If you’ve read my last post about Diablo 3 you may remember that I kinda liked it. Well, I still do. In fact, I like it so much that this ugly red bastard has already come to die three times at my sisters and mine combined hands. And for the record: her character finally died, too. Lot’s of times! Mine also, of course, so there’s no reason for me to gloat, but I’m amused still.
Anyone that knows the game recognizes that having killed Diablo three times means we’re now fighting through the last difficulty: Inferno. That is a lot of time spent running through the same exact story, basically the same levels and always beating the same ugly bosses. It is kind of interesting how such a simple game-plan can be so immersive. Most veterans would probably say it’s all about the looting but in this very regard Diablo 3 fell short.
For most part of the last third of Nightmare and almost all through Hell the items we found have been very disapointing. In fact, two people finishing the game three times yielded only three (crappy) legendary items, no sets (!!! not a single piece) and a smith that is as worthless as Windows Vista turned out to be and Windows 8 is likely to become (why is that guy actually in there?).
However, with the most recent updates and especially Nephalem Valor this changed (no legendary or sets still, though). The rate at which rare items now drop is just amazing. Some even proved to be useful - no joke, we finally found updates after that very long drought. The thought of having to mention this, however, is a little bit pathetic.
Before, it was very hard to find something that improved the character in just one category without being a major downgrade in the others. Now we actually find things that improve our virtual hero in every aspect. It’s getting more fun again. I can’t tell you how happy I was when I found a new weapon that suddenly increased my damage about 4000 points without reducing armor or vitality. That’s like finding the BFG in Quake 3! Killing Spree
And believe me, these upgrades are more and more necessary. Not only are those evil dudes absorbing more damage but some may also kill you so fast it would make Chuck Norris proud. One fierce hit and you’re done. Roundhouse Kick and dead. If those brutes could actually talk they’d probably crack jokes about them being able to drown fishes. As it happens, around every second or third corner there’s a trio or even a quartet of champions with some nasty large area attacks. Sometimes we’re just so busy running away that in the end we attract so much attention on trying to survive that it’s actually for the worse. In some masochistic way this is fun… The reward is then beating those show-offs and teasing one another about who died how often during the skirmish and who survived (and making foul comments on those virtual scumbags). In a lot of cases you’re even immediately dead as soon as you rejoin the battle after dying. Clicking the banner of your companion may transport you right into the heart of a fierce fight amidst all the foes striking a blow. Somehow (still in a masochistic way) this is hilarious.
Most groups are even more challenging than the bosses which is strange. More often than not a boss fight takes place in a rather large area where you can concentrate on one mean dude instead of a group surrounded by the average monsters that are there as well. But that’s what keeps the level of motivation high for playing the same levels over and over again. The bosses are just there for the story’s sake.
One thing of note: When facing Belial on Hell we for the first time were actually forced to think about some sort of strategy. That not-so-lovely-creature bested us two or three times while we were using skills that worked great when fighting through the levels. I never thought this possible. Up until this time we were using one particular set of offensive and defensive skills throughout the whole game. That lying green dude made us think (in a hack-and-slay!) how to approach the subject. As you can see, we did it with success and in the end it was very rewarding! However, I can’t say I’m looking forward to facing him again… But have no fear, his death is us dear.
In case you’re interested here are the characters involved:
