Torchlight, while a fun little game in its own right, is completely overshadowed by it's younger brother, Torchlight 2. Plaything through the first isn't required (as the story isn't too engaging) and the gameplay isn't quite as polished or fun in this first release. I'd give this game 4 stars if TL2 wasn't already out, but it's impossible to ignore as TL2 has improved on literally everything this game has to offer, which sets the bar higher and lowers my rating. It is quirky and fun though, breathing new life and refreshing the ARPG genre since it's from the same minds that brought us the Diablo series. It isn't as dark or brooding, but the unique atmosphere it brings to us instead is worthwhile in its own right. The soundtrack is also worth mentioning, since Matt Eulman is the composer. The second you start the game you get a Diablo 2 nostalgia trip. It's quite something, and is probably the feature that holds up best when in comparison to the new release as all of his work is exemplary.
Tyrian: The game that first got me into the SHMUP genre as a child. This is the definitive collection of the game and GOG has done a wonderful job making sure it works flawlessly on newer systems. Tyrian still holds up really nicely too in comparison to today's SHMUPS. Epic Megagames did it right the first time, and this game is living proof of it. I've played many games in the genre from Ikaruga to Radiant Silvergun to DoDonPachi to even more obscure titles like Border Down and nothing can quite compare to this original. It has it all: Beautiful sprite graphics, awesomely detailed backgrounds, killer soundtrack, a HUGE number of weapons to equip on your ship (including different firing modes based on how upgraded they are), and even a gripping storyline (if you decide to pay attention). Truly one of the best SHMUPS out there, Tyrian allows you to customize your ship the way you like it in between levels and also allows you to adjust difficulty (including game speed) on the fly if things get too easy/hard. Challenging, but not unforgivably so, Tyrian will keep you coming back for more, from collecting every last bit of the DATA Drops to finding all the secret levels it's a joy from start to finish and is hard to put down.
