There Is No Cow Level

Published on July 1, 2008 By Legandir In PC Gaming

Ok, I've procrastinated long enough. Its time to actually write a blog-post. I had intended to do long posts once a week but I've since realised that I don't have either the discipline or the writing skills to do that. So, instead I'll write short blog posts on what I'm playing. I tend to go between different games very quickly whether or not I'm finished them so there should be fairly regular posts although they won't have any kind of regular schedule.

I've never played any of the Diablo games so when the Diablo 3 announcement came out I was indifferent. However, when everyone in chatrooms, forums and previews started going crazy talkig about it, I decided it was time I saw what the fuss was about. I downloaded the Diablo 2 demo and started playing. Initial impressions weren't good. In the Diablo 3 video, I thought the Barbarian looked boring. Click here to walk, click here to fight, rinse, repeat. The only part of the Barbarian that looked interesting was when he knocked down the wall. I thought the Witch Doctor looked much more fun with spells, pets and Zombie Walls.

In the Diablo 2 demo however, you only have one choice, Barbarian. I was disappointed but stuck with it. I'm still in the early stages of the demo. I'm a level 4 Barbarian called Kratos (named because I thought he looked very like him, Barbarian and Kratos). I cleared out the Den of Evil and I'm in Cold plains now. I might be alomst a decade late to the party but I can see why the game has such a good reputation. I'm still not a fan of the Barbarian and I still think that simply clicking to fight is boring. However, even with that, I'm still engrossed in finding the best equipment and leveling up. I do wish i could carry more as every time i meet a large mob, I end up with more gear than I can carry, which means another trip back to town. I would love to go out, do a quest through to its end, only going back to town if I'm on deaths door and at the end of a quest pick the best loot for myself and sell whats left at the same time as I'm getting my next quest.

This is a small complaint and I know there are mods to help with it. I am still interested in seeing how the magic users play but not enough to buy the game I am looking forward to Diablo 3 now, hopefully they'll include a magic user in the demo, although I don't hold out much hope for that. I might get Diablo 3 depending on reviews and how much money I have at the time.

Comments

garion333

on Jul 02, 2008

Collection is what the game is all about, really. It's an endless addiction.

Inventory management is always a gripe in any Diablo clone, though I think Titan Quest did a good job by allowing you to go back to town whenever you want instead of having to use scrolls to do it.

Oh, and Diablo has always had legs because of the online multiplayer. Even playing solo you should always play in the online setting so you can use that character if you ever want to do some multiplayer. If that makes sense.

Oh, and I hate the barbarian types. They are boring.

Annatar11

on Jul 02, 2008

You know, I could never get into the Barbarian either in D2, I don't remember leveling one past 40.

Played a bunch of Assassins, Paladins, and Necros though! Wee that brings back memories.

If there was a way to get it to run on higher resolution, I'd play it again. Sadly, 1024x768 (the max in LoD right? I remember original was 800x600) will make my eyes bleed on my big monitor

Feynt

on Jul 02, 2008

Well considering you can get the game for a pittance at most game stores in bargain bins, it's not like it's much of a problem acquiring a copy. The Diablo series is, more or less, just as mindless as you had stated above. "Click here to walk, click here to fight, rinse, repeat." It' just depends on the variety of effects that occur when you click. Barbarians can be quite fun later in the game (around level 24 they pick up with Frenzy and Whirlwind, as well as a bunch of warcries), but then that's true of most of the classes. There are alternative ways to build every class but without the proper gear it's difficult to impossible. Usually that means playing with a friend or at least doing one play through yourself. It's possible, for instance, to play a Barbarian like a caster, using mostly warcries to deal with enemies and relying on weapon skills more for bosses. This requires bonus skill gear, mana boosting gear, the works, just like any caster. You're also somewhat mediocre for a caster, but then again you're trying to make a walking blender try to be something he's not. >)

Sorceresses can conversely be melee characters, using Enchant (a fire spell), Energy Shield (lightning), and Frost, Shiver, and Chilling Armors (ice) to improve your damage and greatly reduce the damage you take to health. Is she nearly as effective as a Barbarian? No. But it can be a fun challenge. And in the end, that's why you play, for the story and the challenge. If you can get a few friends together, all the better, as your experience will improve with more people involved.

kryo

on Jul 02, 2008

Sadly, 1024x768 (the max in LoD right? I remember original was 800x600) will make my eyes bleed on my big monitor

Unfortunately D2 tops out at 800x600; 640x480 was the default.

Annatar11

on Jul 02, 2008

Teehee, that's even worse

garion333

on Jul 02, 2008

I remember original was 800x600) will make my eyes bleed on my big monitor

You could play it in windowed mode. But yes, it will still look dated.

I play it on my laptop, which is nowhere near the size of my desktop screen. It's nice to play when I am traveling.

Mnesthes

on Jul 02, 2008

To pose a thought related to the title, I wonder:
Will there be a new cow level?

Annatar11

on Jul 02, 2008

I hope so

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