Sacred 2 lends credence to the claim that console ports in a genre normally reserved for the PC can work. In fact, with the exception of menu interfaces and loading times in towns, this is actually better than the PC version, if just for the fact that it didn't crash once during my combined 50 hours of playtime. More than just a slap-dash effort, Sacred 2 succeeds because of its rough, but focused and raw attention to the essence of its genre.
Pros:
+ Great hybrid of MMORPG and hack-n-slash
+ Map of epic proportions
+ Plenty of loot, skills, and combat arts
+ Ease of multiplayer
+ Free world mode
Questionable:
+/- Sorted lists vs. grid-based inventory system
Cons:
- Too many meaningless quests
- Unlocking three difficulty levels
- Various bugs and glitches
- Is higher regeneration time worth it?
The Koalition writes: "To be clear, this list is in regards to isometric-styled hack-and-slash action RPGs. If you've ever played a Diablo game or anything like that, then you have a pretty good idea. There are lots of games and franchises in this genre, but it also seems to be one of the most under-represented each and every gaming generation. Releases are few and far between, but each successive title seems to always garner praise and success. One of the most iconic franchises in all of gaming - Diablo - basically started the entire subgenre and it's still going strong to this day. With Diablo III finally set to release on consoles soon, I thought this was a good time to take a look back at all of the best the action RPG genre has to offer this generation."
Definitely looking forward to Diablo III on consoles. Very anxious to see what has been added and taken away from the PC version.
I enjoyed Torchlight 2 and Path of Exile should be on the list.
POE is very hard!
Dark Souls is not in the ARPG genre.
It has action of course but ARPG is something else.
Do explain sir...i've been calling them all Action RPGs up until now.
An RPG with real time combat...is what I have been calling ARPGS.
Good article. A bit sparse, it would have been nice to hear a bit more detail about each game instead of a short, basic description.
But good. I enjoyed the read.
Yeah more detail would have been better, maybe some information about *really* makes them different besides the setting and whatnot. It's tough to get too detailed and keep the list relatively brief, though.
Thanks for reading!
Author is it in that order?
If so I would pick Diablo 1,2,3 as first three. Everything else comes after.
This article was focused on only this generation of consoles as a year-range, so Diablo I & II were excluded :)
Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is made by an UK-based gaming company “Ascaron.” It Is a prequel to Sacred which sets about 2000 years before the events of Sacred, the prequel has a lot more than Sacred, but does that mean Sacred 2 can top off the Diablo series or It will just stay to the “Diablo Clone” status?
Digitally Downloaded writes: "So you might be playing Diablo III. Or you might be seeing the number 37 in your nightmares right now. But either way it’s hard to deny there’s a thrill to the hack-and-slash lootfests that the original Diablo made so popular, and has been imitated so many times since.
But perhaps you have an old PC, or you stick to playing games on consoles. Well, never fear, you can still be looting along with everyone else. "
This guy is screwed in the head, the best dark ARPG/hack n slash/dungeon crawler atm is Path of Exile and the only game that looks good enough to compete with it is Grim Dawn but that is not even in close beta yet, the games those guy suggest suck big time some of them look really horrible like they r from the 90's, article fail beyond measure.
After the IGN review I was skeptical of this game. I pre-ordered it from Best Buy with a gift card and reward zone certificate, so it didn't cost me anything. I ordered the PS3 version, which I hear has better graphics than the 360 version. I'm not looking for anything spectacular, just a hack-and-slash game to keep me busy since there aren't any this generation.
I miss Baulder's Gate: Dark Alliance. They should create a new game with the same premise and updated graphics. I truly believe that hack-and-slash RPGs have a devote following, however there aren't any this generation. Maybe a Champions of Norrath game for PS3. (I never owned a PS2 and didn't play the original but I heard it's quite fun)