Torchlight Infinite - Should You Play It? Is it Worth it in 2024? PC, Mobile (Android & iOS) ARPG

Oct. 24, 2024

In this article were going to be discussing why now might be a great time to try outTorchlight: Infinite, the latest entry in the beloved dungeon crawler series, because of the MASSIVE amount of changes that have come to the title with Season 6 The Frozen Canvas, which just released on October 24th. Highlights include a major crafting overhaul, the introduction of a new hero, a fresh game mode, and significant adjustments to the monetization system. This is without a doubt the biggest updateTorchlight: Infinitehas seen so far, so whether you’re a brand new player or a returning player, there is lots to check out. A special shoutout toXD Inc.for sponsoring this video.

The Frozen Canvas

Let’s start with this season’s namesake mechanic.The Frozen Canvasis the new game mode introduced in season 6, and it pretty much allows you todesign your own dungeon. You create the dungeon’s layout and decide where enemies will spawn. While farming in theNetherrealm, you’ll start to get drops calledSnowpapers. TheseSnowpapersare needed in craftingFrozen Canvases, which come in different colors depending on the canvas’s difficulty. Another key resource you’ll gather iscolored snow, which plays an important role inleveling up your artistry skills. Once you have aFrozen Canvas, you can start painting on your grid or board and designing your map by placing enemies and other elements.

As you progress, you’ll encounter different types of paint corresponding to various monster types, which you can level up over time. You’ll also gain access tobrushstroke effects, which allow you to improve the chances ofrare paint dropsor the appearance ofrare monstersin theFrozen Canvas. While you have creative freedom in designing your dungeon, you’ll also receiveColor Mixing Objectivesto finish your Canvas. Completing these objectives can level up the paint in specific cells. EachFrozen Canvashas its own set of objectives, encouraging you to unlock and upgrade more paint types for stronger options.

After you’ve completed all the canvas objectives, you can start running the map you’ve designed. The layout will match your design, but the contents of each cell will be generatedprocedurally. As you explore your canvas, you’ll encountereggsthat spawn the monsters you’ve chosen. Battling these enemies in theFrozen Canvasgives you the opportunity to earnsplendor eggs, which come in different colors, withrainbow eggsproviding the best rewards. Another important resource iscolored snow, used to level up yourartistry skills. Theseartistry skillscome in the form of askill tree progression systemthat allows you to allocate points to unlock more brushstrokes and other bonuses, such asincreased drop rates for Snowpaper fragments,better chances of finding paints in the Netherrealm,improved drop rarityinside theFrozen Canvas, andadditional colored snow drops.

The next update to be discussed is thechange in monetization. The game used to charge players forheroesandpactspiritsmaking it tougher for folks to experiment with different characters. However, starting next season, during an event calledHero Gathering, all heroes will be free to use except forSelena, who will still be tied to theseason pass. This change is a solid move by the devs because it shows they’re listening to player feedback and trying to make the game more accessible. In the upcoming season, you’ll get to play with the old heroes at no cost, and the devs will be monitoring how this affects the game. If the response is positive, it’s likely this could become a permanent feature. So, this is the perfect time to try out any characters you’ve been eyeing but couldn’t play before.

With all heroes exceptSelenaavailable for free, now’s your chance to explore the game without heavy paywalls. Whether you’re a veteran or a newer player, this opens up plenty of opportunities to find your preferred playstyle or try something new.

As forpactspirits, you can earn aseasonal legendary pactspiritby completing the new20-boss Supreme Showdown. But be warned, this boss gauntlet is extremely tough, and there are concerns that only a handful of players will manage to finish it. The devs have mentioned that if completion rates are too low, they’ll make adjustments to ensure it’s more accessible in future seasons. For now, though, this challenge is meant to test even the most skilled players, so refining your build will be crucial.

Speaking of the new hero,Tide Whisperer Selenais this season’s exciting addition. She’s a highly adaptable hero who can switch between two distinct forms, letting her handle different situations with ease.

InBard Mode, Selena wraps her skills in foam that bursts on contact with enemies, automatically triggering her abilities. She can summon tidal waves that boost her damage and allow her to move through enemies without being blocked. This mode emphasizes speed and fluidity, making it perfect for zipping through dungeons and mowing down waves of enemies. If you want mobility and a quick way to clear content,Bard Modeis where Selena truly shines.

Then there’sLoud Song Mode, which takes a different approach by trading speed for raw damage. In this form, Selena sacrifices movement, attack, and casting speed for a massive boost in her damage output. It’s ideal for tougher enemies or bosses where dealing high damage is more important than moving quickly. Since you typically don’t need to move much during boss fights, this mode lets you go all out on offense.

The best part about Selena is how easily she can switch between these modes. You can zip through regular enemies inBard Mode, then seamlessly switch toLoud Song Modewhen facing a boss and needing that extra firepower. Her versatility makes her a fantastic choice for players who enjoy adapting their playstyle on the fly, balancing speed and strength. Overall, Selena’s ability to blend mobility and damage gives her a unique edge, making her not just fun to play but also effective in various situations.

The next update is a big one.craftingis getting a major overhaul.Legendary Gear craftingandPrototype craftingare being removed, and the process for crafting non-Legendary gear has changed significantly. Now,Priceless Geardrops with random base affixes that greatly influence its quality, and the number of modifiers depends on the gear’s level.

The removal of Prototype crafting is a significant shift, but it aims to stabilize the system. The new method is calleddeterministic crafting, which gives players more control over the results. You can now select an affix pool from three types of embers—basic,advanced, andultimate—and then add or swap an affix. Higher-tier affixes require more embers and materials, withultimate embersbeing the best, but they can only be used on Priceless Gear.

There’s also a newAuto Craftfeature that allows you to use materials to automatically roll for specific affixes, making things a bit easier. The exact cost is still unknown, but it seems geared toward players who want to speed things up and don’t mind spending a bit more.

Crafting has evolved quite a bit over time. Initially, we had theember spamming system, followed by Prototype crafting, which introduced more steps like targeted processing and plasticity concerns. Now, the developers are blending what worked from both systems and adding new features to reduce grind, like Auto Crafting.

One major change is the removal of Legendary Gear crafting. Last season, players could craft legendary items and fill in the affixes they wanted, but now, legendaries will have more distinct characteristics. If you miss an affix, the item becomes character-bound, introducing a bit of risk. This change makes thoseT0 affixesfeel more special, rather than something you can easily obtain.

Overall, the new crafting system is simple enough for most players while providing depth for those who want to optimize their gear. It’s a lot of changes, but the goal seems to be making crafting more reliable without losing the thrill of chasing those perfect rolls.

Hero Traits have undergone a complete redesign to make them more straightforward and user-friendly. Each hero now has a base trait and three additional traits that unlock as you level up, significantly simplifying the system. This change allows players to focus more on gameplay and strategy rather than navigating complex mechanics.

In addition to the Hero Traits overhaul,Hero Relicshave been removed, andHero Memorieshave been reworked. The new Hero Memories system featuresTrait Levelsthat activate specific Hero Traits and enhance the stats provided by the memories. Complicated mechanics have been eliminated, making it easier to maximize your hero’s potential without getting bogged down by unclear details.

Leveling up Hero Memories now involves usingHero Memory Fragments, which increase their base power. At certain item levels, memories can gain extra affixes, further boosting your hero’s abilities. The upgrade process for Hero Traits has also changed, allowing for multiple levels of upgrades. For instance,critical strike ratingcan significantly improve as you progress, with upgrades going up to level 5. This gradual power scaling makes the gameplay experience feel more rewarding, as you won’t suddenly become overpowered at specific milestones like level 60.

The Netherrealm has also seen some big changes aimed at improving gameplay. For this endgame mode, the Time Mark progression is now simpler; you’ll move from Time Mark 7 to Time Mark 8 and then to Profound Time Mark 8. This keeps the use of Time Mark 8 beacons but rewards you with better unique items and loot. There’s also a new area called Deep Space that requires special beacons, offering an even tougher challenge and richer rewards.

Confusion Cards have been completely revamped. They now apply across all maps in a sequence, making for a smoother gameplay experience. Higher Time Marks feature better cards, and you won’t have to deal with mechanics you didn’t sign up for, as they’re now tied to specific nodes in the Void Chart. So, if you’re not focusing on a particular mechanic, you won’t run into unwanted surprises.

Interactions with monsters in the Netherrealm have also changed. Melee enemies are now more aggressive, making them a bigger threat, while ranged enemies remain the same to keep them from attacking you off-screen. Plus, they’ve cut down on visual clutter from effects like watcher projections, which should help keep the screen clearer during battles. However, you might notice an increase in monster on-death effects which could add some fun chaos.

The Time Mark system has been simplified by eliminating the confusing 8-1 to 8-4 categories. Now, it’s a straightforward journey from Time Mark 1 to 7, followed by Time Mark 8 and Profound Time Mark 8. They’ve also brought back the Clockwork Ballet mechanic from last season, which is a nice touch.

Confusion Cards now activate at every level and last for four levels, creating a more dynamic combat experience with varied loot drops. They’ve been redesigned for better balance, and now you can unlock gameplay-related cards through existing Void Chart nodes to avoid clutter.

You can expect a tougher challenge overall, as melee monsters have been buffed significantly, making encounters more engaging. The devs are probably aiming for a balance that avoids excessive mechanics, though some effects have been toned down to help with clarity during gameplay.

They’ve also introduced a range of exclusive support skills designed for most active skills. Hunters can now equip these exclusive support skills in slots 3 and 5 of the skill support slots. These enhancements not only boost skill damage but also transform skill forms, creating unexpected and extraordinary effects that greatly enrich the combat experience.

Exclusive support skills aren’t acquired through traditional means or combat experience. Instead, they require the consumption of rare materials, Inspiration Essence, and leveling up with skills of the same name. Hunters can obtain exclusive support skills and Inspiration Essence throughThe Frozen Canvasgameplay.

Support Skills Overview

A neat feature here is the new transformative support skills. They showcased some nice examples as part of the season reveal. For instance, Groundshaker can be transformed into a jump release skill. Whirlwind’s exclusive support skill, Whirling Blade, adds projectiles to Whirlwind. When paired with Ring of Blades: Strength in Numbers, the ring of blades projectiles will be generated on summoned minions. These allow you to mix and match your support skills and make a lot of creative combinations that could definitely help you out while running dungeons.

This season, they plan to roll out over 100 brand-new exclusive support skills. For all the details, stay tuned for the final patch notes.

XD Inc. has gone all out for this upcoming season’s updates. It feels like they’ve redone almost the entire game at this point. Now if you’re a returning player or just someone looking for their next ARPG title to pick up, this just might be the perfect time to try out Torchlight: Infinite. The season rolls out on October 24th at 7:00 PM PDT for all platforms.

Megidola