20 years of "Diablo": How a hellish game conquered the world
30.12.2016
Translation: machine translated
"Diablo" has had a lasting influence on the gaming industry. To this day, it has spawned countless imitators, but its own sequel is still at the forefront, not least thanks to the constant stream of new updates. Many people, myself included, therefore have a close relationship with the game about the prince of hell.
"Stay Awhile and Listen". Every "Diablo" fan will recognise this phrase. The phrase is recited in a gnarled voice by Deckard Cain when you speak to him in the village of Tristram in the first instalment. It is just one of countless elements that will forever be anchored in the minds of gamers. The legacy of the cult game "Diablo" continues to this day.
When "Diablo" was released on 31 December 1996 in North America and a month later in Europe, it hit like a bomb. The game had one hell of an attraction for me too. I can still remember how I devoured every issue of PC Games about "Diablo". I must have read the test in issue 2/97 a dozen times. Without even having played for a second, I racked my brains for days about which class I wanted to play. The mysterious mage with explosive spells, the nimble huntress with her bow or the muscular warrior with his broadsword?
The gates open
When I had finally saved up enough money, I took the train to Zurich to buy the much sought-after game in the game shop on Löwenstrasse. At the same time, I also bought the medieval strategy game "Lords of the Realm II" - the two games complemented each other perfectly. At home, I immediately descended the catacombs in the church in Tristram to face the undead and demons. My parents could hardly dissuade me and I pushed my daily gaming quota to the limit. "Diablo" was horror, action, exploration and collecting all rolled into one.
The worst moment was when I accidentally saved instead of loading just as my character bit the dust. I tried in vain for over an hour to jump off the Grim Reaper's scaffold and save my countless hours of gameplay. In the end, my patience paid off and I was able to continue my adventure and make the hell lord Diablo a head shorter. An unforgettable experience to this day.
"Diablo" impressed with its action-packed and addictive gameplay, which had never been seen before in this form. From the monster design to the constantly new weapons and equipment to the dark and incredibly atmospheric graphics, everything was just right. The whole thing is emphasised by a soundtrack that gives you goose bumps. The sound effects of arrows being shot, crates being opened and gold falling to the ground have burnt themselves into your brain. The simple story, told in brilliant and at the time breathtaking render sequences, was something I could watch over and over again. I even read the continuing story that came with the game at the time - something I've never done since.
And then there was the multiplayer mode where you could roam the eerie catacombs together.
Almost everything would have been different
Diablo could have been a completely different game. The action role-playing game was originally conceived as a turn-based game. The developers at Blizzard North modelled it on dungeon crawlers such as "Moria" and "Rogue". However, Blizzard Irvine insisted that the real-time system as in "Warcraft" would provide more pressure and action. In the end, the majority of the Blizzard North team was convinced and game designer David Brevik took on the task.
When the entire staff disappeared for a well-deserved weekend, Brevik rolled up his sleeves and got to work. The changeover was relatively simple. Since all previous actions required a certain amount of time, he simply had to tweak the digital clock. As the sun was already rising, he was able to test his work for the first time. He selected the warrior, clicked on a skeleton, the warrior ran over to the skeleton, swung his broadsword and the bone frame fell to the ground: "Oh my God, that's just great," Brevik thought. At that moment, he knew that real time was not only the right decision, but that "Diablo" was going to be something really big. He was proved right.
"Diablo" triggered a tremor that can still be felt today
"Diablo" not only cemented Blizzard's reputation as a success story and gave the game two equally good successors, it also triggered a wave of imitators and established the hack-and-slash genre. And who could forget the mysterious cow level that the saga turned into reality. According to the "Landover Baptist Church" website, part three is said to be the "most satanic and sex-positive game EVER". Including game characters such as the Destroyer, who allegedly comes from the BDSM scene. A little joke. Unfortunately it's just a satire site 😂. But still worth reading.
To this day, every game in which you use the mouse to click hordes of monsters to death and collect masses of new equipment and distribute skill points is compared to "Diablo". To mark its 20th anniversary, "Diablo 3" is not only getting a new old class in the form of the necromancer - the original "Diablo" has been completely recreated in "Diablo 3". All you need is the "Reaper of Souls" add-on and from January you can return to tranquil Tristram and descend into the dark catacombs. But only for a limited time. Because "The Darkening of Tristram" will be an annual event.
With the release on 31 December 1996, Blizzard opened a gateway to hell that is still wide open today. Killing monsters, looting and levelling doesn't seem to be getting old, even after 20 years. I'm excited to see what "Diablo 4" will bring us, which is certainly already in the starting blocks.
Want to play again? Here's how to get your dose of "Diablo"
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Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.