage and defense. What I particularly liked about the skill system is that it isn't as harsh as Diablo since at several points in the game you have the opportunity to reset your skills.

[Brother None]

Haven't played Divine Divinity, but I agree on the other two: Sacred just wasn't all that good and Titan Quest was as clone-like as you can get. Which didn't make it bad, just too similar for some people.

[Siberys]

Honestly I thought Sacred was a brilliant diablo clone that surpassed my expectations of a "Diablo-clone," and was better than Diablo itself.

And in divine divinity, combat was extremely slow and tedious. Half the time because of the perspective and shadows you're just looking for the doors and end up getting a fist full of monsters at your throat, causing your death. It was a challenging game yes, but when the first quest assigned to the main campaign has some fifteen to twenty level 2 skeletons going after your level 1 character, the scaling of enemies is just ridiculous.

Don't get me wrong, I hate scaling and love a good challenge, but the only other option to the game was going outside the gates of the first town, unprotected by anyone, fighting orc's which were usually twenty times more powerful than you and made the skeletons just look weak.

[GawainBS]

I played all three, and enjoyed all three of them. I do not agree that TQ was "as clone-like as you can get." At least, not more than any other hack-slash RPG.
DD doesn't really belong in this list though, as it focuses a lot more on quests and story than your usual Action-RPG.