Few classical ARPGs have had the level of influence on gaming culture likeDiablo 2, whose waves have rippled through the community since its initial release at the turn of the century – and again after its 2021 remaster. Widely regarded as the best iteration of the entireDiablofranchise and one of thehighest-rated ARPGs of all time, it stands to reason that the biggest newer titles would try to incorporate some of its storytelling and mechanics as a nod to its legacy. Blizzard, after a brief detour inDiablo 3’s efforts to distinguish itself from its predecessor, dialed back toDiablo 2’s framework in developingDiablo 4. Similarly,Path of Exile 2has drawn inspiration fromDiablo 2, although this manifests uniquely.
Logically, there shouldn’t be any confusion about which game is the “spiritual successor” toDiablo 2’s throne, since it has a mainline successor in its franchise. However, Blizzard went against all expectations forDiablo 3. The developer opted to divest itself ofDiablo 2’s shadow and appeal to a wider audience, opting for new formulas in storytelling mechanics, aesthetics, and a handful of other components that made the predecessor special in the first place. AlthoughDiablo 3eventually rediscovered its fair share of fan favor, the response toDiablo 3was enough to spur Blizzard into righting its wrongs inDiablo 4.
Path of Exile’s Diablo 2 Legacy Manifests in Gameplay Mechanisms
As proof of a section of the gaming public’s discomfort withDiablo 3, thePath of Exilefranchise was built by a team who were underwhelmed by the title’s offerings and wanted to carry the torch ofDiablo 2’s legacy in their own way. While the originalPath of Exilehad its pros, it’s really in the follow-up (Path of Exile 2) that the spiritual successor tag came about.
For one, it embodies the slower-paced, challenging gameplay that catapultedDiablo 2to stardom. Part of the allureDiablo 2enjoyed lay in its difficulty in defeating enemies until players went through a painstaking grind – a feeling most famously captured bySoulslike games. Falling to a boss repeatedly before finding an upgrade in an obscure tomb that changed the player’s entire combat outlook was part of the ritual that made it into a blockbuster title.
Path of Exile 2adopts this approach from the get-go, starting players off with slim pickings in weaponry and mana, then thrusting them into a world where large mobs easily overpower their character. Adding to the nostalgicDiablo 2feel inPath of Exile 2is its mechanism of needing to identify some dropped loot items before using them. Although this dynamic further feeds into the direct successor vibes, having to port back to camp oruse a Scroll of Wisdomsimply to use new equipment might be a divisive experience.
Diablo 4 Showcases its Diablo 2 Roots With Storytelling and Setting
InDiablo 4’s case, despite doing away with the slower gameplay its ancestor became famous for, it still retains a fair bit ofDiablo 2heritage. WhileDiablo 4isn’t quite viewed in the same vicinity of repute, it went a long way to mending the mistakes ofDiablo 3– especially in terms of narrative. For starters, one of the most jarring omissions fromDiablo 3wasLilith. Casting aside her chains to reprise her forDiablo 4brought back a familiar face and helped to foster a narrative link toDiablo 2.
The most compelling connections betweenDiablo 4andDiablo 2come in skill trees and overall setting. Blizzard opted for a linear gameplay mechanism inDiablo 3(perhaps to ease the onboarding curve for a casual audience) and lost most of the sauce that madeDiablo 2special.Diablo 4righted that wrong, introducing a detailed and diverse skill tree to maximize customization and player imagination. Along with this change,Diablo 4also reverted to the darker macabre tone that paintedDiablo 2’s scene, a nod toDiablo 2’s legacy of evoking hopelessness and fear while going against some ofSanctuary’s most feared creatures.
