What about the story In Torchlight 2?

[Quantaltro]

When I played Torchlight 1 I enjoyed it for its gameplay and music. But the story was almost missing:
go to kill the evil one.

I know that this kind of games is not story based, but it would be really nice if the devs could introduce in the game a compelling story, with interesting choices to do and shocking events and so on.
I am not one of the lucky guys who were able to play the beta, so I don't know if there is actually a story driving our adventures through the game, so, if there is one I just hope It won't be too linear and simple.

[gold163]

It is linear and simple. Truthfully, that's the way I like it. Runic has stressed they are more about the action than RPG with TL2.

[Aaronjw]

While I wouldn't really call it a "story-driven game," the storyline is significantly more interesting than the first game. There are journals from the apparent villain, different opinions from different NPCs, etc. The side quests are definitely more interesting than Torchlight's "go to this dungeon and get me this piece of ember" and "go to this dungeon and kill this monster." As far as I know, you can't really make any choices that would alter the outcome of the storyline, but from the beta (as far as I know, this included the entirety of the first act), it did interest me and make me wonder what would happen next. This is, of course, an ARPG, and naturally the main point of the game is to kill monsters and get loot, but I don't think the storyline will disappoint.

[DarkTails]

Jist of it:

-After Torchlight 1 the Alchemist goes crazy and eats babies
-One of those babies survives and becomes your character
-You want REVENGEANCE!

And unless JDWiker himself comes on here and tells you otherwise, you can be 100% sure I'm telling you the truth.

[Shantu]

Jist of it:

-After Torchlight 1 the Alchemist goes crazy and eats babies

Spoiler: show

[Galaxor]

Most "true" RPGs doesn't even have a "good" story. Most of the "story" is random bullshit to distract from it, like grinding trough X dungeons, just to find the NPC you are looking for (because he just got missing) etc.
Not every game doesn't actually need to have a story. I am totally ok with a filler story like "kill the demon lord" for games, if they focus on the gameplay.

I hope Runic does some parts like in the older Zelda games. Like "free all 7 princeses, each of them is being held captive in different area". I like quests like this, where you can actually choose which area to do first

[gameqb11]

I hear what you're saying, but you have to just come to the realization that this in not an open world RPG. I wish it was though. I'd be in heaven if they combined TL2 with Kingdoms of Amalur. Hopefully their next project could be an open world ARPG with a good story and a huge world with some randomization.

[Zidders]

The story of Torchlight and Torchlight II
(to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVbQo3IOC_A

Just sit right there
I'll tell you how we got to the sequel-Torchlight, squared

In the dungeons below Torchlight was born and raised
a beast by the name or Ordrak who cursed their nights and days
Killin' em' spillin blood and eatin the town fool
And all shootin some fireballs now that ain't cool
With a couple of heroes
Who were up to doin' good
Heard about the trouble in the neighborhood
They got in boss fight after boss fight cus they weren't scared
And fought the demon Ordrak and vaporized him into thin air

But the curse still got worse day after day
the towns people got sick and mutated, oh no, no way!
The soldiers all got dissed and the good guys got told to stick it
So the three heroes said 'Let's find some evil ass and kick it'

the first class, the vanquisher, said 'yo this is bad'
'The corrupted embers taking over, dudes, and fast'.
Is this what the forces of the unLiving really look like?
Ewwwwwwwwwwww..that's just not right'.

'Now just hold on' said the Alchemist 'YOu can't mean that,
all this power comes from ember alone? If so, i'll eat my hat.
I don't think so,
I'll see when I get there'
I'll get to the bottom of the evil that spread from Ordraks lair'

Well, they started investigating the mines when all hell broke out
One of them went missing, his location in great doubt
Their great heroic work arrested
When they'd just gotten there
and in a haze of smoke and fire, one disappeared

A mysterious figure saw Ordraks heart and got quite near
Next thing you know the Alchemists gone, and there is much fear
Syl got hurt bad, someone needs to find evils lair
The Destroyer looks at you and says, 'Yo holmes, go there!

You'll get into the game after a near three years wait
In order to solve a mystery (like the games release date)
You'll save the world in Torchlight II
after having gone where only heroes dare
and enjoy the gaming with your buddies and all
the loot you'll share.

(original theme WB, lyrics mine)

[kaosweilder]

And I heard that in the writer's voice

[Galaxor]

I hear what you're saying, but you have to just come to the realization that this in not an open world RPG. I wish it was though. I'd be in heaven if they combined TL2 with Kingdoms of Amalur. Hopefully their next project could be an open world ARPG with a good story and a huge world with some randomization.

It doesn't have to be open world for that. I just meant smaller areas/parts of the game where you can do your tasks in your prefered order. This would work fantastically with the "more open world than TL1" aspect of the game

[BlondeKnight]

Hack, slash, fish, burn, freeze, shoot, your pet is fleeing, naked princess, loot, and hoard.

The End.

[jamesL]

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=29672

[ipodbud]

Props to zidders. That is all.

[Quantaltro]

A story, even in un ARPG wouldn't be a bad idea. It would make the gaming experience more immersive.

[Cactuscat222]

It is linear and simple. Truthfully, that's the way I like it. Runic has stressed they are more about the action than RPG with TL2.

But screw Blizzard for doing the same, eh? (I jest, I jest)

Honestly though, I prefer it this way too. I think it's really awesome when the story is basically told through the visuals and little things you can find - allowing you to sort of make up your own story of what happened and piece it together, which fits really well with creating your own character and background story!

Borderlands is a decent example - lots of people disliked the story, or rather, the lack of one. Without getting too deep into it, the dialogue was fine, but there was hardly any incentive to read the quest text or anything - most people just didn't listen to everything that was happening (you could argue that most of this can be attributed to delivery, which is very true, but that's a different topic).

However, the surroundings and environment are really what sold it. You could tell what happened to the world and its denizens just by observing it, you didn't have to be told it. You could find little hideouts out and about, and what lay inside them gave you just enough to piece together what happened - this was a bandit holdout that had an insurrection; this guy was trying to protect his family; this place was used as a shrine to some crazy god. Little things like that... and so far, TL2 seems to have lots of these little random events and doodads out in the wilderness that give me enough of an idea of what the area is (and was) about. I'm not being really articulate, but I think the gist of what I'm trying to say is there.

[Seer]

They've definetely built up the overall universe though, the setting I mean, which is a different thing from the actual plot.

[Zidders]

And I heard that in the writer's voice

Props to zidders. That is all.