Onionguy
Educated
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2018
- Messages
- 90
I simply cannot believe, how many fucking years have passed since i cleared the Den of Evil quest for the first time, playing as barbarian through Diablo 2 demo version.
I remember that at some point, for whatever dumb reason, everyone mocked this game. Some said bulshit like it wasn't particularly good, because it lacked complexity of a "proper" rpg title, or that the story was weak (which is just retarded thing to say). But the truth is, in secrecy, all those people loved and played the hell out of D2.
When comparing D2 it to its predecessor, I like to use Terminator analogy; where T1/D1 is a tight and atmospheric horror story and T2/D2, despite losing a small part of its charm, makes up for it with pure, undistilled fun it offers. Some may argue that D2 suffers from itemisation bloat and that it drags a bit to long in certain parts, but at the end of day, all that is just nitpicking.
If I was to point one thing, that contributed the most to Diablo 2 massive success, it would be how quickly one gets right into the action. It's barely 10 seconds that it takes to make it from the middle of rogue camp to the entrance of the Blood Moor where you score your first kill of Spike Fiend. It's almost Doom or Quake level of "quick" and the "killing" part is nowhere less fun. The animations and the sound design are key parts of how satisfying the gameplay loop is. Every single hand-drawn attack, spell and special move is a joy to behold, but it is the sound of dying enemies, drinking potions and opening town portals that will be forever burnt in our minds.
For most part, D2 is really well paced and it's a game that you can beat in 2-3 evenings. Today, The fixed number of so few quests per chapter, would certainly be met with savage outcry from "moar content!!!" crowd. But it is exactly the modest number of tasks available, that maintains the feeling of constantly building up tension across all the acts.
Additionally, the mood which is also great, rests on three pillars:
1. The Presentation: gloomy, organic landscapes, realistic proportions of armor and characters, lots of blood and gore, but without ever getting too edgy/over the top.
2. The soundtrack: easily my top 3 of all time.
3. The Storytelling: simple but elegant, delivered via cool cutscenes and well written spoken parts.
I have played many of its copycats, and with full confidence I say: Diablo 2 shits on all of them. I don't know if it's the awkward transition to 3d that kills it for me, or too much repetition/online focus with games like POE, but no other hack n slash did it for me in those last, ridiculous 20 years.
I remember that at some point, for whatever dumb reason, everyone mocked this game. Some said bulshit like it wasn't particularly good, because it lacked complexity of a "proper" rpg title, or that the story was weak (which is just retarded thing to say). But the truth is, in secrecy, all those people loved and played the hell out of D2.
When comparing D2 it to its predecessor, I like to use Terminator analogy; where T1/D1 is a tight and atmospheric horror story and T2/D2, despite losing a small part of its charm, makes up for it with pure, undistilled fun it offers. Some may argue that D2 suffers from itemisation bloat and that it drags a bit to long in certain parts, but at the end of day, all that is just nitpicking.
If I was to point one thing, that contributed the most to Diablo 2 massive success, it would be how quickly one gets right into the action. It's barely 10 seconds that it takes to make it from the middle of rogue camp to the entrance of the Blood Moor where you score your first kill of Spike Fiend. It's almost Doom or Quake level of "quick" and the "killing" part is nowhere less fun. The animations and the sound design are key parts of how satisfying the gameplay loop is. Every single hand-drawn attack, spell and special move is a joy to behold, but it is the sound of dying enemies, drinking potions and opening town portals that will be forever burnt in our minds.
For most part, D2 is really well paced and it's a game that you can beat in 2-3 evenings. Today, The fixed number of so few quests per chapter, would certainly be met with savage outcry from "moar content!!!" crowd. But it is exactly the modest number of tasks available, that maintains the feeling of constantly building up tension across all the acts.
Additionally, the mood which is also great, rests on three pillars:
1. The Presentation: gloomy, organic landscapes, realistic proportions of armor and characters, lots of blood and gore, but without ever getting too edgy/over the top.
2. The soundtrack: easily my top 3 of all time.
3. The Storytelling: simple but elegant, delivered via cool cutscenes and well written spoken parts.
I have played many of its copycats, and with full confidence I say: Diablo 2 shits on all of them. I don't know if it's the awkward transition to 3d that kills it for me, or too much repetition/online focus with games like POE, but no other hack n slash did it for me in those last, ridiculous 20 years.
