The age of the skeleton beneath the shiny new flesh is made evident by how clunky movement feels. It’s an almost endless cycle of violence and improvement, with a few things like socketable gems and runes mixed in for good measure.

You kill stuff and get loot, the loot makes you stronger, the XP unlocks and upgrades skills and abilities. There’s something considerably no-nonsense about Diablo 2, even when you reach the final area beyond the original story and are facing off against Dibalo’s brother Baal in what was originally expansion content. And yet, its an incredibly playable and enjoyable adventure. The endgame content is just a collection of New Game + modes. Most of the side content comes from thoroughly exploring and replaying maps to find loot. This was made in a time before side quests were so pervasive. After picking from one of 7 heroes (Amazon, Assassin, Druid, Barbarian, Necromancer, Paladin, or Sorceress) you’ll head out into the wilderness to complete story-based quests and track down Diablo. This being almost a straight reskin, those skill trees return in Diablo 2: Resurrected. While Diablo 3 made sweeping changes to the levelling system, many preferred the simpler skill trees of Diablo 2. Which is great, because the more you kill, the stronger you get. Everywhere you go, Diablo has already been, and thus monsters and fiends crowd your path in droves. The warrior, though, is losing the battle to contain the demon, and leaving a wake of horror and destruction behind him. You’re following the trail of the Lord of Terror, Diablo, a demon last seen caged in a Soulstone and subsequently contained within the body of the warrior who vanquished him (in Diablo 1). With some caveats, of course.ĭiablo 2 sees your diehard adventurer holing up with a group of rogues at an encampment in the wilderness. I’d imagine very few newcomers are checking this one out, but if you are then you’re in for a treat.

Most console players with an interest have played the latter, since its been available for three generations. If you’re a PC RPG player, you’ll almost certainly have played the original Diablo 2, or Diablo 3. If Diablo 2: Resurrected is your first foray into this universe, you’ll see elements you recognise from a host of other games. These games and countless others aped Diablo’s formula, adding and tweaking bits and pieces here and there but maintaining the barebones framework of Blizzard’s seminal adventure.

It’s not hyperbole to say that without Diablo, we wouldn’t have the modern ARPGs we’ve come to love.

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