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Nice conclusion to a very good series
This expansion finishes(?) the Diablo series in a great way, while adding a good deal of improvements. I never played Diablo 2 without the expansion installed, so I never missed any of the new features which include hirelings that can travel with you between acts, a bigger stash, 2 new character classes, improved video resolution, and more of everything (areas, items, monsters, weapons, etc.). For anyone who liked Diablo 2, the expansion is definitely worthwhile.
Gameplay: More hack-and-slay, but some interesting quests. You have to track down Baal, Diablo's brother who escaped in Diablo 2. The story is focused on a Barbarian land that is under siege by the forces of evil. Overall, the story is interesting and the new areas are appropriately stocked with a mix of monsters. Most of the six quests have multiple parts. Like the other games, LoD still throws hordes of monsters at you and occasionally sticks in a memorable, worthy opponent. There are about 3-4 truly epic fights, including the one with Baal (in which there is a bit of a surprise). Also, like the other games, there are randomized monsters, items, shrines, dungeon walls, and other things that might make a replay worthwhile, but the 6 quests are always the same. LoD still maintains the annoying game-save system that was featured in Diablo 2, which is a real shame.
Visuals: The game looks good in 800x600 resolution. You can see more of the screen and the details are well done. There is nothing ground-breaking here, but the visuals have held up well after four years.
Sound: Same as Diablo 2. The monsters have more convincing sounds and speech than the NPCs. Overall, the music is decent, but does not measure up to the roaring drum beats of the original Diablo.
Overall, this is a good buy if you liked the other Diablo games, or simply want an arcade-action game with some roleplaying elements. The skill system does help you get into the characters more. Also, those who want to play this game online should especially get some replay value out of it.
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