

While you will find it hard to pry me away from my mouse and keyboard in a Diablo game, this was the first time I’ve been tempted due to the ease of use. Players can assign skills to buttons easily and should make for a slick console experience. This is the first time Diablo II can be played on a controller, and it’s smooth, intuitive, and responsive.

By using some form of technical alchemy, the new game is layered directly over the old, and it’s stunning. The new visuals are incredibly faithful to the old vision, with almost none of the notable missteps we saw with Warcraft 3: Reforged where critical units ended up looking strange. While the old graphics look atrocious today and are even challenging to gaze on for long, they are a testament to Vicarious Visions’ graphical upgrade. I spent a ton of time with this feature, experiencing jaw-dropping moments as I compared the old with the new in each Act. In a bit of a curious and way-too-enjoyable addition to the game, players can swap between the old graphics and the new graphics with the touch of a button in real-time, even as spells, effects, and abilities fire off. I said “Well, that’s pretty much how it was…” However, that’s incredibly far from the truth. At first glance, the new look might not seem like much. The significant change here is, of course, the graphics, which go up to 4k. To learn more about the proceedings thus far, including details listed in the lawsuit against Activision Blizzard, please check out our previous coverage here. The bulk of the suit focuses on "violations of the state's civil rights and equal pay laws," specifically regarding the treatment of women and other marginalized groups. The ongoing lawsuit from the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) against the company is over reported toxic workplace culture. It is important to keep in mind what is going on within Activision Blizzard at this time regarding ongoing allegations about the work culture. Diablo II: Resurrected is an incredible revamp of one of the most important and influential games in history that begs to be experienced by newcomers and veterans alike. Of course, the original graphics looked nothing like this back in 2000, and viewing them today is something of a historical horror. Looking back on the original today, it’s genuinely fascinating how this remaster paints over the old graphics with a masterful brush, showcasing the grim fantasy environments and deadly bosses precisely as I remember them. DruidĪ keeper of the wilds, Druids can shapeshift into vicious werewolf and werebear forms, command animal companions, and release primal spells of earth, fire, wind and cold to cataclysmic effect.With Diablo II: Resurrected, Blizzard and the Vicarious Visions team did something I thought impossible – they successfully recreated Diablo II the way my mind remembers it. SorceressĬommanding the elements, the learned Sorceress dispatches enemies from afar with calculated blasts of fire, cold, and lightning spells-invaluable skills against the armies of the Burning Hells. Exuding powerful auras, the Paladin combines martial prowess with protective enchantments to redeem the land and send demons back to the abyss. PaladinĪ Paladin’s faith is his weapon and his shield. BarbarianĪ nomadic wanderer, the Barbarian combines brawn and ruggedness with a mastery of weapons, using devastating melee attacks along with war cries to boost his allies-or demoralize his enemies. NecromancerĪ Necromancer’s dominion over life and death grants this grisly apothecary the ability to summon skeleton armies and golems, and to unleash baneful poison, curse, and bone skills upon his foes. AssassinĪ member of an ancient Vizjerei order founded to hunt down mages gone rogue, the Assassin is a martial arts expert who uses deadly traps and shadow disciplines to vanquish evil. She relies on magic prowess to enhance her significant martial abilities. Which hero will you choose? AmazonĪ master of the javelin and bow, the Amazon reacts to combat situations with superhuman agility. Each class in Diablo II: Resurrected has access to 30 unique skills.
