video game diablo 2 review
Test: Diablo 2Ah well if I had been told ... There, like that, one fine morning on the desk ... A dark box in black and red tones ... The first shock passed, it was with trembling fingers that I open the box and extract the three CDs. It goes back a long way, the first time I heard about this game :). In short, it is therefore with relative calm that I await the end of the installation, and there, with pressure on the impressive "Play Diablo II", I embark on the adventure.
After winning hands down the prize for the most awaited and most delayed game of the year, Diablo 2 finally arrives on our stalls to the delight of countless fierce fans. And given the noise that this game has been making for a very long time, it's a safe bet that many players who did not experience the first episode will also throw themselves into the adventure. What's new compared to the first opus? To start, you will have the choice between five different classes (Barbarian, Amazon, Witch, Paladin, Necromancer) defined by the most classic characteristics (strength, energy, armor class ...) that you can increase as and measure your progress in the levels or by recovering magic material. As is often the case, experience points will be acquired exclusively by killing the various monsters you encounter, which will therefore be the only possible path to power.
Your character will have more abilities that he can increase during his progression (30 per class, divided into 3 categories). Thus, according to your choices in the distribution of the points which are allocated to you at each level, your Necromancer can be specialized in the invocation of skeletons and other golems or even in the curses which will weaken your enemies. The witch will mainly use offensive spells, the barbarian will be the most powerful warrior (war cries, mastery of weapons ...), the Amazon will be the specialist in ranged attacks and the paladin will have a mixture of offensive spells and defensive, as well as good fighting skills.
In terms of novelties, you will also have at your disposal 4 kingdoms to discover (which correspond to the four chapters of the game) with each time a departure city where you will find the classic tavern and blacksmiths, but also mercenaries to hire or even people to play a game of dice between two expeditions :). You will be able to return to town thanks to portals that you will discover on your way (and also with the good old parchments), which is still just as vital, if only to sell the objects that clutter you up or even to refuel of potions. You will also have a safe in the city where you can store the objects that you do not want to carry with you (do you remember the carpet of gold coins from the first episode? :).
Finally, as you would expect, countless new items have been added, along with many new monsters and spells. For its part, the interface is almost identical to that of the first episode with inventory screens, character and a quest log that will remind you at any time where you are. The characters are still as manageable and simple to use: you have easily usable objects in your belt, you can choose the spells you cast with a single click and the superimposed card has gained colors and some very practical options.
Dimensioned graphics, if the first chapter leaves something to be desired (we feel that it was designed a long time ago :), the quality improves greatly thereafter and the many details of the characters will quickly immerse you in the mood . The game does not suffer from any slowdown thanks to the low resolution (640x480) but it is however regrettable that we cannot opt for better quality. The soundtrack is also of good quality and contributes greatly to the dark and decadent atmosphere of the game. All of this gives a very addictive game, especially since the objects carried by your character appear almost all on the screen, which further improves player involvement.
When you are tired of exploring the world alone, the multiplayer option will be there to catch you by the collar and put you on your chair for many additional hours. Whether on a local network or on the Net, you can play eight on the same cards and create groups that will share the experience points earned or even fight against each other. You will have two different options when you play on Battle.net, either play on "open" servers where there is no control from Blizzard and where you can play with your solo character, or play on " kingdoms "(sort of official). In the latter case, your character will be saved on the server to avoid the countless cheating problems experienced by the first episode (where it was not uncommon to meet a character with more than a million points of life :) .
The notes
Graphics 16/20
This is the biggest defect of the game, we would have liked to at least be able to choose the resolution but the many details and the improvement in quality over the game are there to compensate.
Gameplay 18/20
The characters are very handy, the interface is simple and complete. Nothing to say about that.
Lifespan 18/20
Despite its few flaws, the game is excessively addictive and will keep you glued for hours in front of your screen.
Soundtrack 16/20
Without being a masterpiece, the soundtrack remains of good quality and sticks perfectly to the atmosphere of the game.
Scenario 17/20
It is far from original but the clever alchemy between quests and Dungeons & Dragon atmosphere will always have an incomparable charm in the hearts of purists.
Despite perfectible graphics and especially a lack of originality compared to the first volume, this game is nonetheless an excellent title and even without question the best of ... Diablo-like. :)
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