Diablo II

"Diablo II, back and better"

Diablo II has got to be the best game I have seen for the PC in a while. Blizzard really makes their games as awesome as possible. Starcraft is another game that is great from Blizzard, but with Diablo, They hit a grand slam. You really couldn't ask for more out of this game. I just have got to say I love it all the way around. Although I haven't REALLY played Diablo I, I've read about it. I believe it follows the same story relatively closely, as you have to kill the Lord of Terror for the second time.

Graphics: 10/10
This is really wonderful. Look at these graphics. I was wondering what kind of view you have and I realized it's a bird-eye view. You see your character, and see them change. You can change into new armor and you'll be able to tell. Also, if for example you wear Sigon's set, you appear a little more shimmery then usually. So you can really tell what the deal is. If you look at the gems, they are real. The swords, axes, picks, jewelery, armor, all of it is real. The graphics are just really well done.

Story: 9/10
The story is really predictable. Obviously, your going to fight Diablo until you win, but there are little quests that can help your character advance so that face-off won't be so darn hard. The video sequences tell the story for you, not the game. So if you watch the videos you get between acts, you will get the fully awesome story line that is with Diablo II. Hey, kept me wondering!

Gameplay: 10/10
This is were Diablo excels. You could do a million things and still come out successful. You can develope this skill, that skill, be a different character, develope strength, vitality, etc. Besides that, you can change your items all the time. AND, there are items that are unique and rare, so you will always be searching for these once in a life time items to jump up your character. From Diablo I, there were only three characters, fighter, mage, rouge. The fighter was physical, the mage magical, and the rouge balanced. Diablo II has gotten rid of this boringness, and gives you the option of five different characters who are all different but would eventually turn out equal. At the begining, the barbarian or paladin is the obvious choice. But later on, the necromancer becomes equal(and funner) than either character. It's just up to you how you play! I was really glad with the diversity of everything in Diablo II.

Replay: 10/10
How can you ever quit? You've got to get your character up to level 99, and even then, get your ultimate items. This provides a lot of replay. Plus a little spoiler, when you beat Diablo, you start back in act one, except it's harder. You get more experience off the dinky monsters. And, best yet, better stuff. Then after Nightmare, is Hell. hell is really hard, but the items there are awesome. If you've ever played on B.net, you know of the cow level. Without a big spoiler, I'll just say that that is classic and keeps the game alive for another five months. I can't stop playing this game. I LOVE it. After the original is the expansion, LoD. That jumps the game up 210%. It just is so fun to play, that I can't stop playing, even after playing and beating Hell difficulty. When does it quit? Never, because I got addicted to Diablo, and I'm sure you will to!

Music: 7/10
The music is ok. it's annoying at times, but you can turn it off. Really there's nothing else to say except a little joke with me and my friends. get used to the noise Da'Ling...Da'ling Da'ling. because in act one, that music gets inside your head! AHHH

Units review:

Paladin: One of the characters that takes less skill. You can have fun with a paladin, but he isn't really my favorite guy. He is slash and hack, with a bit of holy magic by his side. He just isn't fun for me. But a well trained paladin has beaten my B.net character, so if you have the know how, the paladin gets a 8/10

Amazon: She is an interesting character. She is skilled with a bow and arrow, or else spears and javelins. She has many skills that help her. Most of them can eventually become VERY powerful. She also has skills that are always in use, so she can avoid attacks and take less damage. Or else DO more damage. But the amazon is a well rounded character. 9/10

Necromancer: Some say AH. I say YEAH! The necromancer is definately a fun guy to play with. Although he is weak at the start, his minions are very skilled and if he is leveled enough, he can have about 63 minions following him! Try faceing that with your sorceress! You can't completely control your minions, but they whoop arse. If you max their skills, keep your Necro under control, because even 6 fully skilled guys can wreck havok beyond what you think they would. This guy takes an experianced player, and he can go far. But foor a n00b, don't try. I just love this guy. 10/10

Barbarian: This is me. A barbarian just walks in and slashes. Nothing else to it. He is the best guy to start with and the easiest to build up. He is the best through all the game. If you think I think highly of a necromancer, your right. But not as much as the Barbarian. He is so easy. There's no changing spells, no pain trying to decide what your going to do with him, just choose what kind of weapon you like, develope that mastery, and your set. The barbarian is the ultimate charater. Unless your computer lags on B.net, he's relatively unstopable. Some say he's to easy, but that's how I like it! I just love this guy, and I always begin playing as him. 11/10

Sorceress: BORING! She just takes to long to get to a point where she can actually do something. In multiplayer, Sorceresses usually can't beat the game themselves, and get rushed. Now how fun is that? I give it to em that they pwn later in the game when they are more experienced, but why wait? They just never were fun for me, and they lagged my computer. The Sorceress is definatley not for newbies, but for someone who has already planned out what skills they are going to develope, and what kind of fighter they will be. I hate the sorceress, she's just to hard to play with, but if you can get her to the point where she can actually own, she well deserves a 9/10

Overall: 10/10

I've got to say again, this is an awesome game. How could it be better? I expect to recieve LoD for Christmas this year, so that will have me writing a new review pretty soon. Diablo II is simply one of the most wonderful games ever made in my lifetime. I couldn't get enough. But before I close this review, let me say one thing: Don't cheat! It ruins the fun of the game, and you could get in trouble! Just buy the game, play it and have an awesome time doing so, because this game is obviously one of the best games EVER!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 12/24/03