Diablo (video game)

Lore & Background

Diablo is an action role-playing video game with dungeon crawl elements. The player moves and interacts with the environment primarily by way of a mouse, with other actions performed via keyboard inputs. The dungeon levels are procedurally generated with themes for each level, and players are assigned a random number of optional quests that offer powerful unique items and help level up the character. The final two quests are mandatory to finish the game.

The game features three character classes: the Warrior, the Rogue, and the Sorcerer, each with different attribute levels and a unique skill. The Warrior is a close-quarters fighter with high Strength and Vitality, the Rogue is a master of ranged weapons with high Dexterity, and the Sorcerer is a spellcaster with high Magic. The expansion pack Diablo: Hellfire added the Monk class, and two unfinished classes, the Bard and Barbarian, remained hidden.

Items in Diablo are categorized by color: white for normal, blue for magic, and gold for unique. Magic items can have up to two magical effects, while unique items can have up to six. Items wear down through use and can be repaired by NPCs or by the Warrior. Multiplayer is available for up to four players via direct connection, modem, Battle.net, or IPX network, though the game lacks strong anti-cheating methods.

Reader's Guide

Diablo has been considered one of the greatest games of all time for its randomized assignment of quests and enemies on each playthrough, online multiplayer, and graphics. The game's success led to several sequels: Diablo II in 2000, Diablo III in 2012, Diablo Immortal in 2022, and Diablo IV in 2023. The PlayStation version, released in 1998 by Electronic Arts and developed by Climax Studios, featured direct control of the main character's direction using the PlayStation controller and added local multiplayer for cooperation mode on a single screen. A Sega Saturn version was considered but never released. The game's procedural generation and class system influenced many later action role-playing games, and its online multiplayer via Battle.net helped popularize internet-based cooperative play. The expansion Diablo: Hellfire added the Monk class and hidden Bard and Barbarian classes, though the latter two were unfinished and required a hack to enable.

Did You Know?

• The PlayStation version of Diablo featured direct control of the main character's direction using the controller, unlike the point-and-click movement of the Windows version.
• The PlayStation version added local multiplayer, allowing two players to cooperate on a single screen using both controllers.
• A Sega Saturn version of Diablo was considered by Electronic Arts but never released.
• The expansion Diablo: Hellfire added the Monk class, while the Bard and Barbarian classes remained unfinished and hidden.