Though every cocky conspiracy theorist this side of Irvine, California was telling us that this announcement was inevitable, in reality you can only try to predict Blizzard's plans, as their lips remain sealed until the moment when rumour and conjecture become reality.
Diablo III is the real, true-blood sequel to Diablo II and its expansion, Lord of Destruction. For those who joined the Blizzard fanbase with World of Warcraft, Diablo is a popular hack 'n' slash series where you slice up hordes of monsters, gaining experience in a multitude of randomly generated and static dungeons.
If it ain't broke...
"The core philosophies of this game are based on what we did with the franchise so far, and that's our launching point," explains Brian Morrisroe, self-confessed Diablo fanboy and Diablo III's art director.
"At the same time, it's been a while since we launched Lord of Destruction. The fans are expecting new things, and we're going to give them a fresh, fun experience.
"Things like the new classes, animated environments, the 3D engine and the new health globe system really freshen up the experience."
Said health globe system replaces piles of potions with glowing red orbs, dropped by slain enemies, that heal you and anyone near you when they're touched. This makes the game more mobile and in co-operative situations lets you save your partner from a quick death, rewarding those who keep close to each other.
While this sounds like a naff idea on paper, it fits well into the Diablo system. You'll spend more time fighting across the battlefield than hoping you've hotkeyed your potions.
And more importantly, it removes the slog of having to go to town to replenish your stocks of healing potions. The orbs are intended to keep you in the place you want to be - the thick of a gigantic battle.
Another trick Blizzard have up their sleeves is a destructible, animated environment - even if much of the dungeon design will remain as randomly-generated as ever.
Players can bring walls down upon enemies and smack them off bridges. Pots shake as you stomp the floor and explosions blow up furniture.
"We're really hoping to push the interactive environments throughout the game as a true tactical motif. It's something we committed ourselves to early on in development, because we wanted to bring them to life and make them a core part of the experience," beams Morrisroe.
Diablolical
Though details of the story are light on the ground, we do know that it's been 20 years since the Archangel Tyrael destroyed the corrupted Worldstone at the end of Lord of Destruction.
This event was supposed to ensure that the forces of Hell were released upon mankind, but this apocalypse didn't pan out.
As nobody has heard from the Archangel since, no-one believes the ramblings of the now-aged Deckard Cain and everything has turned into a somewhat baffling legend.
But it's fair to guess that mankind hasn't seen the last of those hellish brutes this time round. Blizzard's challenge now is to successfully refresh the series without removing what makes it Diablo.
"Everything we do is about staying true to the franchise. Across the board, we want to keep it old, but bring a new life to it," nods Morrisroe. And like it or not, Diablo is a series that has always succeeded in doing the basic hack and slashery well, as proven by the various pretenders over the years that have lacked the special quality that has made your correspondent play through the single-player campaign of Diablo II eight times.
Leaving the interview, Morrisroe and I exchange final pleasantries, and he notices my shaking hands and glazed expression.
He just grins at me and says, "Man, I wish you could play it. If you liked Diablo II, you're going to love this." I certainly think I might.
Comments
28 comments so far...
themadjock on 23 Jul '08 said:
If they stay true to the original 2 and retain the same feel, leveling up, items and add online co-op this could be amazing.
And keep the same music played when in the village...
ginsin on 23 Jul '08 said:
I'm seriously looking forward to this game. It's looking great so far!
Wurmbollie on 23 Jul '08 said:
I can't wait for this game. Definite must buy for me.
Mogs on 23 Jul '08 said:
They've waited far too long to make this game imo. The genre is moving on from this style of game as it has been completely worn-out.
cykosis on 23 Jul '08 said:
Can't wait to get my mitts on this. Diablo 2 is still a good laugh.
ryddah on 24 Jul '08 said:
the Top-down veiw is a vital factor to Diablo you cannot make the game without it.
But...
..I have watched a 15min game footage video and am feeling very let down, the video shows of the new level of detail which although is a sexy thing to see, it is very WoW-like in evironment, cartoony floor textures and wall paint, the game is enveloped in a blue hazy aura and the light radius is completly missing.
Many people feel the same way....that this is a too light hearted take on what Diablo represents. Many people in the fan community have personally edited in game screens making them darker, claustraphobic and much, much more blood.
Google about to find some of these comparison shots, I strongly suggest you take a look...here are a few links :-
http://i27.tinypic.com/vep6ix.jpg
http://i27.tinypic.com/2jexp1x.jpg
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l318/ ... ablo32.jpg
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l318/ ... ablo31.jpg
DukeJib on 24 Jul '08 said:
The early footage is very Impressive and true to the basics of Diablo Series. I am sure the third game will be bolder and better than diablo2.
Vyvrtka on 24 Jul '08 said:
Just, stop. Okay? Yes we already heard the whining. Sheesh, just stop please.
Man, it's amazing how people can complain about a whole game from 20 minutes of gameplay with a fking tiny bit of the game world.
Stop. You are boring.
Anonymous on 24 Jul '08 said:
Whats the release date, I'm looking forward to the 60 hours of mindless clicking and bashing..... . Hail Titan Quest!!
Asdaq on 24 Jul '08 said:
The new Diablo3 footage is not at all like WoW. See the following link for a few comparison screenshots between the two games: http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?t=670641
Besides the screenshots of the "improved" Diablo3 are photoshopped, a lot. It's not fair to compare ingame screenshots to heavily photoshopped screenshots. This may increase the requirements to play the game too much if Diablo3 would be made to look just like those screenshots. How about a few screenshots where only the saturation/brightness/gamma/color palette are tweaked to prove your point?
Edit:
It's Blizzard... No one knows the release date.
ginsin on 24 Jul '08 said:
I'm a big fan of Diablo II, and Diablo III looks great to me graphics wise.
People love a moan. Like me with Banjo-Kazooie 3
ryddah on 24 Jul '08 said:
Dont expect the game to ship before 2010 so expect the requirements to be largly beyond what the average pc is capable of today. I also said it is WoW-like in environment, which it is... fair enough a prettier, suped up version but just take a look at the environment polygons..."Asdaq"
Yes these screens are heavliy photoshopped but it has nothing todo with that fact, its about them representing a visual style that is kindred with the Diablo series which is missing. They arent there to show "Oh.. I can do this better!..Watch", its a suggestion of reproach.
And Vyvrtka... I'm not whining, I am just informing people of a situation and at the end of the day this forum is for people's opinioins. So go change your colostomy bag, have a Coke an a smile....Jumped up sausage goblin.
ginsin on 24 Jul '08 said:
Just because the game has actual colour and warm tones, doesn't automatically make it non-dark and lacking atmosphere.
I expect the game when it's completed to have a ton of atmosphere while feeling gritty and dark.
Lord Magnos on 24 Jul '08 said:
Aiiee, the colours, the brightness, MY EYES ARE MELTING! I'll sit in a darkened room for a while and sign a petition when I've calmed down.
Lord Magnos on 24 Jul '08 said:
Am I missing something? I LIKED Titan Quest!
ryddah on 24 Jul '08 said:
in the name of satan's fetted foreskin!
I'm not talking about the finished fu*king game, you senseless goat herders!
Random Hangman on 24 Jul '08 said:
Err... with respect... if you wanted all of the above, why don't you just play the first two and save the money???
Vyvrtka on 25 Jul '08 said:
ryddah: Lower the saturation on your monitor and stop whining. Why don't you do us all a favor and shut yer trap and actually wait to see a BIT more from the game, eh? Just gtfo, go sign some petition please.
OH NOES! DIABLO 3 HAS COLORS! MY EEEEYES! MY EEEEYES!
...
Act 2 in Diablo2? What's that? It was bright and all yellowish? NO WAY! DIABLO 2 WAS, LIKE, TOTALY DARK WITHOUT COLORS! IT WAS, LIKE, SO DARK YOU COULDN'T EVEN FIND YOUR WAY OUT OF THE TOWN!!1!!!one!1eleven!
ryddah on 25 Jul '08 said:
are you a monkey?...or just practicing?
read the bastard posts without this thought running thru your water buiscit sized brain..."Oooo lets read somthing and jump to mis-judgement and then give them abuse".
Read the bastard thing!
I cannot be happier that this game is in development! and there is no question about myself purchaseing the product!
I was imforming people of the situation arisen, its how word gets around... now stop your complaining.
The game is being made for the fans and it seems the fans are a might disapointed.
Anonymous on 26 Jul '08 said:
Why the hell would anyone want to buy this, when Warhammer Online is only a month away?
Is everyone around here brain dead?
Lord Magnos on 26 Jul '08 said:
Can't say I'm excited about another MMO ,but Diablo 3? I'm there already,I still can't think of any thing negative about Titan Quest ,except maybe there could have been a proper ending though.
CruE on 27 Feb '12 said:
Great job, nice write up.
Can't wait for the game to come out.
ryuis1337 on 28 Feb '12 said:
Cant wait too get my hands on this game..
cndeadgirls on 28 Feb '12 said:
so hyped to play this game hope i can win a key ")
Raq0885 on 28 Feb '12 said:
i love this Beauty game
puscifer91 on 28 Feb '12 said:
lets all hope that all these years of waiting will pay off...
if this turn out to be big disappointment blizzard is f*cked up...
relixo on 29 Feb '12 said:
Jesus, i really cant wait this game! Pls god bless with one beta key!
kkuchnia92 on 5 Mar '12 said:
Cant wait for it to finaly be released, been waiting way toooo long for this game
