Diablo (series)

Diablo series
Original Diablo logo.
Genres	Action role-playing, Hack and slash
Developers	Blizzard Entertainment Synergistic Software (Hellfire expansion) Climax Group (PlayStation version co-developer)
Publishers	Blizzard Entertainment Sierra Entertainment
Platforms	Windows/Mac/PlayStation
Year of inception	1996
First release	Diablo December 31, 1996
Latest release	Diablo III May 15, 2012

Diablo is an action role-playing hack and slash video game series developed by Blizzard Entertainment. As of May 30, 2012 (2012-05-30), the series has sold over 24.8 million copies worldwide. The series is made up of three core games: Diablo, Diablo II, and Diablo III. All three games are action role-playing games, sometimes called hack and slash. Expansion games include the third-party published Diablo: Hellfire, which follows the first game, and Lord of Destruction, published by Blizzard and released after the second game. Additional content is provided through story elements explored in other media forms.

The series is set in the fantasy world of Sanctuary. The three games in the series take place in similar geographic areas, with several common areas including the town of Tristram and the region around Mount Arreat. Additional setting is provided by the High Heavens and the Burning Hells, two separate realms with ties to Sanctuary. The series focuses on the battle between the humans living on Sanctuary and the Prime Evils, demons who are led by Diablo, the series' chief antagonist. The humans are occasionally aided by angels, notably the archangel of justice, Tyrael. The characters in the world of Sanctuary are primarily humans, angels, and various classes of demons and monsters.

The series has resulted in the publishing of several books relevant to the Diablo universe setting, covering a wide range of the timelines of the universe. There are also comics that explore various stories within the world of Sanctuary.

Story

Diablo is set in the world of Sanctuary, created by the Archangel Inarius for angels and demons weary of conflict between the High Heavens and the Burning Hells. When unions between angels and demons created powerful beings called Nephalem, the demon Lilith sought to raise them as her servants and rule Sanctuary, leading to her banishment and the destruction of most of the Nephalem. When Lilith returned, a farmer named Uldyssian-ul-Diomed stopped her by destroying the cults of both Inarius and Lilith, sacrificing himself to protect the world.

In an attempt to keep the lords of the Burning Hells from taking over Sanctuary, the Archangel Tyrael captured the three prime evils: Mephisto, Lord of Hatred; Baal, Lord of Destruction; and Diablo, Lord of Terror. The prime evils remained imprisoned until Diablo, through contacts with mortals living in the town above him (Tristram) began bringing minions from Hell into Sanctuary. While a hero managed to slay him, the hero soon transformed into a new host body for Diablo's soul. With Diablo setting about to free his brothers, a band of heroes went after him, managing to slay all three prime evils. In the process, the Worldstone, designed to keep Sanctuary hidden from the High Heavens and the Burning Hells, was destroyed.

Eventually, Diablo is able to be resurrected once again, this time in the body of his daughter. Through subterfuge, he manages to obtain the souls of all the Prime Evils. Containing those souls within his own, Diablo begins to assault the High Heavens and nearly destroys them before a new hero kills him and banishes him yet again.

Diablo

Main article: Diablo (video game)

The setting of Diablo is the town of Tristram, the de facto capital of the Kingdom of Khanduras on the world of Sanctuary. The actual fighting takes place beneath the town in a maze of dungeons, catacombs, and caves that lead into the depths of Hell.

The plot of the original Diablo game centers around a player character undertaking a series of quests to free Tristram from Hell-spawned evil, descending through twelve levels of dungeons, catacombs, and caves into Hell itself (the final four levels), where the player battles the title character, Diablo, Lord of Terror — one of the seven "Evils" (devils) who once ruled Hell.

Diablo offers three character classes and the Hellfire expansion offers three more. Players can play as Warriors, Rogues (archers), or Sorcerers. Each class has its own place in the game's history, and all three classes are seen as NPCs in the sequel. All three classes have the same general skills and access to the same spells. Each of them has a class-specific skill (Item Repair, Trap Disarm, and Staff Recharge, respectively) that has as many drawbacks as benefits, except for Trap Disarm.

Hellfire

Diablo: Hellfire offers an additional character class: the Monk, in addition to two hidden character classes: the Barbarian and the Bard. The Monk fights best with staves or his bare hands and gains bonuses from wearing light or no armor. The Barbarian can wield two handed axes with only one hand but is entirely unable to cast spells throughout most of the game. The Bard is a character with relatively balanced statistics who can wield two single-handed weapons simultaneously. The Barbarian and the Bard can only be played using a file tweak, as they were unfinished. They utilize the art of the Warrior and Rogue, respectively, and have no lore. Additional quests and multiplayer capabilities (although not over Battle.net) are also unlockable through this simple tweak.

Hellfire also added two new dungeon environments on top of the four existing in the original Diablo: the Nest (more commonly referred to as the Hive) and the Crypt. Each of these environments contains various new monsters to fight but they contain no random quests or bosses and the generated levels contain no shrines or libraries. Most players thus found them stale in contrast to Diablo's original levels. The final boss of Hellfire, Na-Krul, is found in the final level of the Sacred Crypt.

Hellfire's development was started by Blizzard but later passed to Sierra to finish. Though some of its characters and concepts like the Barbarian and Monk seem to overlap with later games in the Diablo series, Hellfire is not considered to be a recognized part of the Diablo series.

Diablo II

Main article: Diablo II

At the end of the first game, a warrior tried to contain Diablo's soul within himself. The warrior was unable to do so, and, by the beginning of Diablo II, The Lord of Terror has taken control of this warrior's body and begun the process of freeing his two brothers, Mephisto and Baal. Players can choose from five distinct characters (seven when including the expansion) to control in their quest, and explore the world of Sanctuary through four acts. At the end of each of the four acts, players face different devils, with Diablo at the end of the game.

Diablo II broke several sales records. Many reviews put forth that the game had the best plot for an RPG. It was also the first computer RPG to have a significant number of female players (more than a quarter).^{[citation needed]}

The character classes, in particular, are much stronger than the previous game's. Unlike its predecessor, Diablo II provides the motivation for each character class joining the battle:

• The oracles of the Amazons foretold that the final battle when mankind would at last be free of angelic and demonic manipulation was at hand.
• The Barbarians also expect a "final battle", in which they would be key players in deciding the fate of the world.
• The Necromancers determine that the Evils have grown too powerful and thus ally themselves with the forces of Light to restore balance to the world.
• The Paladins, wracked with guilt over their actions during the Inquisition, seek justice upon Mephisto, the true cause of the bloody crusade.
• The Sorceresses join the battle with their mighty spells to stop the corruption of magic by the Evils.

Characters from the previous game are also present in Diablo II. The Rogues (as NPCs) are the hostesses of the player during Act I, and Sorcerers are seen regularly in Acts II and III. Unlike the original, each character has three distinct sets of skills/spells that they can use in the game. Several of the characters can also conjure magical minions, such as a Valkyrie (Amazon) or Skeletons and Golems (Necromancer). All players also have the option to hire a Rogue (Act I), a Warrior (Act II), or an Iron Wolf (a type of melee Sorcerer, Act III) to accompany them and help slay monsters. These "hirelings" have a few of their own skills and can be a great benefit to the player.

Lord of Destruction

Main article: Diablo II: Lord of Destruction

Blizzard released Diablo II: Lord of Destruction on June 29, 2001. In this expansion, set immediately after the events of Diablo II, players seek to destroy Diablo's brother, Baal. The expansion includes a new act, new items, and two new character classes:

• The Druids are descended from the Barbarians, and have come out of hiding in preparation for the final battle between mankind and the Evils.
• The Assassins have policed the mage-clans for centuries. Now, with news that Terror and Destruction (Diablo and Baal) roam free, the Assassins unleash their fury on Hell itself.

Barbarians can also be hired in the new Act. The summoned units of the expansion characters are called "minions". Hirelings can be resurrected in Lord of Destruction and can be equipped with armor and weapons.

Diablo III

Main article: Diablo III

Diablo III was announced at the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational on June 28, 2008. At the same time it was announced, it was also revealed that behind the ice on Blizzard's splash page was the logo for Diablo III and a link to the website. The game has both a gameplay trailer and a cinematic trailer. Diablo III takes place 20 years after Diablo II.

Five character classes are present in Diablo III:

The only directly returning class is the Barbarian. The Barbarians have a variety of revamped skills at their disposal based on the use of their incredible physical prowess. The Barbarian is able to Whirlwind through crowds, cleave through swarms, leap across crags, and crush opponents upon landing.

The Witch Doctor is a new character reminiscent of the Diablo II Necromancer, but with skills more traditionally associated with voodoo culture. The Witch Doctor has the ability to summon monsters, cast curses, harvest souls, and hurl poisons and explosives at his enemies.

The Wizard is a version of the Sorceress from Diablo II or the Sorcerer from Diablo, though it is much more than a mere elementalist. The Wizard's abilities range from shooting lightning, fire and ice at their enemies, to slowing time, and teleporting around enemies and through walls.

The Monk is a melee attacker, using martial arts to cripple foes, resist damage, deflect projectiles, attack with blinding speed, and land explosive killing blows.

The Demon Hunter is a ranged rogue class. It was the last class to be introduced, and specializes in ranged attacks, setting traps for enemies, and evasion skills.

The combat system was redone as well. Instead of the previous skill selection system used in Diablo II there is an action bar at the bottom of the screen. This change replaces the area where the potion-belt used to be in Diablo II.

For the first time in the series, players are able to choose the gender of their characters upon creation. The gender of the characters affects only visuals and voices.

Diablo III's release date was officially announced on March 15, 2012 and the game was released worldwide on May 15, 2012.

Gameplay

There are many features that are universal in the Diablo series. Point and click means that the mouse is mainly used for moving and using abilities. Diablo heavily relies on the need to get better items. Items are randomly generated and usually have many attributes assigned to them. Various maps in the Diablo world are randomly generated in each game, which increases the replayability.

Due to its randomly generated maps and "Hack and slash" nature, Diablo may be loosely considered a roguelike, though with realtime gameplay, graphics and sound. It was in fact originally conceived and pitched to Blizzard as what amounted to a graphical roguelike. The adventurer being based in a town above the dungeon and being able to use "scrolls of town portal" is a specific influence from Moria.

Important characters

Main article: Characters of Diablo

Archangels

An Archangel is an Angel of higher rank or with greater spiritual power than an ordinary Angel. The Angiris Council, the ruling party of the High Heavens, consists of five Archangels. Other Archangels are known to exist, but they are not mentioned as members of the Council. Archangels usually have their own specific spheres of influence, which define what they are and their functions in the High Heavens: for instance, the Angiris Council stands for Justice, Hope, Wisdom, Valor and Fate. Even in this respect Angels resemble their Demon counterparts: the Greater and Lesser Evils have their own domains, such as Terror, Pain and Destruction.

Known Archangels include:

• Auriel, Archangel of Hope
• Imperius, Archangel of Valor
• Ithrael, Archangel of Fate
• Malthael, Archangel of Wisdom
• Tyrael, Archangel of Justice

Other angels named in the series include:

• Inarius
• Hadriel
• Izual, Tyrael's former Lieutenant (Fallen Angel)

Angels

Angels are beings of the Light and Sound from the High Heavens. They are ruled by the Angiris Council, consisting of the five archangels, which rules over all other angels.

Demons

Demons are evil entities native to the Burning Hells. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can wield a wide range of magical powers, depending on their type. The everlasting war known as the Great Conflict is fought between demons, who believe in pure chaos, and the Angels of the High Heavens. Most demons and their servants pay alleagance to one of the seven greatest demons of hell, being three of them known as the Prime Evils and the other four known as the Lesser Evils.

Notable Demons include:

• Prime Evils
  • Diablo, Lord of Terror
  • Baal, Lord of Destruction
  • Mephisto, Lord of Hatred
• Lesser Evils
  • Andariel, Maiden of Anguish
  • Duriel, Lord of Pain
  • Belial, Lord of Lies
  • Azmodan, Lord of Sin
• Other Demons
  • Lilith, Queen of the Succubi
  • Rakanoth, the Lord of Despair

Demons cannot exist naturally in Sanctuary and must be summoned through a magical ritual or somehow take possession of a mortal's body.

Nephalem

The Nephalem are the direct offspring of angels and demons and the first generation of humans on Sanctuary. They are also known as Sanctuary's Children in The Sin War books. With the potential to be even greater than both angels and demons, the Nephalem's power has been slowly draining with each generation through the Worldstone, making each generation weaker than the last. It is believed that such beings as Bul-Kathos, Rathma, and Esu, to name a few, are the first Nephalem to be born, and that their children are the current barbarians, necromancers, and sorceresses whom we know today in the Diablo universe. After the destruction of the Worldstone it seems as though the power of the Nephalem resurges within the last generation of humans born after the event.

Novelizations

Many Diablo books have been written.

• The Black Road
• Demonsbane
• The Kingdom of Shadow
• Legacy of Blood
• Moon of the Spider
• The Sin War
• Diablo III: Book of Cain
• Diablo III: The Order

Comics

Tales of Sanctuary by Phil Amara, Dave Land and Francisco Ruiz Velasco, is a comic book released on November 9, 2001 by Dark Horse Comics. It features three stories:

• Rage is about Azgar, a Druid in his struggle against Baal's minions;
• The Hand of Naz is about Renit the Dark Stalker, a Barbarian who allies with the Necromancer, Cairo, to find the artifact known as Hand of Naz;
• Hatred's Bride is about Hale, a Paladin who saves a girl, Bay, from demons and seeks to protect her.

In November 2011, DC Comics started producing a five issue mini series (Diablo III: Sword of Justice) by Aaron Williams (cartoonist) with art and covers by Joseph LaCroix.

Reception

Aggregate review scores
As of September 25, 2012.

Game	GameRankings	Metacritic
Diablo	(PC) 89.29% (PS) 80.38%	(PC) 94
Diablo II	(PC) 88.58%	(PC) 88
Diablo III	(PC) 87.64%	(PC) 88

All the games in the Diablo series have been well received by critics and gamers alike. Diablo II sold 4 million copies in the year it was released. Diablo III sold 3.5 million copies in the first day and 6.3 million copies in the first week. Another 1.2 million copies were given to subscribers to Blizzard's Annual Pass service. The Diablo III release was the fastest-selling PC game of all time.

In 2010, IGN ranked Diablo 74th in the "Top 100 Video Game Villains" and they stated that "Just saying the word "demonic" conjures up all sorts of imagery and thoughts about strange rituals, the spilling of blood, and a host of other things Sunday school teachers warn kids about".

External links

• Blizzard Entertainment's website
• Diablo (series) at MobyGames
• Diablo series at the Open Directory Project