Back in the days when Diablo 2 first took the gaming world by storm, the grind was king. Role-playing games demanded dedication, often requiring countless hours to reach top levels and snag the best loot. Fast forward to today, and the pace has quickened; games offer more immediate rewards. However, David Brevik, one of the brains behind Diablo, feels this change might not be for the best across the RPG landscape.
Released in 2000, Diablo 2 redefined action-RPGs. Its rich world-building, strategic combat, and immersive dungeon-crawling crafted an experience so compelling that it continues to capture interest even after two decades. Brevik, who served as the lead programmer and design head on Diablo 2, attributes its enduring appeal partly to how newer games have drifted away from the careful pacing and subtlety that his team masterfully implemented.
“ARPGs nowadays often focus on quickly massacring waves of enemies,” Brevik explained to VideoGamer. “It’s about creating builds that wipe out everything rapidly so you can get those extra drops and level up fast. The screen ends up cluttered with things you don’t care about.”
For Brevik, the appeal isn’t in “obliterating entire screens at once and mowing enemies down.” He actually finds it “pretty silly.” This trend towards providing early rewards through constant enemy waves means players gain better items and skills much faster. A stark contrast to the first two Diablo games, where battles were less frequent and each encounter felt significant.
Brevik observes this trend in MMORPGs as well. “It’s all about speed—leveling as quickly as you can, defeating as much as you can. But in reality, that can lead to a poorer experience, and it’s a direction I personally avoid,” he notes.
This perspective holds value. Yet, looking at modern MMOs like Final Fantasy 14, it’s clear that speeding up the transition from character creation to action-packed combat makes it more accessible. Players tend to eagerly anticipate the adventure and monster-slaying, so offering these elements early can boost engagement.
Still, Brevik argues that such streamlining diminishes the value of new PC games. “By cutting that journey short and making it kind of ridiculous, you end up cheapening the entire experience, at least in my eyes,” he adds.
Fortunately, gamers can enjoy titles from both the classic and contemporary categories. Diablo 3 and 4 are available, and a stunning 2021 remaster of Diablo 2 brings the old favorite easily back into play, ensuring everyone has something to enjoy.
On that note, our Diablo 4 Season 8 guide is a must-read if you’re eager to know when it’s dropping. And if you’re hunting for your next big challenge, we have a line-up of games similar to Diablo that might just capture your interest.
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