With the official reveal ofDiablo 2: Resurrectedat the 2021 BlizzCon event, fans have been wondering what sorts of changes the remastered edition will bring. Thankfully, Blizzard seems intent on recapturing the essence of the originalDiablo2,while many of the new QoL adjustments will be toggleable. One of the most interesting changes inDiablo 2: Resurrectedis that, while the game will be rebuilt in 3D, it’ll also feature the ability to swap over to the original 2D sprites.
Players will be able to experienceDiablo 2in 3D for the first time ever, but it’s still going to be the same game underneath the new polish. The logic, pathing, drop rates, and game code all remain faithful to the original, and players will notice that most of the graphics are distinctly familiar. ThoughDiablo 2: Resurrectedis more modernized due to its graphics overhaul, it nonetheless remains the classic ARPG that fans fell in love with 20 years ago.
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Changing to 3D, but Retaining the Diablo 2 Feel
The biggest change inDiablo 2: Resurrectedis the graphics overhaul, where Blizzard has opted to transform the game into 3D for the first time. Featuring a new graphical engine, Blizzard has stated thatDiablo 2: Resurrectedwill feature new animations, models, and textures alongside a 60 FPS upgrade from the original 25 FPS. At the same time though, the graphics change isn’t a remake as the original 2D game still exists underneath. In fact, players will have the option to swap back to the original graphics at any time and the new graphics engine essentially runs on top of the originalDiablo 2.
ThoughDiablo 2: Resurrectedwill feature significant changes, such as 4K support and 144 Hz refresh rates on PC, the old game underneath will remain the same. to accomplish this, Blizzard went to great lengths to find original concept art, 3D models, and renders in order to keep the new graphics as faithful as possible to the original. Any modernization change inDiablo 2: Resurrectedis only a visual upgrade and the core gameplay elements remain untouched.
Accessibility and Graphical Overhauls
Another interesting approach toDiablo 2: Resurrectedis the changes made to accessibility features. Importantly,Diablo 2: Resurrectedwill feature a number of accessibility features such as a colorblind and low-vision mode, controller support, and text changes. Fundamentally, these options don’t change any of the core gameplay elements and it’s no surprise that Blizzard has adopted these features in order to modernize the game. Other accessibility options such as auto-loot will be toggleable as they do change the feel of the originalDiablo 2.
Following this design philosophy, there were somefeatures from the originalDiablo 2that did require a graphical overhaul. For example, Blizzard has confirmed that the cutscenes will be completely remade instead of being upscaled. Working together with people from the originalDiablo 2team, the cutscenes will be created from scratch with modern CGI shot-for-shot. Furthermore, many of the UI features will also receive graphical upgrades while retaining the classic look of the originalDiablo 2.
WhileDiablo 2: Resurrectedwill not fundamentally changemany of the aspects of the original game, Blizzard is able to modernize the remaster through graphical overhauls and accessibility changes. Importantly, if a modernized feature will impact the feel of the game in any way, that feature will likely be toggleable so that veterans will be able to jump right back into the game. With the ability to swap between new and old graphics,Diablo 2: Resurrectedis shaping up to be a great experience for newcomers and veterans alike.
Diablo 2: Resurrectedlaunches later this year for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
