Diablo II Resurrected: Is Adding a New Class 25 Years Later Worth Buying it?

Diablo II: Resurrected (official site) is a clear example of a remaster that decided to preserve the original game and succeeded very well. It doesn't try to modernize everything or change the core experience. It maintains its essence and "soul" even under modern and polished graphics. This makes it both impressive and, at times, a little dated.

The remastered graphics are very good, the game's atmosphere remains striking, and the loot system still manages to hold attention quite well. On the other hand, some limitations remain. The inventory is small, certain mechanics can be confusing, and some systems make it clear that the game comes from another era.

Even with these limitations, there's something very special here. Diablo remains one of the most influential action RPGs ever made, and Resurrected allows newer players to discover this classic, while those who played it before can relive one of the most memorable experiences in video games.

Now, the question that always remains in these cases is: is it worth buying? Is it worth paying about $30 for a game that's over 25 years old just because they gave it a "coat of varnish"? Is the game still the same one you played on that white (or yellowish, depending on how long you've had it) CRT monitor PC? Let's talk about Diablo II: Resurrected, and if you have any questions, just leave a comment.

One of the first things that becomes clear in Diablo II: Resurrected is that it doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, like Warcraft III: Reforged tried to do (and failed). The core remains the same as it was over twenty years ago. What has really changed is the visual aspect. Beneath the new graphics, it's still practically the same Diablo II as before. Enemies, maps, abilities, and most systems continue to function exactly as in the old game.

This is noticeable in the animations, the movement of the characters and monsters. Everything is very stiff, as if it had only five animation frames, and despite this, it works. You don't feel this stiff movement because the visual aspect is so polished that it gives the impression of an indie game trying to emulate an old style.

The customization aspect leaves a little to be desired: in single-player mode, you choose a class, start with a weak pre-determined character, and progress as you fight monsters, acquire better equipment, and gain levels. The idea always revolves around gradually getting stronger, finding rare items, and facing more powerful enemies.

For those already familiar with the original game, it's like being home after years of traveling. The game's pace, the loot, the battles – everything is exactly as you remember it. You can even activate the old graphics and resolution to feel even more at home.

On the other hand, those who’ve never played Diablo II might find some things strange at first. The game doesn't explain many systems; you'll only understand several mechanics through practice, and you might get lost on the map for quite a while, as there's no clear indication of where the objective is.

"The devouring monster is in the forest and we need to eliminate it". Where in the forest? It's unclear. Go to the forest, eliminate everything in your path, and at some point, you'll find the monster. Have faith!

In a way, this is fun. You enter the game world, start exploring the areas, face monsters, and gradually understand how each part works. It's a type of experience that doesn't hold the player's hand too much, but ends up becoming quite engaging as the character evolves.

The graphics are the biggest highlight. The visual aspect is very well done – there's no denying that. Blizzard rebuilt the game from scratch and remade the graphics in 3D, but that dark style that marked Diablo II at its launch was faithfully preserved.

The scenarios – dungeons, forests, tombs – now have much more detail and seem much more alive than before. The lighting, or lack thereof, also greatly helps to reinforce that claustrophobic and dark atmosphere that has always been part of the series. The story scenes were also recreated from scratch, with a cinematic look, and they look very beautiful. They follow the same style as the old ones, but now with much higher quality.

As mentioned, it's possible to switch the visuals and resolution to the old format, but that's only for those who are nostalgic, because with the graphic quality and high resolution of current monitors, you'll realize how rudimentary the old graphics really were. But if you like it, we're not here to judge.

The gameplay is simple to understand: you leave a camp, traverse a map, eliminate everything you find in your path, collect the items they drop, and move on. It seems basic, but it ends up being quite engaging. Even twenty years after its release, you're still drawn to this cycle because of the expectation that the next monster will drop a better and stronger item.

And a better item makes all the difference. Sometimes, finding a superior weapon or armor is what determines the success of an attack. Each character and each class has its own abilities and a distinct combat style. You can use magic, bows, spears, clubs, axes, swords, or all of them together. Summoning animals or undead is also valid. Everything is allowed.

Over time, you begin to shape a specific build, deciding which skills to improve and which to ignore. There's a skill tree, and everything is very easy to understand. And if you want to get the most out of your character, the game is over twenty years old – there are certainly thousands of ready-made builds on the internet for all types of characters and stages of the game, from the beginning to the endgame.

One detail that could’ve been included as an improvement to the game's quality of life is that some decisions regarding skill point spending are permanent. More modern RPGs allow for a complete "respec", but that's not the case here.

One thing Diablo II always had, and which continues to work very well in Resurrected, is the dark and heavy atmosphere of the franchise. The game world is somber, hopeless, and full of demons. Safe areas are small and vulnerable, but leaving them always brings that feeling of "I'm going to die, lose everything, and have to start over".

The music is discreet and almost imperceptible most of the time, but it contributes greatly to making everything more tense and mysterious. The enemies are quite varied. You face everything from simple zombies, hedgehog rats, and possessed amazons to enormous demons and bosses that can defeat you in two hits. Even after so many years, the atmosphere – especially now that it’s been remade – still manages to hold the attention of those who are playing.

Diablo II has always had a high number of online players, and it's never been difficult to find a match; apparently, this remains true in the Resurrected version. It's possible to play solo throughout the campaign or join matches with other players.

As with any game that allows online play, many prefer to play alone and only resort to multiplayer when facing a very difficult section. There are criticisms in online discussions and communities regarding the need for a Battle.net account even in the Steam version and the requirement for an internet connection even in offline matches.

Not everything works perfectly all the time. At launch, some players reported server issues, and certain online functions aren't as polished as in more recent games. Still, when everything is working properly, playing in a group can be quite fun.

Even with all the nostalgia surrounding the game, it's still clear that Diablo II is a product of its time. It's like that elderly gentleman, muscular and in good health. He looks great, but his age is still there. And certain aspects of the game make that very evident.

A clear example is the inventory. The available space for carrying items is small, and you need to organize everything manually. You have to keep going back and forth to the city to sell or store equipment (and it's always good to have spare equipment).

Another issue is the lack of explanations about many of the game's mechanics. Unlike current games, which explain every detail in a multitude of (often intrusive) tutorials, here there’s a lot you need to learn on your own. For example, you have an item with the description "unidentified" and an "identification scroll" – it's easy to deduce what to do, but not every system is that intuitive.

The beginning of the campaign can also seem slower. The characters start out quite weak, movement is slow, and it takes a while for progress to start flowing. Those accustomed to more modern action RPGs may find these characteristics a little strange or even irritating. These are limitations that reveal the game's age and are part of its charm. Some appreciate it; others don't.

Diablo II: Resurrected is a 2021 game, almost four years old. So why are we talking about it now? Because, after twenty-five years, the Reign of the Warlock expansion brings the first new class to Diablo II: the Warlock, a character who uses dark magic, summons, and powers tied to demonic pacts.

This class comes with three skill trees that make it a mix of spellcaster and summoner. In addition, the DLC includes new items, equipment sets, new runes, and endgame changes, with updated Terror Zones and additional enemies.

Improvements that many players have been requesting for years have also been implemented, such as loot filtering and item stacking. However, the expansion doesn't bring any new acts or large areas to explore. A shame, as this could give the game an extra lease on life and attract back players who purchased the title about four years ago and have already left it aside in their library.

Pros

- Remastered graphics that show how a good remaster should be done;

- Addictive loot – you always have the feeling that a good item is coming next;

- The same dark atmosphere you know and love.

Cons

- Small inventory – managing items is a constant problem;

- Outdated systems that could’ve been modified to improve quality of life;

- Slow progression, which may irritate players accustomed to modern and casual RPGs.

Diablo II: Resurrected ends up being an interesting game precisely because the experience changes quite a bit depending on who is playing. For those who already knew the original, it works almost like a reunion with a classic. It's an opportunity to return to this game with updated graphics, but without losing what made Diablo II so memorable.

Nostalgia weighs heavily in this case. Many players feel as if they’re returning to another era of video games. Those who’ve never had contact with Diablo II may have a slightly different impression. The game is still fun, but some parts may seem old when compared to more recent action RPGs.

Even so, it's not difficult to understand why this game became a benchmark within the genre. Several systems that now appear in action RPGs started or gained strength precisely in Diablo II.

In the end, Diablo II: Resurrected doesn't try to reinvent the game. It takes a very important classic and presents it again with a more modern look. For many people, that's more than enough.