Episode 19 - Diablo
Retro Spectives23 Sep 2019

Episode 19 - Diablo

Diablo 1 laid the groundwork for the action-RPG genre way back in 1996. We have Diablo to thank for genre staples like colour-coded loot, elite mobs and town-portal scrolls. But since then, ARPGS have evolved into incredibly complex beasts, with sprawling skill trees, crafting systems and character customisation that makes Diablo 1 look quaint in comparison.

But is high-complexity necessarily better than a game which is simple and refined? Are more realistic graphics with their anti-aliasing and 3D Graphics better than basic yet haunting hallways? Has Diablo 1 stood the test of time, or is it better left forgotten as a relic of the ARPG genre?

In this episode, we discuss:

  • What creates good atmosphere? How well does Diablo 1 immerse you in its experience, and how does it compare to modern ARPGS like Diablo 3 and Path to Exile?
  • The amount and types of loot available to you while playing through Diablo is quite limited - does this make loot feel more meaningful, or does it just make the game less interesting?
  • Pat and James continue their classic argument about respecs. Are respecs something every game should have, or is something essential lost when you can change the nature of your character with ease?

We answer these questions, and many more, on the 19th episode of the Retro Spectives Podcast!

If you enjoyed the show and would like to continue the conversation, feel free to head on over to our Discord which you can find here or on our website. Thanks for listening!

Episoder(141)

E123: Resident Evil 2

E123: Resident Evil 2

After their magnum opus that was Resident Evil 1, Capcom were not going to sit on their heels.  Coming out just two years after the first in 1998, Resident Evil 2 sought to have everything the origina...

30 Jul 20241h 8min

E122: The Legend of Zelda

E122: The Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda is perhaps the most iconic video game series of all time.  Boasting 19 mainline entries, and an endless swathe of critical acclaim and awards, it's hard to find someone who hasn’t ...

8 Jul 20241h 9min

E121: Killer 7

E121: Killer 7

Killer7 is one weird game.  Developed in tandem by Grasshopper Manufacture and Capcom and first released in 2005, its very existence as a game defies description.  Within moments of starting, you’re p...

21 Jun 20242h 20min

E120: System Shock 2

E120: System Shock 2

System Shock 2 is considered by many to be the finest immersive sim ever made.  Released in 1999 in a coventure by Looking Glass Studios and Irrational Games, it sought to combine the classic 3D dunge...

3 Jun 20241h 55min

E119: Gran Turismo 4

E119: Gran Turismo 4

Over the years, we’ve played games from pretty much every genre under the sun, but there is one that is notably missing - the racing sim.  We’ve dabbled with arcade racers like Burnout 3, and have pla...

6 Mai 20241h 33min

Episode 118: Hitman Bloodmoney

Episode 118: Hitman Bloodmoney

Hitman: Blood Money, first released in 2006 by Eidos, is considered by many to be the best Hitman game ever made.  After the first few games played around with novel ideas and concepts to mixed succes...

8 Apr 20241h 39min

Episode 117: Final Fantasy VII

Episode 117: Final Fantasy VII

Final Fantasy VII is a landmark title not only for the JRPG genre, but for all video games.  First released in 1997 and developed by Square, it took the format of the previous games and brought them t...

11 Mar 20242h 43min

Episode 116: Rain World

Episode 116: Rain World

Rain World is a game that was released to very mixed reviews.  With a whopping 59 on Metacritic, it was panned for its controls, difficulty, tedium and general obtuseness.  But take a gander at the co...

22 Jan 20242h 14min

Populært innen Fritid

rss-spartsklubben
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
mil-etter-mil-en-podcast-om-bil
interiorradet
nerdelandslaget
livet-pa-veien-med-jan-erik-larssen
jakt-og-fiskepodden
rss-gatebilpodden
jegerpodden
0-100-med-broom-mats-og-remi
rss-avskiltet
klokkepodden
level-backup
rss-jegerpodden
rss-jeg-fikser-vin
fjellsportpodden
hagespiren-podcast
grontpodden
villmarksliv
rss-var-forste-kaffe