I snagged this one when it went free for a short time, but because it was free and not because I knew anything about it. As such, this is the first ARPG I've ever played, and the ARPG against which I now compare all others. (Yes, I know Diablo is supposed to be the standard-bearer.) As an introduction to ARPGs, Torchlight really shines. Controls aren't difficult and there's plenty of tooltips to help you learn the keyboard shortcuts. The upgrade system is intuitive with plenty of popovers that layout everything you need to know. The first levels are just easy enough to encourage further exploration, but just enough difficulty to deliver a sense of accomplishment. The storyline isn't terribly original, but it's serviceable. There are plenty of side quests available, and infinite dungeons to explorer after completing story mode. Plus, having a choice of classes made me want to play through again. Adding to that, you can share weapons and items between your characters, which is a nice feature. I also like the pet, though I mostly use it to take stuff back to town to sell. Graphics aren't earth-shattering, and in fact have a subtle cartoony feel, but that adds to the charm. The music, though repetitive at times, complements the atmosphere without being cloying. Like I mentioned, any ARPG I try now I compare to Torchlight; sometimes it lessens a learning curve ("oh, I get it, it's like doing X in Torchlight"). I've tried a couple others (Titan Quests so far has been my favorite) but I tend to come back to Torchlight again and again.
