Stay a While and Listen
The Diablo franchise has always been known for great story telling, and Diablo 3 aims to carry on that tradition. The game takes place several years after the events of Diablo 2, which resulted in the destruction of the Prime Evils, Mephisto, Baal, and Diablo. A fallen star crashes into the cathedral in Old Tristram, heralding the prophesied end of days. Like in previous games, much of the story is presented via vocalized dialogue boxes. However, there is a great deal more depth this time around. Short, in game cut scenes are often implemented to help move the plot along. Also, the NPCs will occasionally converse with one another at key junctures. Not only does this make the characters seem more alive, but it is also a great improvement over previous games, in which NPCs did not interact at all. There are also collectibles that help to reveal part of the game’s back-story. These often take the form of journals left by characters, and they give a great deal of insight into the world. I have only experienced part of Act 1 in the beta, and I am very much looking forward to continuing the adventure.
Dungeons & ….
I’m also looking forward to seeing more awesome dungeons. The level designers at Blizzard have done a fantastic job with the environments in Diablo 3. Everything is far more dynamic this time around. Venturing into the woods outside of town is a pretty spooky experience. A murder of crows will sometimes fly overhead while lurking monsters pounce out of thickets or climb out of cracks in the earth. Even the old cathedral, the setting of the first game, has received a facelift. Much has been done to give the catacombs an in depth, 3D feel to it. Beyond the main play area, the player can clearly see what appears to be the floors below. This makes the catacombs seem much more expansive and intimidating. This is used to great effect in gameplay, as monsters will sometimes climb up from underneath to attack the player. There are also a lot of objects in the world that the player can interact with, and I’m talking about more than barrels and treasure chests. Players will often find useful items by searching bookshelves and loose floor tiles. They can also take advantage of the environment in combat by dropping chandeliers and collapsing walls on top of the heads of their opponents.
