Diablo II's graphics are somewhat disappointing. They have not changed
significantly from the original Diablo. While the graphics and
environments are rich, they are stuck in 640x480 resolution, making them appear
slightly clunky, especially on larger monitors. One can only imagine how
gorgeous this game would look if it could be run at 1024x768 or higher.
The addition of large outdoor areas to explore is a good feature of Diablo
II. It increases the size of the worlds to explore in each of the game's
acts and gives the player a greater sense of depth in the Diablo gameworld.
The skill trees further enhance the game's replayability. Not only are
the maps different and the locations changed, but when starting a new game the
player is given a whole new set of strategies to learn and master, as well as a
new set of powers to discover.
Hirelings are a nice addition as well, although they are not as useful as one
would hope. They have a propensity to die and occasionally get themselves lost,
and are best used going in to tight situations where they can draw some of the
heat away from you.
Another minor complaint is that the automap appears superimposed over the
game screen. Depending on the environment, this can make the game area
very difficult to see when the map is displayed. This is especially the
case in the second act. The action takes place in a desert environment of
browns and yellows and the automap marks boundaries in red. Needless to
say this can make the automap more of a hindrance than a help in certain
situations.
All things considered, Diablo II is a fascinating game that will keep you
occupied for hours. It's high degree of replayability and pure adrenaline
pumping action will keep you coming back for more. It is one of
those rare games where most players will actually want to play it through to the
finish - more than once.
In The End, This Game Hath Been Rated: 91%.
Higher resolution graphics and a better automap feature would make this game
rate even higher.
System Requirements: 233 MHz Pentium II CPU; 32 MB RAM;
2 MB Video RAM; 4x CD-ROM; 650 MB Hard Drive Space; Mouse.
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