I've been playing through Diablo 1-3 over the last few weeks. Funnily enough, I finished Diablo 3 first, then worked my way backwards through the earlier titles. What struck me the most, is just what little the whole "bloat" of Diablo 3 adds to the experience IMO. I mean, there's lore, endgame content, a whole slew of difficulty settings, more gems, more gear, more artisans - more everything! It's bigger, flashier - but also "wordier", more colorful etc. And then there's Diablo 1 - a game that its developers envisioned at the time as a simple, playerfriendly version of the CRPG that everyone could just pick up and play. And yet - in comparison to the more "modern" Diablo 3 it also seems so much more "mature". It expects you to play much slower and more methodically, the story is dark and foreboding - rather than loud, bombastic and operatic. Well, to be honest, this is written from the perspective of someone who has played through the three games mostly for the storyline and the broad differences in gameplay - I don't dare say anything about the scope and quality of the endgame content, playing in higher difficulties etc. So, if you're even slightly interested in the series' history and development - definitely give Diablo 1 a go!
