Diablo II: Resurrected Reviews

Diablo 2 Resurrected is a brilliant way to rediscover an indisputable classic, whether you're a veteran or taking your first look back at Diablo's roots.

“Diablo II: Resurrected preserves the original game while still showing just why it was considered a legendary game in the first place.”

Diablo 2 Resurrected is more of a remaster than a true remake. Its changes are mostly aesthetic. It's still a game that every player should try.

I have been looking forward to Diablo II: Resurrected ever since it was announced because it was the one game in the Diablo series I had missed. I know Diablo II has been playable for the last 20 years on PC, but I also tend to have a hard time playing old games due to lower quality graphics and outdated mechanics. These things didn’t bother me when they were current, but at this point, they feel archaic. I also enjoyed playing Diablo III on the Switch, so I jumped at the opportunity to pla...

Despite Blizzard’s recent track record of poor decisions and mishandling of the Warcraft 3 remake, in the case of Diablo 2 Resurrected, Blizzard shows they’re able to deliver on a solid remaster that improves the visuals and effects of the game, while still maintaining its classic charms.

Blizzard is a studio with several classics under its belt. Many a PC gamer grew up on Blizzard titles like Warcraft, Diablo and Starcraft, and I'm one of them. Despite the toxic work environment, which means you're allegedly more likely to get abused than to be offered a cup of coffee, I can't help but deny the calibre of their titles. It's a shame the company is seemingly rotten to the core, guilty of inequality of harassment, facing several ongoing investigations and lawsuits—anyway, the game. Following Warcraft III: Reforged, Activision didn't trust Blizzard to develop Diablo II: Resurrected, handing it over to Vicarious Visions, leaving Blizzard in charge of the backend and Battle.Net integration.

Never would I have believed that in the year 2021 I’d be sat playing Diablo 2 on a console. And thanks to Diablo 2: Resurrected, with its wonderfully mapped controls and stunning visuals, it doesn’t have to be an eyesore or an ordeal. Some will instantly be put off by the lack of local co-op, but for those happy to play on their own or with others online, Diablo 2: Resurrected remains one of the best action RPGs of all time. It may be a bit clunkier than I remember it to be, but not offputtingly so, and once you’ve taken your first steps and started developing your character of choice, it’s hard to not be totally consumed by the game’s dark world and all that it offers. Diablo 2 is back, and until Diablo 4 emerges from the bowels of hell, it’ll do just nicely. Though I’ll probably be playing it beyond that, too.

Some people were waiting for Diablo 2 Resurrected more than for Diablo 4, Last Epoch, Lost Ark or any upcoming hack'n'slash gaming giant. I understand, because Vicarious Visions gave us a powerful nostalgia trip, but we'll see how long this drag will last.

Diablo 2 is one of those monolithic games that stand as a pillar in the history of gaming. When it was released on PC in 2000, it changed the CRPG paradigm and set the standards for loot tiers and generation that many games still follow today. Diablo 2: Resurrected looks to preserve all the aspects that made the original so groundbreaking while updating the visuals for modern resolutions.

Diablo II: Resurrected recreates the best parts of the original game with a fresh coat of paint. However, the core gameplay design feels a bit dated.

Diablo 2: Resurrected is a great remake of a real classic. It looks and feels just how I remember it from playing in the early 2000s, but with cooler lighting and sharper graphics. It has a few control issues with when using a controller, but it's still a must-play for anyone who used to play it and misses it, and a strong recommendation to anyone else who likes action RPGs, dark and grim atmospheres, or who just wants to experience a treasure from the now distant past.

Diablo II: Resurrected delivers on the promise of a rebuilt original, without tampering with the soul of what made it amazing in the first place. With completely remastered graphics, all-new cutscenes, and console cross-progression, Diablo II: Resurrected takes us back to Hell, and it’s every bit as amazing as it was when we played it 20 years ago.

As a big Diablo 2 fan, Resurrected has let me down in many ways. What little changes have been made to the original formula are welcome, but feel like leftover bread crumbs from a larger pie that could have been. Diablo 2 was in a bit of a weird place in that it was not hard at all to access and play the original game, even on modern PC hardware. This new release does make the game available to console audiences, which is an awesome change, but the lack of crossplay really hurts here. Resurrected could end up becoming a much better value down the road as the development team begins introducing updates and upgrades, but as of right now, you should avoid this package unless you are happy with straight-up Diablo 2. That being said, there are many reasons to be thrilled to revisit the game, particularly for the timeless soundtrack and to get a glance at the spiffy new paint job. Just make sure to set your expectations accordingly. 7/10 Steel Carapace Shadow Plates

Editor’s Note: To support the developers and employees at Activision Blizzard pushing for change, we are covering the games that they are working hard on making. However, we need to acknowledge that employees seek a shift in the company’s culture, even as they are still passionately developing games. We will continue to report on the issues at Activision Blizzard as the employees seek to reform the culture and make it a safer, equal, and more inclusive workplace, even as we highlight the games those same workers are creating.

Activision Blizzard is currently facing serious ongoing allegations of harassment and mistreatment of marginalised workers, along with a toxic work environment for its employees. To learn more, please click here.

Even without the nostalgia creeping in, one can plainly see that this is a game for the ages. Cross-play would make this the perfect release for me, but even as is, I love this game.

Diablo 2: Resurrected brings lots of love to an RPG considered a classic for a reason.

When the issues of a game are rolled and stomped by its greatness, then it’s something to invest on if you have some spare.

The fires of hell burn hotter than ever, bringing the tale of the Dark Wanderer back in an eye (and ear) blisteringly good way.

There are few games as heavily engrained into the nostalgia of the gamersphere as Diablo 2. You’d be hard pressed to find a PC gamer who hadn’t heard of the game, and you’d be even less likely to find one over the age of 25 who hadn’t at least played it once.

With Diablo II: Resurrected, Blizzard and the Vicarious Visions team did something I thought impossible – they successfully recreated Diablo II the way my mind remembers it. Looking back on the original today, it’s genuinely fascinating how this remaster paints over the old graphics with a masterful brush, showcasing the grim fantasy environments and deadly bosses precisely as I remember them. Of course, the original graphics looked nothing like this back in 2000, and viewing them today is something of a historical horror. Diablo II: Resurrected is an incredible revamp of one of the most important and influential games in history that begs to be experienced by newcomers and veterans alike.

Diablo II: Resurrected did what it was supposed to as a re-release, and it managed to simultaneously preserve the original game. It’s a shame that the talented studios behind it have to deal with the failure of Activision leadership overshadowing their work.

Diablo II: Resurrected has made its way through alpha and beta testing stages, and has finally launched for the wider world for real. I found that I simply didn’t “vibe” with the PC controls for whatever reason, and opted to play on the Playstation instead. A modest PS4, mind you. It’s really easy to condense the review into “oh, it hasn’t changed all that much”, but for the sake of completion, here it is. You can read our alpha impressions here.