Diablo II: Lord of Destruction

Diablo II Is Out And It's... Terrifying!

Happy Halloween everyone! I watched this recent Digitial Foundry breakdown of the recent Diablo II remake and all the various console versions and wanted to share it and kick off a broader public discussion on your thoughts about it. Seems like the general consensus is the game is a great version of the classic game, however, some miss the quality of life improvements present in more modern games such as Diablo III. It's an odd thing to think given folks were trashing Diablo III because it wasn't more like Diablo II.

I've recently been in the process of moving and finally landed into my new apartment so I haven't had as much time to play Diablo II as I would have... Read All

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 11/01/2021 at 12:04am

I wish I had a "fond" experience with this game. I suspect I'm not doing the game play right. I have a neutral or slightly negative perspective of it. I've only been playing at 1080p and I've limited framerate to 60. I definitely prefer the remastered graphics. I have the D2 Battle Chest, but I could never get over the original graphics. This is probably because I was late to Diablo and started with D3. In comparison, the original graphics are terrible. I'm finding I'm picky about this although I have an "acceptable" range. I did play both Warcraft and Starcraft games when they were out and I really enjoyed them. If I was aware of the two Diablo I might have played them and would see how much it looked like those games so I'd probably be ok with it.

Thanks for sharing the video! I liked and subscribed!

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 11/01/2021 at 03:38am

❤️

Travis Admin wrote on 11/01/2021 at 08:28pm

I absolutely love what Vicarious Visions did with the game, and I imagine people who have continued playing it off and on are having a great time.

I’m kinda playing a few minutes here and there but mostly just get frustrated with it because the newer ARPG quality of life features have really gotten ingrained into me. Even if only the D3 style action bar was added I would have less trouble with it. Not being able to see a visual indicator of the skills you have equipped, plus the need to hit the number you’ve mapped to and then click, really bring down the experience more than I would have expected.

I haven’t given up on it but I had a couple other things I wanted to play more so I’ve put it on the back burner. Hopefully they get the servers in better shape in the meantime!

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 11/02/2021 at 04:12am

> I haven’t given up on it but I had a couple other things I wanted to play more so I’ve put it on the back burner. Hopefully they get the servers in better shape in the meantime!

There is so much great stuff out there.

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Diablo II: Resurrected Will Release This Year!

One of the biggest news items out of Blizzcon 2021 Online was that Blizzard would release a Diablo II remaster called Diablo II: Resurrected. Featuring a full 3D reskin of the game alongside the original pixel version with a modern online Battle.net offering featuring cross platform progression this looks like it could be on the biggest gaming releases of this year! Currently, it's not easy to play Diablo II as it requires you to install the game and install a handful of mods and hacks to play it on modern systems. One great part of modern gaming is keeping old games fresh for new audiences and remasters are a big part of that. Hopefully Blizzard can dial this... Read All

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 02/20/2021 at 01:02am

Yes! I have the Diablo 2 Battle Chest. I was definitely able to play it without mods. In fact, I didn't even know there were mods for it. But, I couldn't get past the graphical downgrade from Diablo 3. Since the game is getting a fresh re-skin, I am definitely interested.

So, I checked out the pre-register link. I see two versions and I'm trying to discover the difference, but I can't seem to find it. If you figure this out, could you let me know, please?

I did read that the game will be out "on or before December 2021." I look forward to seeing updates about this.

Thanks for sharing!!!

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 02/20/2021 at 02:58am

The difference seems to be the more expensive version nets you some Mephisto wings and pet in Diablo 3.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 02/20/2021 at 04:54am

Ok, it seems I overlooked that. It seems that I don't need the Prime Evil Collection as I already have everything it seems to include, maybe with an exception to some of the cosmetic things, which I don't need. I do have some cosmetic things, though I doubt a pet Mephisto is something I have.

Speaking of Mephisto, it has been speculated that he will have something to do with WandaVision.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 02/20/2021 at 06:59pm

😈

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 02/20/2021 at 06:59pm

I’m not sure how many platforms I’ll buy it on 🤣💰

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 03/05/2021 at 10:22am

It looks like you'll be over to carry your saved data from the original game, if you still have it, into the remaster. And, just like some other remasters, it'll include a toggle to switch between remastered and original graphics.

Source: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/diablo-2-resurrected-will-carry-over-save-data-from-original-release/1100-6488442/

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 03/05/2021 at 02:38pm

Wow. Didn’t expect that.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 06/14/2021 at 01:13am

On my 42nd birthday! https://youtu.be/DttPBtsZ5fc

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 06/14/2021 at 03:37am

This game looks awesome and I'm not sure what platform i'll be playing it on. Looks good on all of them.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 06/14/2021 at 03:41am

PC Master Race!!!!

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Something Is Happening With Diablo III This Year

According to this recent Diablo III video "The forges here at Blizzard are burning hot and we have multiple Diablo projects in the works. Some of them may take longer than others but we might have some things to show you later this year." Usually this kind of news is pretty cool to hear but with the ups and downs of Diablo III and it not getting a follow up after Reaper of Souls i'm not sure what to make of it. Blizzard has hinted at a Diablo III Switch version and I well imagine that's gonna do well and it will be a great game to play on the Switch, it's just... at this point I think it's better if Blizzard just doesn't hint anything and drops whatever news when it's... Read All

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 08/11/2018 at 01:39am

I saw a similar video recently with that girl. She said exactly the thing you quoted. She also said seasons are now going to be themed and the first theme is greed. I don't really know what to expect or hope to expect with Diablo's future. From what I've read, which is probably mostly from our site, is that it seems people are expecting another expansion. Proof is in what you've posted here. To me, I don't see a reason to "wrap up the Leia storyline," because as far as I can tell, it's over and done with. Maybe I'm missing something you're seeing. I'd also like to see a new Diablo game, Diablo 4. Maybe they'll give D2 the remastered treatment. Only time will tell, but it's a bit exciting to know that Diablo still has a future.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 08/11/2018 at 01:45am

> I saw a similar video recently with that girl. She said exactly the thing you quoted.

Yep, that's the one I linked above.

> To me, I don't see a reason to "wrap up the Leia storyline," because as far as I can tell, it's over and done with. Maybe I'm missing something you're seeing.

At the end of Diablo III Leia is used to make Diablo come back and essentially is lost in hell or something. It's a really sad development and I was HOPING that she could be broken out of hell or detached from bringing Diablo back. Since she was Diablo's daughter she wasn't bad, she just had bad parents and they used her to bring Diablo back. She didn't choose that she was just used to do it. I felt that was a sad way to go and something that needed to be corrected by going into wherever to bust her out.

> Maybe they'll give D2 the remastered treatment.

Oh right, that's totally going to happen. I'm curious it that will be after WarCraft III or before?

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 08/11/2018 at 02:20am

>At the end of Diablo III Leia is used to make Diablo come back and essentially is lost in hell or something. It's a really sad development and I was HOPING that she could be broken out of hell or detached from bringing Diablo back. Since she was Diablo's daughter she wasn't bad, she just had bad parents and they used her to bring Diablo back. She didn't choose that she was just used to do it. I felt that was a sad way to go and something that needed to be corrected by going into wherever to bust her out.

I see. It would be cool if they created an expansion to rescue her. I guess I assumed that once Diablo was reborn, she was no more. Perhaps, she (as in her soul) became trapped in Diablo's new body or Hell. I see what you're saying and I agree it would be cool.

I feel like I'd really like to see Diablo 4, but feel like D3 is still very active, so I doubt they'll let it go any time soon. Perhaps Diablo III's future is a DLC. It does kind of suck when dev's tease such things. We don't know what it could be and all we can do is take wild guesses, especially based on our hopes. The unfortunate side is that we may get our hopes up for something that doesn't happen, then we're disappointed.

I'm interested in seeing what our other fellow Cheerful Ghosts think *cough Travis *cough* LOL.

Oh and yeah this was the video I watched, I just didn't recognize the still image. I didn't watch the video, before replying, because I assumed it was a slightly different video and contained the same info. But, I just played it real quick and realized it's the same!

Travis Admin wrote on 08/11/2018 at 03:06am

First off y’all I know we talk about Star Wars a lot but Leia ain’t in Diablo III :D

But I interpreted the scene way differently than you did when Leah was taken over, as her body being entirely consumed by Diablo. And when we destroy Diablo we destroy her body.

So she’s dead just like anyone else who dies. It’s Diablo so if they don’t want Leah to stay dead she can come back but I never felt like they left anything unsaid with her story. In fact the loss of Leah is what drives the emotion of the story and if she came back it would just feel like... well, there’s no real risk or anything because anyone can just come back at any time.

Not that Diablo III’s storytelling was at the forefront. It serves its purpose to push the story along.

For some reason I never expected more than one expansion. Perhaps because of Lord of Destruction, Frozen Throne, and Brood War I’m just used to single-expansion games from Blizz. Starcraft II is really the outlier. I was surprised when we got the Necromancer DLC (not really a full expansion) and impressed with it and pretty content.

That said... these kinds of teases aren’t great. I really wish developers would wait a while until there’s something to talk about. I’ve recently read rumors about a Diablo II remaster, which I think we’ve been expecting anyway, so I’m betting one I’d those projects in the works is that remake. And maybe we’ll get another small DLC like the Necro pack but I doubt we get a full expansion.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 08/11/2018 at 03:24am

Jon started calling her Leia, I just repeated it out of ignorance. LOL Anyway, yeah I guess I see her story like you did, she died when Diablo was resurrected. I guess that's why I never felt like there was anything missing there.

I can't imagine what kind of DLC or expansion we'd get for D3.

I'd like to point out the title of this post, Something Is Happening With Diablo III This Year, but the quote says, "we might have some things to show you later this year." I don't think that means something will happen with D3 this year. They said, "we have multiple Diablo projects in the works." They didn't specify if those were D3 projects or whatever. But, they said they might have some things to show us, it could be that they'll at least have an announcement or trailer for something by the end of the year. We'll see, but at least we know Diablo still has a future.

Travis Admin wrote on 08/11/2018 at 03:26am

They may have come out with a non-announcement tease because of the rumor mill, actually. Just to kinda say "yes, the rumors are true, but we aren't ready to talk about it." Because without that people may have been disappointed when an announcement didn't come.

But that's a tough balance because if they stay silent on it now for a long time people will be clamoring for it.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 08/11/2018 at 03:55am

> So she’s dead just like anyone else who dies. It’s Diablo so if they don’t want Leah to stay dead she can come back but I never felt like they left anything unsaid with her story.

She'll be back like the Terminator, mark my words. That said I disagree. If Diablo can come back infinitely then she can too I mean maybe she has the "never really dies" thing from her Dad. Hopefully it doesn't skip a generation.

Travis Admin wrote on 08/11/2018 at 04:32am

Haha, I hope she has the cybernetic thing going on like Arnie!

I just think that when a secondary character dies in a way that serves the plot really well (which she did) and when that death has an emotional impact (which this did), it cheapens it when they come back. I hope she doesn't unless they have a very good reason for it.

One way I could see it working, the human side of her is kinda gone and it's all the demon side left and she's an act boss, and somehow with some Tyrael magic she can be restored. But still............. I dunno, I kinda hope she stays dead for the story.

It's like the Final Fantasy VII where the mechanics and rules of the world would suggest that Aerith should have been easy to resurrect but she stayed out because of the story.

Azurephile Super Member wrote on 08/11/2018 at 05:03am

*sniff* Aerith. I always put her in my party even knowing what was going to happen to her. She did come back in Advent Children, as a ghost/soul/angel/whatever.

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