Resurrecting Hope

How do you set and temper expectations when your favorite game of all time is about to be remastered? It’s nerve racking in an age where some remakes and remasters soar and others are nothing but shoddy cash grabs. Let’s rewind a bit and say that honestly, a few years ago, I wondered if Diablo II ever could be or would be remade or remastered. I knew that with the graphical engine, changes in ARPGs overall and modern convenience would never be conducive to a solid let alone a perfect remake or remaster. Yet, here we are, April 2021, and I am playing the Early Access Technical Alpha to Diablo II that has turned out to be a geek dream come true…

I am pleased to say that from the graphics, the new effects, the controls (controllers are supported as well!), and being to switch on the fly between the original DII: LoD graphics and engine to the modern engine is just awesome. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I can’t express how strange (in a good way) it is to play Diablo II in 60 FPS at ultrawide and 4K settings. At first, it’s a little jarring, especially if you switch between the old engine and new. You realize how janky the original feels after playing at a higher framerate. Also, being able to zoom in and out is a joy as show in our video below. Be sure to hold the F key and use your mouse wheel for a smoother zoom in/out. Also, click on any of the screens below to see a full resolution version to see the incredible detail in the new graphics engine.

Graphically speaking, every resolution and aspect ratio listed below I have tried has worked flawlessly in both Windowed and Full Screen modes. It truly is amazing to have this flexibility with the base game still running underneath.

1600x1200
2560x1440
3440x1440
3840x1600
3840x1700
3840x2160 (4K)

You cannot imagine how perfect the new engine is until the sheets of rain pierce a dark night in the starting Rogue Camp. It’s truly stunning.

While I am still in Act I (You can finish up to Act II in the Alpha), I am taking my time, exploring every nook and cranny, taking in the awesome music, audio, and atmosphere that made me fall in love with the ARPG oh so many years ago. The QoL features such as auto gold pickup and graphics do not take away from the original game’s combat, loot, atmosphere, etc and in fact, it makes it so much better. That is exactly what we were all wishing for. I can’t believe I am playing the game I’ve always dreamed of and so far, Blizzard and Vicarious Visions have completely knocked it out of the park.

More coverage to come but be sure to sign up for the Technical Alpha for your chance to play one of the best remasters in recent memory…