Torchlight is the debut game from Runic Games. And what a game it is. Fun, addictive (I just played for two hours that went by in a flash) and highly polished, the game comes from the co-creators of Diablo and Diablo II.

And the game, while not breaking much new ground nor having multi-player, is a blast to play. The graphics are bright, with artwork that was inspired by comic books and classic film animation. The music is phenomenal, and reminiscent of the iconic scores that defined the Diablo series (not surprising since Matt Uelman did the music in them, too).

You can play as one of three classes: the warrior-like Destroyer, the sorcerer-like Alchemist and the rogue-like Vanquisher. Your character also gets a pet that comes long with you -- yes, for free, and you get it from the start! -- and attacks mobs for you. Not only does your pet have its own inventory, which you can load up and tell it to go back to town to sell for you while you continue adventuring, but you can also equip some armor on your pet and teach it to cast a couple of spells.

I've been playing an alchemist with a cat pet that I've taught to cast fireballs (I chuckle just imagining that they're giant fiery hairballs that he's coughing up at the enemy). And when my inventory fills up, which is often because the loot drops fast and heavy, I load up Smeast (Small Beast... get it?) and send him off to town to sell the stuff I don't want, while I continue to vanquish the the orcs, trolls, giant spiders and other denizens of the randomly generated warrens below the titular town of Torchlight.

Yes, the formula is pretty much the same as any other dungeon crawler (Dungeon Runners, Diablo, Diablo II, Mythos, etc.), but it has been boiled down to its gem-like kernel of gameplay and then polished until it screams, "PLAY ME!!!!" And does it ever ...

I highly, highly recommend the game. Don't just take my word on it, though. Just about every other place that has reviewed the game likes it, as well. Gamespot called it a "great dungeon crawler with enjoyable combat and an excellent loot system." PCWorld says it's "the sort of game that comes itching to please like a hyper-caffeinated pet." And The Escapist admonishes, "$20 is a steal for this game. Get it."

And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go play more Torchlight.