Returning to Diablo 2 Resurrected after the betas had me excited. The tragic performance of the game during these tests left me wanting (read the beta impressions right here). The hope of Blizzard listening to feedback on all fronts gave me hope for the title's release. A remake of one of my favorite games of all time to be experienced again, this time in glorious up-to-date standards. After spending a few hours with Diablo 2 Resurrected on PlayStation 4, I'm afraid my hope has been that of a fool. Stay awhile, and listen to a fan of the original ramble for a while.



The first problem with remaking a genre-defining title of yesteryear will always be nostalgia. Tamper with the winning formula too much and risk ruining it. Keeping it exactly the same runs the risk of producing a shiny new title with dated mechanics. This is where Blizzard faltered in the development process of Diablo 2 Resurrected. They produced a fan-favorite game with a handful of updates (to game mechanics) and great graphics but failed to bring anything new to the table to make it a title that feels (and not just looks) like a game in 2021.

They produced a fan-favorite game with a handful of updates (to game mechanics) and great graphics but failed to bring anything new to the table...

Some new features are welcomed ones, such as a shared stash, expanded stash size, automatic pick-ups, cross-progression, and the option to (on the fly) toggle between the original graphics and current. Other "improvements" are yet to rear their head, such as "improved" battle.net and better framerates. Other features also include remade cutscenes and a wider color palette.



By no means can Diablo 2 be classified as an easy game. It was originally made in an era where games were challenging and most of the joy came from overcoming these challenges. In Resurrected, though, the most hardcore challenge you will have to overcome is the game itself. Not only is the performance on the base PlayStation 4 abysmal, but players also have to battle with server-side problems. A near-constant framerate drop started the miserable escapade, then frame stutters, and finally, frame skips joined in.

As I mentioned in my beta impressions piece, in any ARPG a constant framerate and butter-smooth animations are a must. Creating online games was near impossible, and a few server rollbacks nearly drove the final nail in the coffin. The most annoying of all was load screen kills. Now, I'm not sure if this is an issue unique to the PlayStation 4 and its non-SSD drive load times, but getting killed while loading into a zone via portal made for a tragic time in Sanctuary (especially during boss fights). Sadly, I never reached Hell difficulty as the constant barrage of problems the game fundamentally has proved too great for my resolve to best.



With all the negativity out of the way, I have to admit there is still some fun to be had in Diablo 2 Resurrected. The moment-to-moment gameplay loop is as addictive as it was when we first experienced it. The loot fountain spectacle rarely gets old, and neither does the satisfying sound of slaughtering demons. Inching your way through the campaign to inevitably face the Nightmare and Hell difficulty remains enticing. Researching which rune words to farm to create that one piece of gear you need to overcome the next hurdle is a blast.

Inching your way through the campaign to inevitably face the Nightmare and Hell difficulty remains enticing.

Mixing and matching gear to strike the perfect balance between damage, survivability, and capping resistances in Nightmare (and beyond) is a game in itself. The boss fights remain as intense as ever. Chugging thawing potions while you chip at Duriel's health remains a heart-pounding fight while dodging Diablo's projectiles in and around his arena makes for an erratic encounter.



One aspect of Resurrected that will undoubtedly withstand the test of time is the new cinematics. Here, at least, the talent over at Blizzard HQ shines through. As I watched the new cinematics in awe, I found myself with the same gleeful smile plastered on my face as I had all those many years ago while watching the original scenes. They truly are great, if not too short, and a standout in the entire package.



If you are a die-hard Diablo 2 fan, the package offered by Diablo 2 Resurrected is sure to satisfy your appetite for nostalgia. If you are a new player who wants in on all the hype surrounding the release of this genre-defining ARPG, the price of admission might be too steep. Sure, Resurrected comes with a few quality of life changes, but not nearly enough to bring it up to par with most ARPGs in 2021. As I've mentioned, Diablo 2 will forever be one of my all-time favorite games (across all genres), be it in its original or remade form. That's why it pains me a great deal to recommend potential buyers to rather wait for the inevitable sale on the title.