Why play Hack & Slash loot games?
Why play Hack & Slash loot games?
When I was a teenager, I spent a lot of time playing Diablo, especially the version with Lord of Destruction. It was my top choice back then—I could spend hours either solo or with a friend. Those were exciting times. Later on, I tried more story-driven RPGs like Neverwinter Nights and Morrowind, which provided far more engaging experiences. Now I appreciate a wide range of narrative-rich adventures, from games such as Skyrim, Fallout, Divinity: Original Sin, and Dragon Age, to storytelling-focused titles like Life is Strange, Detroit: Become Human, and Ken Follett: The Pillars of the Earth. Occasionally, I revisit classic titles like Diablo 2 Resurrected, but it feels dull and repetitive compared to what I enjoy now. I also tried hack-and-slash games such as Titan's Quest, only to find them uninteresting after a while. What made me enjoy Diablo so much in the past is still unclear—did I once play similar games and then lose interest due to boredom? What do you think?
Have you explored Grim Dawn? It offers a strong interpretation of the genre.
Initially, preferences shift over time. The same debate persists across generations. What makes sense once is hard to maintain repeatedly—whether it's FIFA, hack and slash, or racing titles. People are always looking for new experiences. For instance, spending hours on a track in time attack mode isn't exciting for most, despite the effort. Even with games like racing sims or World of Tanks, the appeal fades quickly. Nostalgia still drives me to revisit older titles, but it doesn’t replace the thrill of fresh challenges. The satisfaction from good drops after a tough run remains, yet it rarely justifies dedicating time to those types of games. I don’t rely on nostalgia alone; it’s more about what keeps me coming back.
many enjoy meat grinders and games have become more engaging over time. when you look at OpenTTD compared to modern titles in the same genre, the contrast is striking. yet I still find OpenTTD satisfying in its own manner, appreciating its straightforwardness. I notice that childhood games seem to have less content now than they did before—games like Gary Gadget, Putt-Putt, and Freddy Fish once offered more variety. Recently, I revisited those titles out of nostalgia, treating them as a nostalgic treat, but unfortunately, I gave them a hard time and wasted hours on them. One rare exception was Riven, which I still haven’t beaten, though that might just reflect my puzzle skills. Occasionally, I unwind by playing old Flash games on FlashPoint, and they still bring me the same joy I once felt.
I've never played Diablo solo (or similar titles like Borderlands), those have always been about team play for me. We even tackle the first run together, experiencing the full story, cutscenes, and side missions as a team. That takes a long time. Once it starts feeling repetitive and tedious, we adjust by making our characters seasonal and sometimes skipping seasons to keep things interesting. Occasionally I get to bring my friends along, while other times I'm the one being carried. Try it in co-op if you haven't already.
Nostalgia acts as a strong influence. Many top rankings highlight the original Mario title, reminding us of its enjoyment during that time. Today's titles are often seen as superior.
Well, the signal player knows you can try older versions to discover interesting gear. D2R offers online play, and resetting the ladder is fun. They have OP gear available, but challenges often restrict you to specific types—crafted, eth, or shop gear. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to repeatedly kill the boss to get those drops. Rare and magical items are more rewarding, especially before patches 1.09 and 1.10 added many OP items. Titan Quest is a bit buggy with skill-based gameplay; a solid build is essential. What frustrates me is they didn’t patch it properly after a remake—just added two-player mode. Overall, Path of Exile was decent but got overwhelming at times. Diablo 3 had good moments but turned into fast-paced spam and bullet hell, with tons of loot that felt repetitive. Spamming a skill every few seconds isn’t really gameplay, just my style. It’s not that older games are better, just the new ones have their issues. Keep trying, and don’t give up—there’s still value in checking out older patches!
I haven't tried it myself, though a friend who enjoys active RPGs has played quite a bit while I watched from the side. It didn't really catch my attention, sorry.
Multiplayer enhances many games significantly. I once had three outdated PCs with CRT screens connected in LAN, playing Diablo 2 together. Before broadband, online play was rare, mostly limited to dial-up internet. The top online RPG experience I've had is StarWars: The Old Republic. It's a MMORPG that incorporates cinematic adventure storytelling, similar to their single-player titles.
I really enjoy Grim Dawn, Titan Quest 1 & 2. Borderlands offers a good time, but you must have a quirky outlook to savor the easygoing, non-stop narrative.