People often say that Diablo II story is irrelevant and rudimental. While I can agree with that is does not have too large of a presence in the game and can be completely skipped, I cannot agree that it is irrelevant.
I think Diablo II story shapes the world and atmosphere of the game in subtle but powerful ways. It establishes what you do in this world as a player. This allows you to fully immerse yourself in the world.
After all this the game's story and your ability, or lack thereof, that ultimately determine if you can enjoy the game or not.
People often say that older games are harder than newer ones. That may be true, but that is not what makes older games more likable. What makes them likable is the story, atmosphere and setting that is much more compelling that what modern authors could do.
Blizzard Games managed to get so popular with people precisely because creators would put extra effort into establishing the world and so-called lore behind their games. Thanks to that people could really feel they control huge armies on the battlefield and not just fiddle with some pictograms.
It is the same as with books, they all consist of characters arranged into words. However, one author can make that into a masterpiece work, that people actually enjoy reading and others can only write annoying painful slog.
It is the same with video games, not even the best graphics, music and sound can replace the good writing. Many of modern games do severely lack in writing. Even sequels and expansions to existing franchises sometimes suffer from that problem. World of Warcraft for example.
Early World of Warcraft had interesting lore behind every area in the game. Each area had its own unique feel. Some areas were full of life and others were completely desolated. However, this contrast allowed you to truly feel and see where you are: in cozy normal human inhabitant area or in a desolate lifeless plague land, ruled by the undead Lich King. Normality was felt throughout the Elyvin Forest and Stormind, just as desolation, plague, death with rotting corpses and ghosts were all around the plaguelands. It was clear that humans rule in Elyvin Forest just as it was clear that undead rule in Plaguelands.
In modern WoW it is mix of everything everywhere. No more clear lands for any fraction. Every area has representatives of every possible fraction. Even distinction between Alliance and Horde has disappeared, now they are nothing more than team blue and team read.
Not to mention the distinction between different races in each fraction. They used to each be unique beings with unique way of life and unique attitude towards both enemies and friends. Each race had its own agenda and could even go against their fraction if that would help them to advance it.
Now they are pretty nothing more than different skins with different looks over the same basic nature. None have any unique agenda anymore; they all just serve their leaders. Leaders themselves serve something too. They are willful slaves without independent free will, that is painful to watch, unless they are women who serve me of course.
Story too was much more compelling. You could feel the power of the Lich King and his Scourge. You can see what he will do if he prevails over the Stormwind and you can feel motivated to fight this fight for survival of humanity.
In contrast since Mists of Pandaria there was hardly any life and death war in War of Warcraft. Now you are just a gofer for NPCs who just send you kill this or that.
Most importantly you are no longer a hero who can slay a great evil and become a legend, about whom people will write legends and of whom they will build statues on the main squares of their cities. Just like they do for Alexander the Great or other historical figures. You were the center of the game and the world revolved around you.
In modern WoW, you are a just a replaceable cog in the system. You just advance the agenda of some other people out there, who do not even care you exist.
Diablo II story reflects that hero aspect very well. In its dying world you are the one last remaining hope of humanity. You can watch the video I linked above and see for yourself.
Characters and their abilities give you the feel of huge unlimited power that can be yours to wield and dispose as you see fit.
Conclusion
I do not want to play a game that makes me a nameless cogwheel in the system. I want to be a hero whom everyone worships, around whom everyone revolves. Because of that I will keep going back to favorite games I enjoyed in the past.
I will write more about these games in separate articles.
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