[b0rsuk]

I think Diablo 3 simply deserves the backslash. The developers are full of themselves and live in a bubble. Lots of people are unable to play the game they've paid $60 (or 60 EUR !!!) money for. "Always online" was supposedly for security, but people trying to play "single player" are getting their accounts hacked. The story and its presentation is an insult to intelligence. Bosses are extremely talkative, and not in the amusing way like in Realm of the Mad God. Cutscenes are used as interruptions. It is also the least random and most linear Diablo game. Low replayability is a big deal because difficulty level (difficulty, no skill level like they were called in Quake) And all this took more than 10 years to make ? It resembles Diablo Nukem Forever.

There is a lot to complain about. But it's not surprising considering the founders work elsewhere, especially at Runic Games. Torchlight 2 is also very colorful and cartoony, but it's not pretending to be something it's not (a grim, gothic game). TL2 is playful and doesn't treat itself very seriously.

My favorite action RPG game is Nox, though. This video does a good job explaining it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4NU3u9sSjE But I feel obligated to add a few highlights - no random loot (!!!!!!!!) - no hit chance. You hit if you aim well and enemy is in range. - no dodge chance. You dodge if you move out of the way. - no shield block chance. You block if you raise your shield in time (and in correct direction :-) - no random levels, but levels very well done and non-linear unlike Diablo 3. Also, some chapters are unique to one of 3 classes. - very unimportant resists: very few arbitrary decisions "You can't use weapon/spell X against monster Y". - as a result, combat is so fun that multiplayer had modes like Capture the Flag, Deathmatch, and Team Deathmatch, where everyone was always on the same level. - huge variety and creativity in Conjurer and Wizard classes.

See the pattern ? It was a highly skill-based game. It's a tragedy that it was labeled as a Diablo 2 clone, because it had fundamental differences. Nox can be purchased very cheaply today.