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The Action RPG (A-RPG) genre has a rich history, and titles like Diablo 2 often top “best of” lists. Titan Quest, released in 2006, offered a compelling alternative, captivating players with its dual-class system and epic, multinational storyline. While developer Iron Lore eventually closed, Titan Quest found new life in 2016 with the Anniversary Edition published by THQ Nordic. Now, THQ Nordic has released Titan Quest: Ragnarok, an expansion over a decade in the making. But does it live up to the legacy of the original and its first expansion, Immortal Throne? This review explores the strengths and weaknesses of Titan Quest: Ragnarok.

alt text: Titan Quest Ragnarok Gameplay Screenshot Showing Character Combat in a Snowy Environment

Notable Improvements

RPG expansions typically promise new story content, maps, classes, and features. Titan Quest: Ragnarok delivers on most of these expectations, offering a substantial update reminiscent of classic expansion packs.

The expansion’s title hints at its setting. After adventuring through Greece, Egypt, China, and the underworld, players journey to the frigid landscapes of Northern Europe and the icy realm of Asgard, the setting for the apocalyptic battle of Ragnarok.

While Titan Quest isn’t known for its narrative depth, Ragnarok weaves a compelling tale centered around Viking mythology and boasts a wealth of new quests, even surpassing the base game in quantity. The familiar mythological atmosphere, now imbued with a harsh, wintry aesthetic, successfully immerses players in a new chapter of the epic saga.

Ragnarok introduces the Runemaster, the tenth Mastery. While the existing nine Masteries cover archetypes like mages and archers, the Runemaster focuses on support, offering skills that complement shield, dual-wielding, spellcasting, and trap builds. This adds a layer of strategic depth to character customization.

alt text: Titan Quest Ragnarok Gameplay Screenshot Displaying Character Screen and Inventory

The expansion introduces throwing axes, a distinct Viking weapon. These single-handed weapons provide ranged attack capabilities while allowing for shield use or dual-wielding, offering exciting new build possibilities. Players can also create a level 40 character to start directly in Ragnarok‘s content, allowing veterans to jump into the new features immediately.

Finally, a long-awaited feature arrives: pants! After years of adventuring in less-than-practical attire, characters can now equip leg armor, boosting their defenses and completing their aesthetic.

Lingering Issues

Sequels and expansions often suffer in comparison to their predecessors, and Ragnarok, developed by a different team than the original Titan Quest, faces similar challenges. Despite its positive additions, the expansion has several drawbacks.

The new map areas are excessively large and lack purpose. Traversing vast, empty spaces without hidden quests, bosses, or treasure becomes tedious and unrewarding. The environment design is also underwhelming, especially compared to the snowy mountain regions of Act III in the base game.

alt text: Titan Quest Ragnarok Gameplay Screenshot Depicting Character Fighting a Monster in a Forest Environment

The voice acting in Ragnarok is a significant disappointment. Performances lack emotion and fail to convey the intended impact. Dialogue is weak, lacking depth and connection to the narrative.

While the new equipment visually complements the Viking and Asgard theme, the item icons in the inventory screen are poorly rendered. They appear as crude 3D models lacking detail, texture, and lighting, creating a jarring visual experience.

alt text: Titan Quest Ragnarok Gameplay Screenshot Showing a Character Standing in a Snowy Area with Structures in the Background

Many enemy models are recycled from the base game with minor alterations. Their animations, sound effects, and placement feel uninspired, demonstrating a lack of polish. Even the final boss encounter is underwhelming, posing little challenge compared to previous Titan Quest antagonists.

Conclusion

Titan Quest: Ragnarok offers a mixed bag. While it delivers new content and expands upon the established world, it also suffers from technical and design shortcomings. The vast, empty maps, poor voice acting, and recycled enemy models detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, the new Mastery, throwing axes, and the much-needed addition of pants provide enjoyable gameplay additions for dedicated fans. Ultimately, Ragnarok feels like a missed opportunity to truly revitalize the Titan Quest experience. While it provides more of the classic Titan Quest gameplay, it doesn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessors.