This article was produced in collaboration with our sponsor, THQ Nordic. Titan Quest 2 puts players back in the flesh of a mere mortal, in a battle for survival (and revenge) against none other than the Goddess of Retribution herself: Nemesis. The introduction to the game is quite exacting, and later it develops into one of the greatest turnarounds in a classic man-vs-deity plot.
This sequel brings all that classic ARPG goodness the genre so desperately needs, but players might get more than they bargained for when they dive into this action-packed game. Join us on a journey that started two decades ago and led to this moment: the birth of a new classic. Nearly two decades ago, Iron Lore Entertainment produced one of the most iconic ARPGs in the history of Gaming: Titan Quest, which was then followed by several expansions (Immortal Throne, Ragnarök, Atlantis, and Eternal Embers).
Players were enthralled by its colorful scenery, its original enemies that drifted away from the typical demons and other hellspawn, and its unique class system based on Masteries. But what makes this franchise so good that it enthralls everyone who plays it at least once? Good question, and to answer that, we will need to go back 20 years into the past, to the golden age of ARPGs.
Diablo 2 ruled supreme at that time, but other strong contenders (Loki, Sacred, Dungeon Siege II, and the first Titan Quest) were about to emerge. Among these and many other titles of similar scope and mechanics, only Titan Quest played the card of merging classic mythology with modern RPG combat gimmicks, and it was really a masterpiece. The story is about a single hero facing the resurrection of Typhon, one of the chained Titans, who intended to destroy Olympus and all the gods residing there.
The story took players across Greece, Egypt, and even the Great Wall of China, blasting dangerous creatures like Gorgons, Mummies, Vicious Neanderthals, and even Terracotta Soldiers. And here’s where it got fascinating: Players could pick a class (Mastery), then a second class, and combine their effects to become the ultimate champions. Titan Quest 1 quickly became a huge success, mostly because it had something that the rest of the games didn't have: Endless replay value.
Its RNG and itemization were superb; every Epic item had its own lore, and there was something truly special about Monster Items (which were only dropped by certain types of monsters), something that ended up being the trademark of the series and carried over to Titan Quest 2. Speaking of which, Titan Quest 2 is just what one could expect of a game that needs to fill in the shoes of one of the greatest ARPG titles ever made. It is fast-paced like modern games, but it has that unique mystique that can only be found in games that have a lore deeply intertwined with classic mythology.
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