TheDiablo 2 ResurrectedTechnical Alpha has served as an early test for the game’s potential, offering a first glimpse of how the early hours of the game are shaping up. So far, not only has the alpha painted a promising picture forDiablo 2 Resurrected’sfull release, but ifDiablo 4is up to the same quality standard, fans of the franchise are in for a treat.
Diablo 2is one of the most iconic PC games of all time, often being cited as the most coveted entry in the franchise. Of course, 20 years have passed since it released, and in that time games have changed a lot. On the surface, it’s hard to compareDiablo 2Resurrectedto whatDiablo 4will be, asDiablo 3shook up the formulain a number of ways and the next entry will likely continue that trend.
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WithDiablo 2’s hardcore mechanics also in mind, things are even less certain. However, differing game mechanics aside,Diablo 2 Resurrected’s Technical Alphasets a bar forDiablo 4simply based on how smooth it is. IfDiablo 4manages to capture the same buttery qualities thatResurrectedseems to have even in its current state, thenDiablo 4could end up being one of the best modern ARPGs on the market.
What Diablo 2 is Getting Right
The formula for success is readily apparent forDiablo 2: Resurrected.Fans have been asking for a remake of the game for years now, with community members stepping up to fill the void with their own remakes. While seeingDiablo 2: Resurrectedcome to fruition is a great thing, it’s been a long time coming, so the Technical Alpha going smoothly is the early assurance that fans need from Blizzard.
To sum it up,Diablo 2:Resurrectedfeels almost exactly like the original did, just dialed up to eleven with higher resolutions, a better UI, and a laundry list of other improvements fans of the game had been asking for. Getting it right is a tall order, and after the small disaster ofWarcraft 3 Reforged,it’s understandable that fans are concerned.
After going hands-on with the Alpha, though, it’s easy to seeVicarious Visions, which is now working onDiablo 2: Resurrectedunder a new name, holds the game in high regard. It’s approaching the game the same way it has approached some of its other top-tier remakes. In fact, the originalDiablo 2is essentially running underneath the game the entire time, withResurrectedacting as a sort of overlay for the game, ensuring it feels accurate.
Classic feel aside, though,Diablo 2: Resurrectedis nailing the art style of the original and making it feel incredibly smooth to play. Watching characters attack, enemies move, and spell effects burst out is shockingly cool, a culmination of all the other details that have been fine-tuned for the game. There’s still a hint of that classic game jank, but it’s charming.
Why That’s Great for Diablo 4
Diablo 4has been a long time coming, with fans asking for a sequel toDiablo 3for years now. While the road to getting here was rocky, particularly due to thereaction toDiablo Immortal,fans have received just about everything they’ve been asking for in the last year or so. Considering where the franchise was at in 2018 compared to now is quite the leap.
What’s clear from earlyDiablo 4gameplay, though, is how much promise the project shows. The evolution fromDiablo’s humble beginnings is becoming increasingly clear, withDiablo 4proving itself to be the next step the franchise has needed. It may seem odd comparing an evolution of the franchise toDiablo 2,considering thatDiablo 2is technically a step back, but there’s more here than what meets the eye.
Diablo 2has maintained its relevance because its core gameplay loop is immensely satisfying, even if the world has moved on where hardcore game mechanics are concerned. Obviously,Diablo 2 ResurrectedandDiablo 4are being handled by separate teams, so it’s impossible to make a 1-to-1 comparison for how the projects will feel.
However, it’s key thatDiablo 4maintain the same quality of smooth gameplay and mechanics.Diablo 2is the right direction for the team to move, and seeing the Technical Alpha knock it out of the park should be reassuring for fans that have anxiously awaited anewDiablogame. It’s an indication that Blizzard knows which direction the franchise should be heading in, and that, ultimately, is a great thing for fans of both games.
What Comes Next
The future of theDiablofranchise has been more or less shrouded for a while now, but there’s a slowly emerging image of what the future holds. After a long drought of no new games, fans are now getting three titles, scratching the itch for longtime fans, newcomers to the franchise, and even mobile gamers. While Blizzard’s communication of the future has been a bit muddy, it’s hard not to be optimistic.
Things could still go wrong, butDiablo 2,at the very least, seems to be in the right hands. IfDiablo 4is able to keep a modern feel with the same smoothness, fans shouldn’t be too worried about what the future of the game looks like. That even extends toDiablo Immortal,which is trying to leverage some of the unique characteristics of smartphones to make an innovativeDiablogame.
Until fans get serious hands-on time withDiablo 4andDiablo Immortal,it’s understandable that some people will remain skeptical. If things continue as they have for these last few months, though, it could indicate that theDiablofranchise is back in a big way.
Diablo 4andDiablo 2: Resurrectedare currently in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
