Need a substitute for Diablo Immortal? Titan Quest, a classic action-RPG, is now on mobile

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SHOULD I PLAY TITAN QUEST: ULTIMATE EDITION?

If you’ve been searching for a microtransaction-free alternative to Diablo Immortal or are craving some old-school hack-and-slash action, Titan Quest: Ultimate Edition deserves a closer look. While this action-RPG definitely shows its age, it’s an addictive game that runs perfectly on mobile. I had a ton of fun fighting my way through hordes of monsters, picking up piles of loot, and building a character that was a perfect fit for my playstyle.

TIME PLAYED

I played around five hours of Titan Quest. While I was able to create two characters, I feel like I’ve only gotten a glimpse of what the game has to offer. Titan Quest has a massive world, and the Ultimate Edition of the game is jam-packed with side content. It’s the kind of game I could easily play for hundreds of hours or more.

WHAT’S AWESOME ABOUT TITAN QUEST: ULTIMATE EDITION?

• Tons of options for character customization. Instead of letting me choose from a handful of classes, Titan Quest allowed me to create a character build that was uniquely my own. Early on, I was able to choose one of nine masteries, which gave me access to a skill tree. Later on, I was able to select a second mastery, allowing me to mix and match different skills. This system allows for incredibly deep character customization, and I had a blast trying out different builds.

• Smooth mobile gameplay. Titan Quest originally came out on PC in 2006, but the current version really feels like it was designed for mobile devices. I don’t always love using a virtual joystick and action buttons, but the movement and combat feels absolutely seamless. Titan Quest also swaps out the original game’s point-and-click interface for touchscreen controls, which makes inventory management and skill upgrades a breeze. My 3rd generation iPhone SE has a tiny 4.7” screen, but I didn’t have any trouble following the action.

• It’s packed with content. Titan Quest: Ultimate Edition is a little pricey for a mobile game, but it makes up for its high price tag by including a metric ton of content. In addition to the original Titan Quest, this bundle has four of the game’s DLC expansions: Immortal Throne, Ragnarök, Atlantis, and Eternal Embers. The result is a game that’s overflowing with places to explore and things to do. I could visit the pyramids, check out the gardens of Babylon, and swim through the ancient city of Atlantis without even scratching the surface of what this game has to offer.

WHAT SUCKS ABOUT TITAN QUEST: ULTIMATE EDITION?

• It feels really dated. Titan Quest is still a ton of fun, but it doesn’t look or feel like a modern game. Character models are visibly blocky, textures are grainy, and the UI looks cluttered and disorganized. The core gameplay absolutely holds up, but some players might find it hard to go back to a game like this, especially if they’ve been spoiled by the visuals in newer games.

• The lack of storage space is a huge pain. I was constantly collecting loot while playing Titan Quest, but I didn’t always have a place to put it. My tiny inventory was always filled with items, so I had to leave piles of junk on the ground while I ran back to town to sell extra gear to merchants. Even after purchasing additional inventory space with in-game currency, I never had anywhere near enough room to store everything I needed to.

• No multiplayer. I usually like to play through action RPGs with a buddy, but Titan Quest is fully offline and only offers single-player gameplay. This isn’t necessarily a problem—the single-player mode is a lot of fun—but if you’re searching for a hack-and-slash game you can play with your friends, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

PLATFORMS TESTED

iOS via iPhone S3 3rd Generation phone