The Diablo 2 Resurrected Technical Alpha has served as an early test for the game's potential, offering a first glimpse of how the early hours of the game are shaping up. So far, not only has the alpha painted a promising picture for Diablo 2 Resurrected's full release, but if Diablo 4 is up to the same quality standard, fans of the franchise are in for a treat.
Diablo 2 is one of the most iconic PC games of all time, often being cited as the most coveted entry in the franchise. Of course, 20 years have passed since it released, and in that time games have changed a lot. On the surface, it's hard to compare Diablo 2 Resurrected to what Diablo 4 will be, as Diablo 3 shook up the formula in a number of ways and the next entry will likely continue that trend.
With Diablo 2's hardcore mechanics also in mind, things are even less certain. However, differing game mechanics aside, Diablo 2 Resurrected's Technical Alpha sets a bar for Diablo 4 simply based on how smooth it is. If Diablo 4 manages to capture the same buttery qualities that Resurrected seems to have even in its current state, then Diablo 4 could end up being one of the best modern ARPGs on the market.
What Diablo 2 is Getting Right
The formula for success is readily apparent for Diablo 2: Resurrected. Fans have been asking for a remake of the game for years now, with community members stepping up to fill the void with their own remakes. While seeing Diablo 2: Resurrected come to fruition is a great thing, it's been a long time coming, so the Technical Alpha going smoothly is the early assurance that fans need from Blizzard.
To sum it up, Diablo 2: Resurrected feels almost exactly like the original did, just dialed up to eleven with higher resolutions, a better UI, and a laundry list of other improvements fans of the game had been asking for. Getting it right is a tall order, and after the small disaster of Warcraft 3 Reforged, it's understandable that fans are concerned.
After going hands-on with the Alpha, though, it's easy to see Vicarious Visions, which is now working on Diablo 2: Resurrected under a new name, holds the game in high regard. It's approaching the game the same way it has approached some of its other top-tier remakes. In fact, the original Diablo 2 is essentially running underneath the game the entire time, with Resurrected acting as a sort of overlay for the game, ensuring it feels accurate.
Classic feel aside, though, Diablo 2: Resurrected is nailing the art style of the original and making it feel incredibly smooth to play. Watching characters attack, enemies move, and spell effects burst out is shockingly cool, a culmination of all the other details that have been fine-tuned for the game. There's still a hint of that classic game jank, but it's charming.
Why That's Great for Diablo 4
Diablo 4 has been a long time coming, with fans asking for a sequel to Diablo 3 for years now. While the road to getting here was rocky, particularly due to the reaction to Diablo Immortal, fans have received just about everything they've been asking for in the last year or so. Considering where the franchise was at in 2018 compared to now is quite the leap.
What's clear from early Diablo 4 gameplay, though, is how much promise the project shows. The evolution from Diablo's humble beginnings is becoming increasingly clear, with Diablo 4 proving itself to be the next step the franchise has needed. It may seem odd comparing an evolution of the franchise to Diablo 2, considering that Diablo 2 is technically a step back, but there's more here than what meets the eye.
Diablo 2 has maintained its relevance because its core gameplay loop is immensely satisfying, even if the world has moved on where hardcore game mechanics are concerned. Obviously, Diablo 2 Resurrected and Diablo 4 are being handled by separate teams, so it's impossible to make a 1-to-1 comparison for how the projects will feel.
However, it's key that Diablo 4 maintain the same quality of smooth gameplay and mechanics. Diablo 2 is the right direction for the team to move, and seeing the Technical Alpha knock it out of the park should be reassuring for fans that have anxiously awaited a new Diablo game. It's an indication that Blizzard knows which direction the franchise should be heading in, and that, ultimately, is a great thing for fans of both games.
What Comes Next
The future of the Diablo franchise has been more or less shrouded for a while now, but there's a slowly emerging image of what the future holds. After a long drought of no new games, fans are now getting three titles, scratching the itch for longtime fans, newcomers to the franchise, and even mobile gamers. While Blizzard's communication of the future has been a bit muddy, it's hard not to be optimistic.
Things could still go wrong, but Diablo 2, at the very least, seems to be in the right hands. If Diablo 4 is able to keep a modern feel with the same smoothness, fans shouldn't be too worried about what the future of the game looks like. That even extends to Diablo Immortal, which is trying to leverage some of the unique characteristics of smartphones to make an innovative Diablo game.
Until fans get serious hands-on time with Diablo 4 and Diablo Immortal, it's understandable that some people will remain skeptical. If things continue as they have for these last few months, though, it could indicate that the Diablo franchise is back in a big way.
Diablo 4 and Diablo 2: Resurrected are currently in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.