Blizzard Entertainment has published a remaster of Diablo 2: Resurrected, the action role-playing game that has been dubbed one of the best video games of all time by many. The company responsible for this classic game made some significant changes to the graphics but kept the core gameplay relatively unchanged from what fans previously knew, creating an experience that will be revered by series fans and serve as an excellent jumping-on point for those with little to no exposure to Diablo’s horror.
Stunning visuals
One of the most noticeable changes in any remaster of a famous video game is the visuals, and Diablo II: Resurrected absolutely nails this element of the grim journey. Each character, enemy, and environment seem to have received a complete overhaul, with the entry also enabling players to choose between the current iteration and the game’s original design from 2000. While cutscenes do not necessarily consume a significant portion of the game’s duration, I would be remiss if I did not highlight the CG sequences, which serve to flesh out the narrative of the universe in which players find themselves with stunning visuals that take things up a notch or two from the original.
Equipment
When I initially picked up Diablo II, the reputation of the basic gameplay was always something I wanted to dig my teeth into, but for whatever reason, I just never had the chance. For first-timers like me, Resurrected is able to entice players into the supernatural realm while simultaneously providing them with an abundance of customizable goods and equipment. It’s little surprise the game has a reputation for keeping fans hooked for dozens, if not hundreds, if not thousands, of hours. Diablo II is a thought-provoking game in which strategy is required to overcome some of the game’s most difficult adversaries, and where leveling up one’s character properly may be the difference between life and death.
The journey
While the improved visuals and a few tweaks to the basic gameplay help simplify the gloomy journey, Diablo II does have one significant flaw: Resurrected in its Internet-related features. Throughout the game, players will have the choice of embarking on an online or offline journey, and although I gave both a try for the sake of this review, these are experiences that are questionably distinct from one another. If a server crashes or your Internet connection goes down for whatever reason, you are forced to exit an online adventure, possibly wiping out all progress. This is a significant flaw in Diablo II’s armor, since other games have worked around this issue in the past, and you’d assume that if you’re booted for whatever reason, your adventure will just continue through the offline component, but that isn’t the case here. This is an issue that may cause many people to shun the online component altogether.
Multi devices
Blizzard’s newest version also works well with a mouse, keyboard, and gamepad, giving players a fair deal of flexibility in terms of how they choose to play their particular fighter. Diablo II as a whole is capable of cramming a high number of foes into the screen without seeming overpowering provided appropriate measures are taken.
Continuos improvements
Diablo II is a famous video game for a reason, and Resurrected, despite its server and general Internet problems, manages to improve on the concept while also introducing some noteworthy aesthetic improvements that entice new fans and set the groundwork for returning lovers of the series.
Grognards
Diablo 2 grognards hang around after the credits have rolled to max numerous characters to the astonishing level 99 maximum. At the start of the century, this game took over the lives of many people, and it still has the power to do so in 2021. Your pals might be the reason you’re running many dungeons at once, feverishly digging for treasure in the most distant reaches of the loot table, again and over.
Currencies
In Diablo 2: Resurrected, that’s one of my favorite things. Depressing stat grinds are a common feature of current game development. Our first impression upon logging in is one of being inundated with timed shop deals and a competitive cosmetics market, as well as a dizzying array of various currencies and stat levels crowding the home screen. Instead of trying to bring the game into the modern-day, this remake is happy to be considered a dinosaur. The blue trident on the floor and the one on our character sheet are being meticulously compared while we fight zombies. A crafting matrix or auction house economics is of little consequence. Honestly, that’s revolutionary when contrasted to the incessant sales pitches draining the fun out of almost every other live server experience.
Diablo II: Resurrected is currently available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch. The game was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review, and it was reviewed on PC.
