Graphics/Interface

Still 2D

Despite the support for Direct3D, Diablo 2 is really a 2D, sprite based game. Direct3D and Glide support are present mostly to enhance spell effects rather than render each monster and character in polygonal form. You're still stuck in 640x480 as you have been with every other Blizzard game in the past - gamers with larger monitors will have to deal with somewhat pixellated graphics. In Blizzard's credit, the artists have again done a fantastic job, making gameplay in such low resolution more than tolerable. Animations are fluid, and the few lighting and special effects we've seen thus far are rather striking compared to what we saw in the original Diablo.

Even demons need torches to find their way about

Beating the cave lets in the soothing light

Bigger is better

One thing you'll notice the moment you see a "gargantuan beast" is how much larger the monsters can be. Even the little demons from the original Diablo (the fallen) seem to have grown in size a bit compared to the original game. Maybe they've been eating their Wheaties? There's also a good deal more detail to each monster and player character, which helps enhance the visuals. It's pretty neat to see some cave monsters (like the Fallen) carrying around torches in dungeons as they come fight you! All things considered though, the average person might have a hard time discerning the difference between Diablo 1 and Diablo 2 at a first glance. The improvements made seem to be more subtle than ostentatious, and have a more additive effect on the player over time as opposed to an immediate "oh my god this is so much better" feel. Clearly Blizzard has reached the upper limits of how good graphics can be at 640x480 with Starcraft and Diablo 2.

Is that Gheed or Greed? We can't tell

Update to the quest log

Interface

Diablo 2 is a more complex game than its predecessor - such a step logically requires a more complex interface than the original game. Still present are the health and mana orbs, shown in the bottom left and right in red and blue, respectively. The quick potions on the player's belt are still there, but what's new in Diablo 2 are "stackable" potions. 4 quick items can be accessed immediately but as they're used, the potions "above" them on the belt automatically drop into place in the quick slots. Most belts have two rows worth of slots, but later belts might have room for 3 and 4 rows of potions, scrolls, and other items. Also present - a stamina meter on the left side. Characters in Diablo 2 can run to save time and escape enemies, but this will sap their stamina until they stop or come to a walk. Just above that is a meter that measures how close a character is to leveling up.

Heh heh

That glowing boot is from a stamina shrine - Run all you like!

Right click actions can be customized very easily as well. Simply hit the icon box on the right, and it will expand to show you a list of available spells/special abilities that you can bind to the right mouse button.