The start of a massive RPG franchise
Diablo is an adventure game from Blizzard North, the first entry in a long line of successful fantasy role-playing games. In this classic game, you get to try out the original 1997 game. Enter treacherous dungeons and fight hordes of monsters as you try to reach the Lord of Terror himself, Diablo.
The use of distinct character classes and procedurally generated maps set the difficulty as well as the opportunity for different play styles in Diablo. Compare its dated graphics and mechanics with its successors, Diablo II: Lord of Destruction and Diablo III: Reaper of Souls.
Save the Kingdom of Khanduras
Diablo is set in the Kingdom of Khanduras, a western kingdom in the world of Sanctuary where the entire franchise takes place. You start your journey in the town of Tristram and meet characters such as Deckard Cain, a recurring character in subsequent titles. Explore the Cathedral, the dungeons, the catacombs, the caves, and the levels of hell. It only has a single ending scenario that is surprisingly challenging to reach.
In this game, there are three character classes available. Each of the classes starts out with different attributes and a unique skill. Other than that, they can use essentially the same items and spells instead of class-specific abilities as in its later iterations. Playable characters include:
- The Warrior is a physically-focused character that excels in close-range combat. With Strength as its primary attribute, it has the skill to repair objects.
- The Sorcerer is the most physically-weak character class but makes up for it with a wide range of destructive spells. Its primary attribute is Magic and has the ability to recharge a spell staff.
- The Rogue is a ranged fighter that is between the first two in terms of durability. Its main attribute is Dexterity and can disarm traps in the dungeons.
Dated tech, timeless media
While it only has a single location, Diablo manages to make its gameplay interesting in terms of visual design. For example, caves are designed to be confusing and non-linear while catacombs offer narrow corridors and a lot of prison cells. What makes this even more challenging is that the levels are procedurally generated, making it effectively a roguelike game. With 16 levels to go through, it makes the game massively replayable.
Diablo also supports multiplayer games, with periodic saving for each of the characters’ states. As an open multiplayer experience, you can play with or against other players. Whether it’s a coop or a PvP game depends entirely on you, without the need to make settings in your servers. Additionally, since it was designed for small local games, it lacks modern anti-cheat measures from later titles.
Also, for the visuals, it is designed to play on 640 x 480 displays. This 4:3 aspect ratio does not translate well for modern display devices, not to mention the fact that the visual integrity is compromised if it’s stretched for modern resolutions. The overall visual themes work well with its original soundtrack that captures the creepy yet action-packed vibes of the game.
A classic fantasy RPG
Overall, Diablo is a fun action RPG that has stood the test of time. While the technical restrictions are apparent, it’s a good game to look back to, especially while considering the impact it has made not just on the franchise, but on the rest of the fantasy RPG genre. Explore procedurally-generated levels that further add to the game’s challenging nature. Despite its age, it’s still recommended.
