Any one think Diablo 3 will be any good?

[Isaac]

I've taken a second look at the videos on Diablo 3 and I'm starting to wonder if I'm even into this game anymore.
Fist of all, I'm really bothered by they way characters fight in this game. They're 3d models! They should be making more contact with each other, rather than act like two sprite objects subtracting hit points from each other. Yeah, there are some super-moves that knocks everyone away, but, other than that, they're not really using the 3d objects as well as they could. I'd expect to see the user actually grabbing, stabbing, climbing, and shoving on any enemy. Otherwise there's no advantage rendering the 3d objects real-time.

With that being said, I'm really starting to wonder what's significant about Diablo 3, since they didn't do what I mentioned above. Everything else could have pretty much have been done in a 2d version. In fact, they could have done a more magnificent job if they kept it all in 2D. 2D games on modern consoles play can do much more with the system resources. More enemies on the screen, for example. If they made Diablo 3 in 2D, it would mean to me they care more about the gameplay than making it look pretty.

So far Diablo 3 it seems like Diablo 2 with better graphics and more features they could have had in regular Diablo 2.

edit:
Also, remind yourself that, unlike Diablo 2, Diablo 3 will probably require you have connected to the net at least once within the week to at least play it offline, single player. So again, what's the advantage that Diablo 3 actually has over Diablo 2? After you net all pros and cons, not much, if any...

[CDN_Merlin]

I've been playing the beta for about a month now and I like it. It's different thant Diablo 2 but it's still Diablo. They have changed how things work and made it simplier to manage(not good idea) but overall it's good. I've already pre-ordered my collectors edition and can't wait to get it.

It does require a full time connection to the NET. There is no real singple player game other than making your game PRIVATE and not inviting anyone. This is how I will most likely play the entire first time I play. I want to play it alone once at least.

[Isaac]

Are there any examples of the 3d elements actually being used in game play, for things other than just ascetics and in-game cinematics? How would your example not been possible in Diablo 2?

[CDN_Merlin]

I haven't paid much attention to the 3d aspect. I can say that the "size" of everything is much better. In D1/2 your character was almost the same size as the buildings or walls. Now it's much better. While in the dungeons, everything seems closer to real life in terms of size from the walls, doors, chandeleers etc.

A lot of people won't like Di3 because they've changed it a lot but other will enjoy it. It's less of a "build your character" to more of a "predetermined path". The base characters for all 5 player types are the same. you don't add points to STR, DEX, etc anymore. They are added for you and you just choose spells and runes.

[Isaac]

I can't think of anything to say.

[Thenior]

It does require a full time connection to the NET. There is no real singple player game other than making your game PRIVATE and not inviting anyone. This is how I will most likely play the entire first time I play. I want to play it alone once at least.

So wait - I can't just play a game offline by myself without creating a server? That seems odd to me - this isn't an MMO.

[CDN_Merlin]

It does require a full time connection to the NET. There is no real singple player game other than making your game PRIVATE and not inviting anyone. This is how I will most likely play the entire first time I play. I want to play it alone once at least.

So wait - I can't just play a game offline by myself without creating a server? That seems odd to me - this isn't an MMO.

That's the ★■◆● about it. I don't like it but it's required. You also have to set your permissions to INVITE only or FRIENDS only. I prefer playing by myself that way I can explore all I want. The good side about multi is if you end up at a boss fight (critical part of story etc) everyone has to vote to go to it. You can't fore everyone to go if they are not ready.

[Sirius]

Advantages I can think of
* Not such a dick about sharing items between your characters
* Trading sucks less
* Maybe more variety in builds. Maybe.
* Maybe more to do at endgame. Maybe.

Other than that, not all that much that doesn't amount to a rehash in 3D with new characters. The gameplay isn't fundamentally different; it's more like a perfected version of Diablo 2 than a new game.

[snoopy]

Advantages I can think of
* Not such a dick about sharing items between your characters
* Trading sucks less
* Maybe more variety in builds. Maybe.
* Maybe more to do at endgame. Maybe.

Other than that, not all that much that doesn't amount to a rehash in 3D with new characters. The gameplay isn't fundamentally different; it's more like a perfected version of Diablo 2 than a new game.

Isn't that what SC2 was to SC1? ....Except some would argue the perfected part.

I'll be interested to see if Blizzard (PC gaming in general) really comes up with anything *new* or just keeps on rehashing the things that they have done. I'll give them that the formulas that they do have have been good, but I'm interested in seeing something new.

[Isaac]

Advantages I can think of
* Not such a dick about sharing items between your characters
* Trading sucks less
* Maybe more variety in builds. Maybe.
* Maybe more to do at endgame. Maybe.

Other than that, not all that much that doesn't amount to a rehash in 3D with new characters. The gameplay isn't fundamentally different; it's more like a perfected version of Diablo 2 than a new game.

Isn't that what SC2 was to SC1? ....Except some would argue the perfected part.

I'll be interested to see if Blizzard (PC gaming in general) really comes up with anything *new* or just keeps on rehashing the things that they have done. I'll give them that the formulas that they do have have been good, but I'm interested in seeing something new.

To some degree SC2 did use the 3d in ways not possible in SC1. Being able to have units walk ontop of terrain of different heights would have been confusing in 2d. It might have even been buggy.

[Sirius]

To me, it very much is what SC2 was to SC1 - pretty much what the original game looked like viewed when through nostalgia goggles.

I figure the only time Blizzard will get original is with a new IP. (Even then, only hopefully.)

[Isaac]

To me, it very much is what SC2 was to SC1 - pretty much what the original game looked like viewed when through nostalgia goggles.

I figure the only time Blizzard will get original is with a new IP. (Even then, only hopefully.)

http://www.youtube.com/embed/zfbK_dbsCu0?autoplay=1

[Thenior]

Question - how is the players progression through the game world saved? I know the character is saved by account, but like as I complete Acts, how is it saved, since it's all online (and unique servers)?

[CDN_Merlin]

It's saved at pre-determined check points. So if you pass one and stop before the next checkpoint, you have to redo the parts you already did.

[Thenior]

so I can only progress if I've complete X checkpoints? Meaning, lets say I join a server and most of the people are on checkpoint 10, and I'm not checkpoint 2, I can't progress with them?

[CDN_Merlin]

For MP games, you show up in town. There are flags for every user in the game. You can click any flag and get teleported to there current location. When joining MP games, it doesn't allow you to join a game where say you are level 2 and they are level 14. I think you can only do this in private games and not public ones so that it's a bit more fair.