This is a fun, accessible hack-n-slash similar to Diablo, but with a significantly different feel. The story is on the lighter side, the third-person view is less restrictive, there are some puzzles to solve, and the townsfolk are a bit more engaging--quite a bit if you play my favorite, the thief. You get the standard three classes, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Each game has a progression of randomly quests that adds replay variety. The game has two modes. Single-player mode lets you play two characters, one operated by you and one AI, and you can take control of either. Multi-player mode lets you coop on a LAN. Build a variety of skills with care, gird yourself in armor, wield magic, upgrade your weapons, and leverage class-specific secondary skills that make a difference. It all comes together to make a solid game. This game brought much joy to me and the missus. I remember with great fondness completing the game for the first time, cackling maniacally as we ran about the boss's chamber collecting our huge piles of loot. I still dust this one off from time to time. If you have yet to try Darkstone, don't miss out! :)
