The battle chest to end all battle chests.

The Diablo Battle Chest includes the original Diablo, Diablo II, and Diablo II's Lord of Destruction expansion pack, as well as the official strategy guide for Diablo II. This review will focus mostly on Diablo II, since by and large that will be the reason you buy the Battle Chest, but I'll give you a brief analysis of the original Diablo as well.

Diablo

Diablo was a jumping off point for some of the most popular games around. Diablo II (obviously), World of Warcraft, and Dungeon Siege are all based on the Diablo concepts. People will cite some older games, like Golden Axe or Ultima, or even Legend of Zelda, but Diablo was the bridge from those games to the next generation of dungeon games.

The interface for Diablo is a fairly simple 3rd person setup. Your left click is to use your equipped weapon to attack an enemy, or move to a location. Your right click is to cast some kind of spell, which you can choose from your spellbook at any time. Various keyboard shortcuts bring up various menus, such as the aforementioned spellbook, your inventory, your character's vitals, etc.

Your task is to investigate the cathedral, which has been overrun by demons. So in you go, with rudimentary gear and your wits, to battle the legions of hell. Along the way you acquire new equipment, new spells, and character levels, improving your resilience and destructive capabilities. There are some "quests," but they usually just fit into the normal scope of the game, and don't require any extra effort to complete.

It's a fun game, albeit simple and straightforward, and is a nice break from the more intense games of today. While it won't blow you away, it's a nice addition to any gaming library.

Diablo II and Diablo II: Lord of Destruction

I'm going to review the game as it exists with the expansion pack, since that's what this product includes.

The gameplay is very similar to that of its predecessor, focused mainly on the use of the two mouse buttons. However, because this game offers a much greater variety of spells and skills, the game benefits from a revised hotkey system that allows you to quickly change the spell/skill associated with the left or right mouse button. While a bit daunting at first, this feature makes the more difficult battles a little bit easier, since you can cast a number of spells in rapid succession.

Rather than the three marginally different classes from the original, the game now offers seven distinct classes: amazon, assassin, necromancer, barbarian, paladin, sorceress, and druid. Each class has its own unique set of skills, and each demands a different playing strategy, offering the player a variety of new experiences over the course of their playing time. A balance among these classes also becomes valuable when playing online, giving the player another reason to try new characters.

Another excellent new feature about Diablo II is the creation of "The Stash." This is a bank for each player that can be used to store equipment and money, saving backpack space for new treasures while adventuring. And you'll need it, since Diablo II has a world of new items, including item sets that give extra bonuses based on how much of the set you have, as well as runes and gems, which can be inserted into certain items to add to their magical power.

Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of these new items is the spirit of cooperation and trade in the vastly improved multiplayer system on Blizzard's Battle.net. You can create private games, games limited to a certain level requirements, and even games dedicated solely to the Secret Cow Level (look up Diablo II on Wikipedia for an explanation on that). You can use Battle.net's chat feature to find buyers or sellers of various equipment, creating a loose economy for the game. And, of course, you can create an open game just for raiding the hardest bosses.

Graphics/Sound
The graphics were very good quality for the original release of the game, and still serviceable. In the largest battles, however, the graphics get a little tough to decipher, occasionally leading to a frustrating death. The cinematics are very well done, though they are a distinct separation from the standard gameplay. The music is perfectly suited to each game situation, although it often gets drowned out in big battles. The sounds are effective, and if you play, you'll begin to lust after the familiar sound of a rune or gem dropping.

Innovation
The online play is very good, and reflected a tremendous improvement over the original Diablo. Additionally, it set the stage for Blizzard's MMORPG game, World of Warcraft. Today, it won't seem innovative, but at the time it was in a class by itself.

Storyline
The plot is compelling, and follows perfectly from the original Diablo. While most of the story is moved forward through quiet conversation in the towns, it's interesting enough to keep the player entertained. And again, the cinematics are very effective.

Difficulty
The game isn't overwhelmingly difficult, but it definitely punishes laziness, especially with the more frail spellcaster classes. The main bosses of each act are particularly difficult, and it's often to the player's advantage to spend a little time accumulating an extra level or two (as well as acquiring some better gear) before facing them. Also, any boss or miniboss that is noted as "lightning enchanted," keep your distance and keep a keen eye on your health. They can bring you down in a hurry.

Staying Power
While the quests are still redundant, the progressively difficult battles keep the game entertaining. The various classes can give you more diversity in your playing experiences, and the well-crafted multiplayer system gives you a chance for all sorts of new experiences. And there's something very enjoyable about taking on the legions of hell with your friends.

Overall
It's an extremely fun game, for all its foibles, and offers a dramatic improvement over the original. If you find MMORPG's interesting but aren't ready/willing/able to dish out the monthly fee, Diablo II still offers a rich online experience at a fraction of the cost.

Similar Games
- World of Warcraft (PC)
- The Legend of Zelda (NES)