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June 28th, 2016 
Carl Williams 
When Blizzard released the original Diablo it was a completely different time in gaming. Internet was just becoming a thing that everyday people had access to. Magazines still ruled so it was required to get early builds of the game out to publications. Gamers had a slightly lower expectation of games on PC. That did not stop Blizzard from kicking a tired old genre in the pants and rebuilding it. Rogue-likes are still a thing- these are games that have levels randomly generated each time you play. Diablo II took things to a new level. It answered concerns of fans and improved on the few problems of the original.
Diablo II is fan service done right
First up, Diablo II features a special level for hardcore, longtime, fans. Second, the sequel was built from the ground up for multiplayer. Either over the Internet or via a Local Area Network (LAN). Next, Blizzard upped the graphics, audio, challenge, size of levels and fixed many little things that needed fixing.
A huge game world to explore
Spread over five acts, the story of Diablo II is complex and twisting. I won’t spoil things for those that have not played Diablo II yet. Suffice to say, an old friend may make a re-appearance here – but in a bad way.
Bring some friends
Multiplayer mode offers up to eight players at once in the game. Interestingly, they don’t have to be eight WORKING together players. The game is setup as “player versus environment”. Players can form groups of their own and even duel with each other as they play as well. This could be four on four, two on six or any combination thereof. Hell, some players could be dueling while others say “not my circus, not my monkeys”. That third group could just go off and do their own thing in the world of Diablo II. The choice is yours.
Kept alive and well by fans and Blizzard
The cool thing is, Diablo II is still available at most retailers in a “Battle Chest” package. There are still a lot of people that play the game via the free Battle.net service that Blizzard offers too. Fans have even created an HD update to the game. GoG.com also recently made the original Diablo, plus the Hellfire expansion, available for fans to enjoy, that is if you prefer the first game or want to own the complete franchise. This is a slightly modified edition, which works great on Windows 10 computers.
Check ebay for a deal and destroy creatures till your heart is content. Icewind Dale is another title in this vein, but based in the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons world, that fans may want to check out.
Then you add in the release of the sequel and it is a whole new ball game.
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I remember my family and I playing Diablo 2 so non-stop every day, for no doubt 5000+ hours each that the CD-ROM literally snapped in half in our CD-Tray while in the middle of a game. Diablo 1 and 2 were just magical moments to be a PC gamer.
I never had the CD bust but I remember a friend taking the first disc after staying over for a guy’s night in playing Diablo II. He denied taking it, never had him over again.
I have similar bad memories like that, was always why I was super protective of all my games when anyone was over or my brothers friends, never could trust anyone but myself. lmao
Exactly! My brother borrowed my JVC X-Eye once. I had 20 or so cartridge games and 40 Sega CD games for it. He was doing a “live in” security job at a construction site out of town and wanted to have something to pass the time. Long story short, I never saw the X-Eye again. Pissed me off to this day.
Uggh, I lent my one copy of Megaman Legends to a friend, they moved out of the province we live in (Canada) – never saw it again, and that game is a freaking RARITY!
My brother lent Max Payne to one of his friends, it bloody came back 6-8 months later….CHIPPED AND CRACKED at the edges like someone put a f*cking hammer to it or something. After that day, I just can’t trust any other living human with my belongings, lmao.