Titan Quest II Review Summary

A visually striking game with deep skill customization and engaging gameplay stumbles over clunky controls, poor optimization, and limited language support that dull its potential.

Visually appealing game: Many players appreciate the game's visual aesthetics, describing it as great and really nice. The visuals are a significant positive aspect mentioned frequently.

Engaging and interesting gameplay: The gameplay is highlighted as a strong point, with players finding it interesting and enjoyable. This aspect contributes significantly to the overall positive reception.

Potential for full release: Players see potential in the game for a successful 1.0 release. This suggests that while the game is good, there are expectations for further improvements.

New engine enhances world: The new engine and added content make the game world feel more alive. This technical improvement is noted as a positive change.

Regular updates with new content: The game is being updated with new content and classes, which is seen as a positive ongoing development.

Poor optimization and performance: Many players report poor optimization, leading to low frame rates, lagging, and overall poor performance even on high-end systems. This includes severe lag during battles and outside of battles, as well as random sharp frame rate drops.

Lack of language support: The game lacks support for multiple languages, including Russian and Spanish. This issue is compounded by the absence of translations and limited language options, making it inaccessible for non-English and non-German speakers.

Gameplay and control issues: Players report rough and inconvenient gameplay, with issues related to controls and mechanics. This includes problems with remapping abilities, controller support, and frustrating controller mechanics.

Lack of game depth: Players find the game lacking in depth and complexity, with very little content available. This includes a lack of achievements and a simplified leveling system, making the overall experience feel bland and tedious.

UI and inventory issues: The game's UI is criticized for being a downgrade from previous versions, with issues related to inventory management and item comparison. This includes problems with the sort button in the inventory and detailed descriptions of weapons not being available in other languages.

Skill system lacks clarity: Players find the skill system confusing and poorly explained, leading to difficulties in skill customization and assignment.

Reduced complexity and depth: Players feel that the game has been dumbed down, with reduced complexity and depth in various systems, leading to a less engaging experience.

Control issues affect gameplay: The game's controls are a major concern, with some players finding them unplayable and others reporting issues with specific mechanics like left-click move and attack.

Class selection and abilities: There are issues related to class selection, availability, and the abilities associated with each class, causing player dissatisfaction.

Loot and equipment system issues: The loot and equipment mechanics have been noted as needing significant improvements, with players reporting issues like weapons disappearing and a lack of cohesion in the loot system.

Performance and optimization issues: Many players report poor optimization, performance issues, and low frame rates. These problems significantly impact the gaming experience, making it less enjoyable.

Memory leaks and high resource consumption: The game has memory leaks and high GPU power consumption, leading to high temperatures. This can potentially damage hardware and reduce the lifespan of components.

Technical glitches and freezes: Users experience frequent freezes during movement and various freezing problems. These issues disrupt gameplay and cause frustration.

Lag and micro stutters: Players encounter lag and micro stutters during gameplay. These issues affect the smoothness and responsiveness of the game.

Visual filters and VRAM requirements: Some users mention issues with visual filters and high video RAM requirements. These can limit the game's accessibility and performance on certain systems.

Game not recommended currently: Many players advise against purchasing the game in its current state due to various issues such as control problems, lack of features, crashes, and performance issues. They suggest waiting for future updates and improvements.

Wait for full release: Several players suggest waiting for the full release of the game, anticipating that it will be further along in development and potentially offering discounts. They believe it might be worth trying again after major updates or fixes.

Language support lacking: The game is not recommended for non-English speakers due to the lack of language support for languages such as Korean, Spanish, and Chinese. Some players have indicated they will repurchase if language support is added.

Refunds and future purchases: Some players have requested refunds but may consider purchasing the game again in the future if significant improvements are made. They are willing to give the game another chance if their concerns are addressed.

Not for original fans: The game may not appeal to fans of the original Titan Quest but might attract younger gamers or those new to the series. Some players suggest trying other similar games like Grim Dawn or Path of Exile instead.

Community fair range: $24.00 - $30.00.

Game completion: 52.0h.

Story completion: 8.0h.

Session length: 2.0h.

Titan Quest 2 starts slow but becomes more enjoyable after the introductory phase or upon gaining new abilities, with pacing and combat flow improving as players progress.

Reported time to anchor: 1h 30m.

Friction: slow initial pacing; boring initial experience; lack of early combat impact.

Nostalgic Veteran: Exploratory and experimental with different play styles. Motivation: Nostalgia and future potential. Stance: sale.

Genre Explorer: Experimental and build-focused. Motivation: Exploration of new games in a familiar genre. Stance: sale.

Nostalgic Enthusiast: Exploratory and boss-focused. Motivation: Nostalgia and enjoyment of core gameplay. Stance: sale.

Performance varies significantly across hardware cohorts, with higher VRAM configurations generally experiencing more stability but still facing optimization issues. Lower VRAM and RAM configurations struggle more with consistent performance and stability.

Windows 12-15GB VRAM: mixed. Users report a mix of stable performance with some settings adjustments and significant issues like crashes and frame drops.

Windows 8-11GB VRAM: negative. Performance is generally poor with frequent frame drops, stutters, and optimization issues.

Windows <8GB VRAM / 16-31GB RAM: negative. Struggles with consistent performance, frequent crashes, and poor optimization.

Steam Deck: The analysis of user feedback for the Steam Deck experience of the game reveals several key issues. Controller support is present but not fully optimized, leading to a cumbersome experience in certain menus and actions. Performance and optimization are significant concerns, with many users reporting low FPS and the need for upscaling to maintain playable frame rates, particularly on the Steam Deck. The UI and text size are not well-optimized for handheld devices, making it difficult to read and navigate. Gameplay experience is generally positive but marred by frame drops during critical moments and challenges on handheld devices. Users have expressed hopes for better optimization and compatibility in the future, indicating current shortcomings in these areas.

Linux and Proton: The game generally runs well on Linux with many users reporting smooth performance and minimal issues. However, there are notable exceptions where users experience launch issues, performance problems, and graphical glitches. The overall experience for Linux users is positive, but there are some significant issues that affect a subset of users.

Monetization: Titan Quest II is generally praised for its avoidance of microtransactions and live-service models, which sets it apart from other games in the genre. However, there are concerns about the amount of content provided in the Early Access version and the potential for excessive DLCs. Overall, the game is seen as a good value for money compared to other titles with more aggressive monetization strategies.

External guides: The feedback highlights a mix of positive and negative experiences. Users appreciate the depth of gameplay and the lack of handholding, which encourages exploration. However, there are notable complaints about technical issues and the complexity of game mechanics, which sometimes require external guides or spreadsheets for better understanding.