Diablo 2: Resurrected review

Our Verdict

Despite its mesmerizing facelift and ingenious advancements, beneath the surface lies the timeless essence of the original Diablo 2, released back in 2000.

Input: Need to know.Crave for knowledge.

Behold! An extraordinary revamp of a frenetic action-packed RPG, taking place amidst the fiery depths of the underworld.

Anticipate a cost of $40 or £35.

Developer: Blizzard.

Publisher: Blizzard.

Tested on: Windows 10 operating system, powered by the mighty GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card, fueled by the mighty Intel Core i7-9700 processor, and backed by a solid 16GB of RAM.

Ready to embark on an electrifying gaming experience? Engage in multiplayer mayhem with a thrilling online capacity that accommodates a dynamic range of 1 to 8 players.

Out: Now.

Explore the enchanted realm through the Official site.

Diablo 2 possesses two contrasting speeds of gameplay. On one hand, you effortlessly obliterate hordes of undead creatures, witnessing their bones crumble into nothingness, and indulging in health potions without restraint. On the other hand, you cautiously navigate every path, filled with hesitation, as you nurse the dwindling pool of red in the bottom left corner of the screen, desperately hoping to avoid another demoralizing demise. In the year 2021, action role-playing games have become familiar territory, with titles like Torchlight, Grim Dawn, and Path of Exile perfecting the genre to a brilliant extent. However, my return to Blizzard’s timeless masterpiece revealed something unique – it rekindled my fear of the unknown, immersing me in darkness without the comfort of friendly checkpoints to rely on.

Released in the year 2000, Diablo 2: Resurrected faithfully adheres to its original blueprint while enhancing the visual experience with high-resolution graphics that can be toggled between the new and old aesthetics. It also introduces fresh technical advancements. As a solitary warrior, you embark on a journey through Blizzard’s desolate, biblical realm, brimming with quests, treasure chests, and countless hordes of demonic creatures, which you mercilessly vanquish with every click.

Even after the credits roll, the true veterans of Diablo 2 persist, tirelessly pushing multiple characters to the awe-inspiring level 99 cap. This game, once an obsession in the early 2000s, continues to possess the power to consume your days in 2021. Should you assemble the perfect crew of companions, you may discover yourself endlessly exploring various dungeons, ceaselessly unearthing the hidden treasures scattered across the farthest reaches of the loot table.

That’s definitely the aspect of Diablo 2: Resurrected that I adore the most. The contemporary gaming industry often burdens the enjoyable elements of games with tiresome progression grinds. When we log in, we are bombarded with time-limited discounts in the virtual store, a fiercely competitive market for cosmetic items, and a multitude of different currencies and stat tiers cluttering the home screen, leaving us feeling overwhelmed. However, this remastered version proudly embraces its antiquity, without any attempts to update it to fit the standards of the 21st century. Instead, we find ourselves immersed in a world where we slay zombies and meticulously compare the blue trident on the ground with the one currently equipped on our character sheet. There are no distractions like an auction house economy or a complex crafting system. Frankly, this is nothing short of revolutionary when compared to the constant bombardment of sales pitches that drain the joy out of nearly every other gaming experience on live servers.

Resurrected is a masterpiece of clever and understated changes. Gone are the days of creating melancholy and brute-like characters who exist solely as pack animals for your main characters. The player stash is now shared across all your accounts, allowing weapons to effortlessly pass between your Druid, Necromancer, and Barbarian. No more tedious task of collecting gold coins from fallen foes; in Diablo 2 adventurers, the coins are automatically collected, adding a subtle touch of efficiency to the game. Feeling the weight of the years since high school on your back? Sit back, relax, and indulge in Resurrected with a gamepad, grandpa.

Blizzard has revamped a significant portion of its previous game collection with varying levels of success (especially Warcraft 3: Reforged), but the attention to detail in the new version of Diablo 2 surpasses anything seen in those previous endeavors. With just a press of the “G” key, players can seamlessly switch back to the original graphics and marvel at the stunningly intricate artwork and lighting effects that have been added. I constantly discovered delightful surprises during my gameplay. The sewers of Lut Gholein now feature flowing streams of repulsive water, a completely unanticipated addition that was absent from the game when it was released in 2000. It’s truly astonishing what can be achieved when the visual elements are not confined to a measly 800 by 600 resolution.

The updates go beyond the breathtaking destruction of Sanctuary. In Resurrected, I’ve immersed myself as a courageous Amazon named Arlene. She dons a robust suit of steel armor, which contrasts with the previous, more revealing portrayals of her attire. Blizzard finds itself embroiled in a complex legal predicament, facing accusations of widespread sexism and harassment within the company. Given these circumstances, the studio may not receive significant acclaim for removing objectification from one of its beloved characters. Nevertheless, it remains a thoughtful gesture.

Nevertheless, even with all these modifications and advancements, a lingering desire within me yearns for Resurrected to push boundaries beyond imagination. Although I hold deep admiration and appreciation for the dedicated Diablo 2 enthusiasts who crave an authentic dungeon-crawling experience, I can’t help but question the necessity of our limited inventory. Must we endure the relentless corpse runs, rummaging through our own remains to retrieve our misplaced equipment, time after time?

The memory of Diablo 2 arriving prior to the action bar revolution had slipped my mind. In this game, you had the ability to assign two different abilities to both the left and right click, while the remaining spells in your spellbook were confined to standby mode on the F1 through F8 keys. However, just four years later, Blizzard would unveil World of Warcraft and completely transform the way RPGs were designed. From then on, we were blessed with a reliable set of icons easily accessible. Undoubtedly, this was a much preferable alternative to the constant upkeep of the year 2000, where we awkwardly struggled to recall the exact location of our poison darts.

However, I must clarify that I am not a devoted Diablo 2 enthusiast, and that is precisely who Resurrected is calling out to. This is not a video game intended to introduce a new wave of survivors from Tristram – that responsibility will undoubtedly fall upon the upcoming Diablo 4. Instead, the players gathered here have all been engrossed in Diablo 2 for years, and now they have a more visually appealing, smoother, and user-friendly version to indulge in, with slightly fewer complexities. Newcomers may experience the same trepidation of the unknown that I recently rekindled, and they might grow to cherish it just as much, but only if they are willing to embrace the norms of the year 2000, no matter how outdated they may appear.

The Revival of Diablo 2: Unleashed.

Despite its mesmerizing facelift and ingenious advancements, beneath the surface lies the timeless essence of the original Diablo 2, released back in 2000.

Luke Winkie, a versatile journalist, has made significant contributions to various esteemed publications such as PC Gamer, The New York Times, Gawker, Slate, and Mel Magazine. While he indulges in writing about popular gaming topics like Hearthstone, World of Warcraft, and Twitch culture for PC Gamer, Luke also showcases his expertise through his newsletter On Posting. With a passion for being an active online presence, Luke spends countless hours delving into the hidden realm of Likes and dissecting the tangled web of inter-publication conflicts, treating it as if he were meticulously studying Super Bowl footage. Little did he know, the harsh realities of the journalism industry were yet to reveal themselves when he first embarked on his career after graduating from journalism school.

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