10-28-2006, 02:06 AM
> And calling it 'act 4' is a big concession -- it has neither the size nor the detail to rate much more than act 3.5.
Yep. While I don't mind the shift from some of the jungle, it did feel a bit jarring.
> I don't think there is anything that can be done to D2 (or D1) that amounts to more than a fresh coat of paint. It may look shiny, but it'll be the same old 'kill things to get more powerful so that you can kill higher level things' merry-go-round.
That's true to a large degree. I wouldn't hesitate to put D1 and Hellfire:Fixed in my personal permanent hall of fame, but there's definitely elements in D1 (D2\LoD) that shows their age, and not in a good way.
I think any game that wants to ape something like Diablo is destined to fail. Not because it's Diablo, but because aping anything without understanding and without significantly contributing your own take is usually doomed to failure.
Having said that I think there's nothing wrong with being inspired by something like Diablo (or anything else). Obviously the hard trick is taking the sometimes intangible magic that is applicable, and making it work in something new that still feels familiar in a good way. (I know if -I- can do that reliably, I'd most likely be sipping champagne in a private tropical island fanned by a cadre of female bodyguards whose beauty is matched only by their deadliness.)
>I think Blizzard knows this, which is why I suspect that D3 may never be one of their projects.
If it becomes a 'More Of The Same Ol' Stuff', in the worst sense of the expression, then yes it's probably better to just leave it as is. Bliz did cancel this :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warcraft_Adve...rd_of_the_Clans
after all. I personally admire that decision if it was based on a long term vision of the product. On the other hand the lure of a 'franchise' is pretty strong. It's really hard to turn down a license to practically print money. Someone like George Lucas probably wrestles with that very dilemma every night before falling asleep on his ruby encrusted Jar Jar Binks pillow.