Preview Diablo III Hands-On Impressions

[Xi]

Wow, so in 2000 everyone in US had a 14inch monitor and all the games were running in 640x480? Talk about being a third-world shithole

Compared to the rest of the world drawing lines in the dirt, those screens were the epitome of technological progress. Suck it.

 

[DraQ]

Wow, so in 2000 everyone in US had a 14inch monitor and all the games were running in 640x480? Talk about being a third-world shithole

Compared to the rest of the world drawing lines in the dirt, those screens were the epitome of technological progress. Suck it.

Long time no see! How's Onlive?

 

[ArcturusXIV]

Bleh!

I'm sorry, D3 looks innovative. D2 was not innovative at all. D1 was the shit. Tight atmosphere and all...

 

[Mrowak]

Re: Bleh!

I'm sorry, D3 looks innovative. D2 was not innovative at all. D1 was the shit. Tight atmosphere and all...

How exactly does Diablo 3 look innovative, would you care to explain? Seeing how you also prefer D1 over part 2 I'm genuinely interested in your opinion.

 

[spectre]

Mang, its finally 3d with havoc, how's that for innovative!!1

Been looking for all sorts of D3 info recently, lots of pointless streamlining, and it seems thieir art direction simply cannot into something other than wow, warcraft and starcraft.

Apart from that, it appears to be a solid Diablo 2 makeover with added streamlining (yuck), balancing and more PvP support.
Nothing to get excited about... if only there was any friggin worthwile competition in the genre (good for what it is - the classic definition it seems)

 

[Chuftie]

As look as it's a lootastic clickfest I'll play

 

[DraQ]

As look as it's a lootastic clickfest I'll play

You cannot into English. Get out.

 

[Stereotypical Villain]

Mang, its finally 3d with havoc, how's that for innovative!!1

Sorry, Diablo 3 is beaten by Sacred 2 in the 3d with havoc department.

Derp derp derp.

 

[Norfleet]

which meant that sometimes an awesome random drop could derail your character development effectively randomizing it

The original didn't HAVE character-development-on-rails. There were no prescribed rails that your character had to stick to in order to avoid ending up gimped, and only a few extreme variants existed which weren't really so much builds as playstyles.

 

[DraQ]

which meant that sometimes an awesome random drop could derail your character development effectively randomizing it

The original didn't HAVE character-development-on-rails. There were no prescribed rails that your character had to stick to in order to avoid ending up gimped, and only a few extreme variants existed which weren't really so much builds as playstyles.

An awesome drop could still push you off your intended development path and it's not like classes were just friendly suggestions - fighters sucked at magic (though it could be beneficial to max it out early), sorcerers sucked at melee.

 

[ArcturusXIV]

D3 looks innovative because...

1) D2 took tight atmosphere of D1 and reduced it into vague wandering... Never felt the tight atmosphere of horror again.
2) Suddenly, mythology was mixed up in D2, we went from Dante's Inferno, to somehow incorporating Egyptian lore that looked vaguely generic into the scenery...
3) D3 actually has STORY to the areas.
4) D3 incorporate spell runes, something I've been waiting for a long time.
5) D3 has crafting.
6) Art style is unique, or least inspiring.
7) D2 removed spell tomes. Would have been better to have both skill trees AND spell tomes, or simply distinguish it from WoW by going back to original system. Did not like warriors having spells, but the fun of finding loot, seeing my spells jack up, overwhelmed it...
8) Horadric cube was only innovative part of D2. Team went on to make Torchlight... Suddenly, a voice in the cloud proves I am right. "Wut? We give Diablo a facelift and it will sell?" "Yeah, let's remove all plot and meaning from our actions, give it a vague acuity, and we're in!" "Alright, I'm game! Let's copy a copy of a copy *cough*Nethack." If Hellgate was Meh, Torchlight was the damnation of modern gaming. No innovation = no future. I do not waste time with timewasters, too many past games to waste time on like... ta da... Morrowind, Arcanum, Bloodlines, Fallout, et cetera, et cetera, ad infinitum.

 

[Yeesh]

D3 looks innovative because...

1) D2 took tight atmosphere of D1 and reduced it into vague wandering... Never felt the tight atmosphere of horror again.
2) Suddenly, mythology was mixed up in D2, we went from Dante's Inferno, to somehow incorporating Egyptian lore that looked vaguely generic into the scenery...
3) D3 actually has STORY to the areas.
4) D3 incorporate spell runes, something I've been waiting for a long time.
5) D3 has crafting.
6) Art style is unique, or least inspiring.
7) D2 removed spell tomes. Would have been better to have both skill trees AND spell tomes, or simply distinguish it from WoW by going back to original system. Did not like warriors having spells, but the fun of finding loot, seeing my spells jack up, overwhelmed it...
8) Horadric cube was only innovative part of D2. Team went on to make Torchlight... Suddenly, a voice in the cloud proves I am right. "Wut? We give Diablo a facelift and it will sell?" "Yeah, let's remove all plot and meaning from our actions, give it a vague acuity, and we're in!" "Alright, I'm game! Let's copy a copy of a copy *cough*Nethack." If Hellgate was Meh, Torchlight was the damnation of modern gaming. No innovation = no future. I do not waste time with timewasters, too many past games to waste time on like... ta da... Morrowind, Arcanum, Bloodlines, Fallout, et cetera, et cetera, ad infinitum.

What? Torchlight was Fate II. Torchlight couldn't have been any more Fate II if it had been called Fate II. To even pretend Torchlight flowed from Diablo in any but the most abstract way is just crazy.

And as far as DIII innovation goes, how about the fact that they're removing potions? How stone cold does your heart have to be to not appreciate how ballsy that is? No potions in a fucking Diablo-type game? Who's ever done that? The Codex talks about innovation, but they only praise games which utterly lack it EDIT: or are ten+ years old. Weird.

 

[SharkClub]

why are you guys being cynical about diablo. what were you expecting. blizzard doesn't even refer to it as an rpg, they called it an action game at the blizzcon.

Actually, IIRC they call it an "Action RPG" on their site many times.

And it is, Diablo is an Action RPG, more than Mass Effect 2 anyway.

 

[AlaCarcuss]

why are you guys being cynical about diablo. what were you expecting. blizzard doesn't even refer to it as an rpg, they called it an action game at the blizzcon.

Actually, IIRC they call it an "Action RPG" on their site many times.

And it is, Diablo is an Action RPG, more than Mass Effect 2 anyway.

Yeah, I don't think you can get any more 'ARPG' than Diablo, seeing it pretty much defined the genre.

I know there's been plenty of games before and since that were more action with RPG elements - but the first thing that springs to mind when someone mentions ARPG these days is 'Diablo Clone'.

 

[ArcturusXIV]

D3 looks innovative because...

1) D2 took tight atmosphere of D1 and reduced it into vague wandering... Never felt the tight atmosphere of horror again.
2) Suddenly, mythology was mixed up in D2, we went from Dante's Inferno, to somehow incorporating Egyptian lore that looked vaguely generic into the scenery...
3) D3 actually has STORY to the areas.
4) D3 incorporate spell runes, something I've been waiting for a long time.
5) D3 has crafting.
6) Art style is unique, or least inspiring.
7) D2 removed spell tomes. Would have been better to have both skill trees AND spell tomes, or simply distinguish it from WoW by going back to original system. Did not like warriors having spells, but the fun of finding loot, seeing my spells jack up, overwhelmed it...
8) Horadric cube was only innovative part of D2. Team went on to make Torchlight... Suddenly, a voice in the cloud proves I am right. "Wut? We give Diablo a facelift and it will sell?" "Yeah, let's remove all plot and meaning from our actions, give it a vague acuity, and we're in!" "Alright, I'm game! Let's copy a copy of a copy *cough*Nethack." If Hellgate was Meh, Torchlight was the damnation of modern gaming. No innovation = no future. I do not waste time with timewasters, too many past games to waste time on like... ta da... Morrowind, Arcanum, Bloodlines, Fallout, et cetera, et cetera, ad infinitum.

What? Torchlight was Fate II. Torchlight couldn't have been any more Fate II if it had been called Fate II. To even pretend Torchlight flowed from Diablo in any but the most abstract way is just crazy.

And as far as DIII innovation goes, how about the fact that they're removing potions? How stone cold does your heart have to be to not appreciate how ballsy that is? No potions in a fucking Diablo-type game? Who's ever done that? The Codex talks about innovation, but they only praise games which utterly lack it EDIT: or are ten+ years old. Weird.

Torchlight was DEFINITELY Diablo done over again. They're descended from the same source--Nethack. And they all have common traits--randomized dungeons, loot, et cetera, just like Titan Queef.

Potions were relatively unimportant to Diablo to begin with, and ruined the gameplay experience for me by allowing me to "run away" and "power up" anytime I was in trouble. I am in favor of globe clicking. I also think a handy utility belt that gives me more spells & combinations (+ Runes!) to play with is going to be more utilizable for an Action-RPG than random potion clicking.

Also, dungeons have traps. Case closed!

 

[Xor]

Actually, they're descended from Rogue, hence the genre roguelike.

 

[Dantus12]

Having a pure nostalgia hit,and after so many bad copy`s of this game, and because of ex Troika Leonard Boyarsky:
Leonard: Well we actually have some hardcore D2 fans on our team, you know, so we’re always getting that opinion whether we want it or not... not that we don’t want it, but it’s, you know. So we take that into account, but you can’t make D2 in 3D, we need to bring it to the next place it needs to be. But that’s our starting point, you know, where do we want it to go as fans - where do we want to see the franchise go? So it’s a weird place to put your mind, because it’s what we delivered the fans 10 years ago, so what are we gonna deliver to them this time and how is that growing the franchise, you know, so we don’t restrict ourselves by that, but at the same time we don’t ignore it either.
I might wait for gameplay,but crafting sounds good,and lots of other aspects.

 

[Mrowak]

Having a pure nostalgia hit,and after so many bad copy`s of this game, and because of ex Troika Leonard Boyarsky:
Leonard: Well we actually have some hardcore D2 fans on our team, you know, so we’re always getting that opinion whether we want it or not... not that we don’t want it, but it’s, you know. So we take that into account, but you can’t make D2 in 3D, we need to bring it to the next place it needs to be. But that’s our starting point, you know, where do we want it to go as fans - where do we want to see the franchise go? So it’s a weird place to put your mind, because it’s what we delivered the fans 10 years ago, so what are we gonna deliver to them this time and how is that growing the franchise, you know, so we don’t restrict ourselves by that, but at the same time we don’t ignore it either.
I might wait for gameplay,but crafting sounds good,and lots of other aspects.

Link please?

 

[Dantus12]

Here is one ,but cant remember in which language I read the other one,stating that there are no arrows and bolts,and about crafting ,enchantments- trying to, here`s the one with Leonard:
http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2975113

 

[Needles]

http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2975113

This is just sad...

 

[ArcturusXIV]

Actually, they're descended from Rogue, hence the genre roguelike.

Good point, though Diablo designed are quoted as being directly influence by Nethack. Agree with Roguelike tag, however, Diablo was first to bring it mainstream. Anyone who copycats is obviously a Justin Bieber fan!

 

[CreamySpinach]

#1 the demo I have played isn't as impressive as I hoped.

I think from my time playing the demo that they need to rethink back to the days of the classic D1. Take a town like Tristram but have it out in the open.

I do have my gripe with Tristram too. I think some of the buildings need a layout such as the ones in Diablo II Act 2 Ghoulein so that the player can navigate around in the quest giver's homes.

I can objectively say that they need to fix some exploits related to walls again. Some destructibles can be exploited to perform a profitable act similar to the D2 Annhilus Charm scams that were popular.

I AM NOT CLAIMING THERE IS A WAY TO STEAL ITEMS.

 

[ArcturusXIV]

Actually, I'm hoping they fix Bots. I am tired of suicide machines running around without personalities.

 

[CreamySpinach]

Actually, I'm hoping they fix Bots. I am tired of suicide machines running around without personalities.

I think only some monsters would corpse explode that actually hurt.

I hated those toddler dolls that would run around in Act 3. Their voices were so frightening and the fact they would hunt me down so fast.

It made me feel like a punk kid beat up my sigon's army shiny paladin.

I do hope they concentrate on their scourge a bit better.