So far it’s been a real joy to take part in the Diablo 2 Resurrected alpha test. The visual upgrades are quite something. There’s been a lot of focus on how great the characters and skills look but there’s more going on than you think.
As well as the characters and overall visuals being improved, there’s are a few more subtle changes to the environments that improve the overall atmosphere and levels of Diablo 2.
It’s Dark in Diablo 2 Resurrected
The development team has obviously taken a long hard look at how to improve the visuals everywhere but maintain that instantly recognisable Diablo 2 look. Some may have feared that the game would become brighter leaning more toward the Diablo 3 aesthetic, but as you’ll know by now, that’s not the case. In fact, when you are standing in the Cathedral in Diablo 2 Resurrected, it feels grimmer than before thanks to the lighting and environmental enhancements. The same goes for the Barracks and Catacombs in Act 1 and the tombs in Act 2.
Anyone concerned that the game had been toned down with the removal of blood spatters need not worry. If anything there appears to be more of it sloshing around. Now the monsters have more detail, they leave enough blood to satisfy any bloodthirsty Diablo 2 fan. One thing we did notice while fighting the tombs of Act 2 is the blood spatters from monsters as they die if they are standing next to a wall. Nice and gruesome.
Small Changes. Big Difference.
So what has been changed in the environments? There are some really simple but effective visual changes that don’t leap out at first glance. These smaller changes coupled with the characters, items, and spells help make the Diablo 2 Resurrected’s version of Sanctuary come to life.
In the videos below we have picked out a few of these smaller changes and flipped between old and new visuals to highlight the improvements. In essence, some of these environmental changes may seem small but when it’s all put together you end up with a dark and brooding world with some great detail.
When you consider the higher resolutions and screen space that now needs to be filled, there has to be some artistic license but what’s important is they have retained the same feel as the original. Essentially, there are more pixels to play with
Also, if you want to see more of the game, then check out all our videos so far on our Technical Alpha videos page and Youtube channel. We often zoom in and switch between old and new during the videos to show the changes.