Diablo + Hellfire

Yes, I know it's 10$ for a game of 20 years ago, with all the things this implies (old graphics, clunky mechanics, etc). Fetch yourself some gameplay video, and have a look... However, mind this: there's a reason if this game lead its sequel to sell 1 million copies in two weeks.

Deceiving first appearances. Because you're thrown, without any ceremony whatsoever, into the main town after you pick your class. You weren't told anything at all about the plot, or the world. You don't know your character's background, or their story. You don't even know where you are. You talk to the first NPC and unless you've been playing a lot of Resident Evil recently you get greeted with the worst voice acting you've heard in years. I think the only reason early players weren't led to believe this was cheap shovelware and quit on the spot is the absolutely brilliant music playing in the background. But like a brave dungeon explorer you delve deeper into what must by all appearances be a below average game and THEN it hits you, or rather you hit it, the first mob, and it all makes sense. Because even after all these years, the real-time combat, a complete novelty at the time, is simply very fun. Walk, hit, kill, loot. Even if you can't exactly see what you're hitting because of the walls in the way, even if you can't walk straight because of the character's pathing or see items on the ground, even after all that you still just want to keep doing it for hours. Get stronger, and do it faster. It's rough around the edges and rough around the sides, but it's ultimately a great classic with enduring gameplay, an insane soundtrack and well crafted atmosphere and theme that's totally worth playing today.

Diablo is not the game that invented "Dungeon Crawls," but it is the game that solidified the genre as being distinct from other CRPGs. The basic format is that of an ever-deepening dungeon to plunder. Above the dungeon is a single town with 8 or 10 NPCs and a shop or two that serve as a hub for your expeditions. There is a loose over-arching story, strung together by smaller quests that typically culminate in a boss fight in the dungeon that differ from standard fights only in the levels and powers of enemy you confront. At the time of it's release, Diablo's gameplay felt like a drastic simplification of the CRPG genre in general, but this is mostly because there hadn't been anything that hit the specific balance of hack'n'slash and stat crunching it introduced. In spite of the perceived simplicity of the game, it was enormously popular with fans of more technical CRPGs and with fans of FPS-style (like Hexen) games alike. Indeed, it was the balanced of gameplay pioneered by Diablo that makes it so fun and additive. However, this isn't saying that it is without flaws. My one biggest gripe about Diablo is how dull the game looks. Every environment in the game is a dull grey-red-brown-black covered with a hazy fog. This isn't a resolution issue or a scaling problem, it's the way the game was meant to look. I would guess that it's supposed to conjure a sinister feeling, like the town and the dungeon are infected with some sickness. It does, but it's also extremely difficult to see and it's ugly as hell. This isn't a review specifically of the GOG version, but I would like to add that the game tends to crash a lot on newer systems, even if you have been careful to follow all the advice online about setting it up. If you grew up during the birth of CRPGs, then you have probably played Diablo already, and none of this is going to be new to you. If you didn't, then play it. Regardless of how bad it looks, it's a truely classic CRPG with amazingly addictive mechanics.

Great old game but it lacks Sierra expansion Hellfire.

Guys could you please add TCP/IP on your GOG version please? The ability to play the game with people on my GOG friends list would be awesome! This is the only thing preventing me to have a blast playing with my old friends in the game. Just please add it on your servers and i'll be a lot more happy consumer. Playing the blizzard version without the correct resolution on my 4K screen is just a bummer ;( add to that the hassle with unlocking some ancient ports in router to be able to play online, create some new blizzard account for old battle net etc. it is just a bummer.