The Diablo 3

Diablo 3 is the third and latest installment in the Diablo Action Game Series and though not released yet, there is much hype and psych among eager fans. The game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment and the lead designer for the Diablo 3 is Jay Wilson while its music composer is Russel Brower.

The development of Diablo 3 began in 2001 and was first announced at the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational in Paris on the 28th of June, 2008.

Although the game allows for single player physically, it can be played in multi-player mode online. Diablo 3 works on a wide range of systems and uses an in-house engine and a custom 3D game engine to enable overhead view as well as 3D environment movements such as crawling up a wall. To provide different experiences when replayed, an enhanced quest system, a random encounter generator and a random level generator will be used.

Diablo 3 is set 20 years after the events of Diablo 2.The setting is in the customary Sanctuary and Diablo, Baal and Mephisto have been defeated, however, the Worldstone responsible for protecting the inhabitants from the forces of Heaven and Hell has been destroyed and it is the work of the player to conquer demons and save the world. The player acquires spells, powerful items and abilities as they navigate through the familiar and new areas.

Some of the new features in the game include the ability to pick up just gold by touching it instead of picking it up manually and skill runes which are items that modify skills and make a particular spell more powerful in each class randomly dropped by monsters for use across all classes. Also in Diablo 3 rare and magic items can be enhanced unlike in Diablo 2 where only armory and basic weaponry could. Health orbs are also dropped by enemies removing the need to have a potion bar used in Diablo 2.

Regarding the characters, unlike in Diablo 2 where each character class had a fixed gender, players in Diablo 3 can choose the gender they want to play. The five character classes in Diablo 3 are:

1) The witchdoctor. This is a new character almost similar to the necromancer in Diablo 2 although is not a version of the necromancer. The witchdoctor’s abilities include: casting curses, harvesting souls, summoning monsters and hurling explosives and poison at enemies.

2) The barbarian. The barbarian has the ability to cleave through swarms, whirlwind through crowds, and leap across crags and crush enemies on landing propelled by fury generated through attacking enemies or getting attacked by enemies as well as other abilities. The fury however degenerates with time.

3) The wizard. This is a version of Diablo 2’s sorceress and Diablo’s sorcerer. The wizard’s abilities include: slowing time, teleporting around enemies and through walls and shooting lightning, fire and ice at enemies among others. Arcane power fuels the wizard’s spells.

4) The monk. The monk uses martial arts to attack enemies with blinding speed, cripple and land blows.

5) The demon hunter. The demon hunter uses the combined elements of Diablo 2’s amazon and assassin classes. They are propelled by hatred and discipline that help in attacking and defensive abilities respectively. They also throw small bombs and use crossbows to fight enemies.

The release date for Diablo 3 is not yet definite with wide speculation that it will be in 2012 but since the finer details of the game are being sorted out, Diablo lovers and those hoping to get this new experience might not have to wait for a long time.