History VideoGame / Torchlight

* SanitySlippage: Alric's journal entries become increasingly more unhinged as they go on, comments on his surroundings and musings on his condition gradually giving way to megalomania and fanatical veneration of Ordrak. Given that each one is presented to you as you reach deeper floors of the mountain, it's perhaps one of the most literal interpretations of "descent of madness" ever.

* SanitySlippage: Aldric's journal entries become increasingly more unhinged as they go on, comments on his surroundings and musings on his condition gradually giving way to megalomania and fanatical veneration of Ordrak. Given that each one is presented to you as you reach deeper floors of the mountain, it's perhaps one of the most literal interpretations of "descent of madness" ever.

In a surprise announcement on August 9th, 2018, it was revealed that in 2016 Runic Games founder Max Schaefer had founded a new studio, Echtra Games, during the development of ''Hob''. It was also announced that this studio was opened with the intention of reviving the ''Torchlight'' [=MMO=] idea with ''Torchlight Frontiers'', a new [=MMO=] entry in the series with much of the original staff on board set to release in 2019. Later however, the [=MMO=] aspect of Torchlight Frontiers was retooled into the traditional Torchlight experience [[https://www.torchlight3.com/en/news-article/11350673 now under the name]] ''VideoGame/TorchlighIII''.

In a surprise announcement on August 9th, 2018, it was revealed that in 2016 Runic Games founder Max Schaefer had founded a new studio, Echtra Games, during the development of ''Hob''. It was also announced that this studio was opened with the intention of reviving the ''Torchlight'' [=MMO=] idea with ''Torchlight Frontiers'', a new [=MMO=] entry in the series with much of the original staff on board set to release in 2019. Later however, the [=MMO=] aspect of Torchlight Frontiers was retooled into the traditional Torchlight experience now under the name [[https://www.torchlight3.com/en/news-article/11350673 Torchlight 3]].

* BrutalBonusLevel: [[spoiler: The Strange Land, aka the "horse level", accessible only via a scroll obtained by transmuting a set of items that can only be found through fishing. In a likely ShoutOut to the Secret Cow Level from ''VideoGame/DiabloII'', this area is filled with a few hostile horses, all typically well over level 1000 with millions of HP and high elemental resistances, and capable of dealing hundreds of thousands of damage per hit. However, each horse provides several levels of XP per kill and killing one champion will max out your Fame.]]

In a surprise announcement on August 9th, 2018, it was revealed that in 2016 Runic Games founder Max Schaefer had founded a new studio, Echtra Games, during the development of ''Hob''. It was also announced that this studio was opened with the intention of reviving the ''Torchlight'' [=MMO=] idea with ''Torchlight Frontiers'', a new [=MMO=] entry in the series with much of the original staff on board set to release in 2019. You can sign up for the beta [[https://www.torchlightfrontiers.com/en here]].

* "NounVerber TheButcher": This game re-uses the randomized boss naming conventions from ''VideoGame/{{FATE}}''.
** {{Narm}}: While this can lead to some pretty cool names, like "Throatchewer The Fierce," it also yields up such DoubleTake gems as "Facethrower" (faces probably throw about as well as an unfolded sheet of paper, [[FridgeLogic if you think about it]]) or "Axekicker" (oww!).
*** Given the frequency with which this occurs for bosses and weapons and the gag nature of many of the non-randomized weapons, this may well be deliberate. The ones that spring to mind are the [[Series/BattlestarGalactica1978 Galactic Battlestar]], and the [[LethalJokeWeapon Sword of Adam]] which improves many stats that don't exist in the game (like "Thinking with Logic Resistance") and [[TalkingWeapon randomly says "Wizzzaaaards!"]]
** Oh, and, it can also assemble names from a list of vaguely-fantastical syllables and a dash of PunctuationShaker. This can result in things like Al'az or [[LampshadeHanging Ran'dum]].

Torchlight was the launch title for the Mac OS version of UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, which may be part of why it's managed to sell over a million copies—a ''lot'' more than Runic expected. (It's also been pirated more than 5 million times in China, with Runic shrugging their shoulders and figuring there's NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity.) A direct sequel, ''VideoGame/TorchlightII'', was released, and a MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame was planned, but abandoned after Runic realized how complicated it would be to create. Their next project was more of a ''Zelda''-style action puzzler, ''[[https://www.runicgames.com/hob/ Hob]]'', which was was their last before their owners, Perfect World, closed the studio.

* {{Bizarchitecture}}: A major complaint towards ''{{FATE}}'' was that its randomly-assembled maps consisted mostly of tunnels that went nowhere. ''Torchlight'' averts this by randomly assembling pre-existing setpieces. The downside ''there'' is that you'll inevitably start seeing the same chunk-of-rooms again, but at least you'll know where all the hidden treasures are.

* GameMod: Plenty are available, as they were for {{FATE}}. (In fact, there's a Steam Achievement for having 10 mods running at once.)

* "NounVerber TheButcher": This game re-uses the randomized boss naming conventions from ''{{FATE}}''.

* PowerEqualsRarity: The "Artifact Equipment" idea from ''{{FATE}}'' shows up here. See also [SetBonus] below.

''Torchlight'' (2009) is an ActionRPG developed and published by Creator/RunicGames (composed of staff of the defunct Flagship Studios, who created ''VideoGame/HellgateLondon'', themselves having worked at Blizzard North, who created ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}''), with help from the guy who created ''{{FATE}}''. As such, gameplay is a mishmash of all those franchises: you move and select targets for HackAndSlash treatment with a mouse while the keyboard simply serves as shortcuts to various menus and abilities. You have a pet; there's a separate level tree for "Fame"; there's artifact equipment and [[SocketedEquipment sockets]] galore; you can retire your character and come back again as an offspring of said; and there's a bonus dungeon, with (theoretically) infinite randomly-generated levels, for you to mess around in if you'd rather keep playing after you handle the FinalBoss.

Torchlight was the launch title for the Mac OS version of UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, which may be part of why it's managed to sell over a million copies—a ''lot'' more than Runic expected. (It's also been pirated more than 5 million times in China, with Runic shrugging their shoulders and figuring there's NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity.) A direct sequel, ''VideoGame/TorchlightII'', was released, and a MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame was planned, but [[VaporWare abandoned]] after Runic realized how boring it would be to create. Their next project was more of a ''Zelda''-style action puzzler, ''[[https://www.runicgames.com/hob/ Hob]]''. It was their last game before their owners, Perfect World, closed the studio.

''Torchlight'' (2009) is an ActionRPG developed and published by Runic Games ([[TheTropeFormerlyKnownAsX the developer formerly known as]] Flagship Studios, who created ''VideoGame/HellgateLondon'', themselves the dev formerly known as Blizzard North, who created ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}''), with help from the guy who created ''{{FATE}}''. As such, gameplay is a mishmash of all those franchises: you move and select targets for HackAndSlash treatment with a mouse while the keyboard simply serves as shortcuts to various menus and abilities. You have a pet; there's a separate level tree for "Fame"; there's artifact equipment and [[SocketedEquipment sockets]] galore; you can retire your character and come back again as an offspring of said; and there's a bonus dungeon, with (theoretically) infinite randomly-generated levels, for you to mess around in if you'd rather keep playing after you handle the FinalBoss.

* BrutalBonusLevel: [[spoiler: The Strange Land, aka the "horse level", accessible only via a scroll obtained by transmuting a set of items that can only be found through fishing. In a likely ShoutOut to the Secret Cow Level from ''VideoGame/DiabloII'', this area is filled with a few hostile horses, all well over level 10000 with millions of HP and high elemental resistances, and capable of dealing hundreds of thousands of damage per hit.]]

* BonusDungeon: The Shadow Vault

''Torchlight'' (2009) is an ActionRPG developed and published by Runic Games ([[TheTropeFormerlyKnownAsX the artist formerly known as]] Flagship Studios, who created ''VideoGame/HellgateLondon'', themselves [[TheTropeFormerlyKnownAsX the artist formerly known as]] Blizzard North, who created ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}''), with help from the guy who created ''{{FATE}}''. As such, gameplay is a mishmash of all those franchises: you move and select targets for HackAndSlash treatment with a mouse while the keyboard simply serves as shortcuts to various menus and abilities. You have a pet; there's a separate level tree for "Fame"; there's artifact equipment and [[SocketedEquipment sockets]] galore; you can retire your character and come back again as an offspring of said; and there's a bonus dungeon, with (theoretically) infinite randomly-generated levels, for you to mess around in if you'd rather keep playing after you handle the FinalBoss.

** A pet that can take all your VendorTrash back to town to sell for you, instead of having to make the trip back yourself. (There's a PennyArcade [[http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/11/04 comic]] on the subject.)

* IReadThatAs: A constant threat, considering the game's modular naming conventions for items (and bosses; see below). Honorary mention goes to "Tribal Scutum". A scutum is the tall, rectangular body shield used by Roman soldiers. It is ''not'' a "Scrotum", unless your eyes are going.
** Nor is it ''s'''p'''utum''... although you'd be more likely to make that mistake with a "Spetum" (a medieval BladeOnAStick, also present in-game).

Torchlight was the launch title for the Mac OS version of UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, which may be part of why it's managed to sell over a million copies—a ''lot'' more than Runic expected. (It's also been pirated more than 5 million times in China, with Runic shrugging their shoulders and figuring there's NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity.) A direct sequel, ''VideoGame/TorchlightII'', was released, and a MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame was planned, but [[VaporWare abandoned]] after Runic realized how boring it would be to create. They have not yet decided on an actual next project, instead preferring to work on porting the sequel over to Mac.

* AwesomeYetPractical: The Alchemist's Ember Lightning. As long as you can mouse over a target, you can ''shoot through walls.''
** The Vanquisher Explosive Shot. ''BOOM!''
** The Vanquisher Frost Pilum. It's a fairly weak shot at first, but it can pierce enemies. Once it's upgraded a level or two, one shot can rip through half of a MookMaker's army.

* [[MightyGlacier The Destroyer]]: A heroic fighter who came from his home in the wilderness to Torchlight after hearing tales of it being plagued by evil. A pure melee fighter.

Torchlight was the launch title for the Mac OS version of UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}, which may be part of why it's managed to sell over a million copies—a ''lot'' more than Runic expected. (It's also been pirated more than 5 million times in China, with Runic shrugging their shoulders and figuring there's NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity.) A direct sequel, ''VideoGame/TorchlightII'', was released, and a MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame was planned, but [[VaporWare abandoned]] after the Runic realized how boring it would be to create. They have not yet decided on an actual next project, instead preferring to work on porting the sequel over to Mac.