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Diablo 2: Resurrected's classic gameplay still holds up 20 years after the original release, but players may need to do some homework to get an optimal experience. Blizzard's remake of Diablo 2 updates one of the most influential RPGs of all-time for a new era, keeping the core gameplay intact while updating the original's year-2000 visuals for modern audiences and making slight quality-of-life changes that make for a better overall experience.

While server instability issues have been an issue since launch, the gameplay experience will be familiar to those who played the game in its original incarnation. Whether it's doing Baal runs or farming the no-longer-secret cow level, this is Diablo 2, and longtime fans will be at home. While there are a few new additions, such as previously ladder-only items and runewords appearing in all game modes, this is still the Diablo 2 everyone remembers, for (mostly) better or for (occasionally) worse.

Related: Diablo 2: Resurrected - 8 Best Changes Developers Made For The Remake

Diablo 2 is a classic for a reason. It still stands tall thanks to its unique classes and tried-and-true, loot-based gameplay. While veterans of the franchise will feel right at home, those jumping in for the first time (or who are coming directly from Diablo 3) may be caught off guard with some of its more punishing and outdated mechanics. The good news is that playing Diablo 2 in 2021 means there are numerous resources available online for those looking to have their questions answered, and using those resources should help even inexperienced players enjoy Diablo 2: Resurrected.

Diablo 2: Resurrected's Gameplay Holds Up, With A Little Help

Diablo 2 Resurrected's Gameplay Holds Up, With A Little Help

Kill. Loot. Repeat. This is the essence of Diablo 2, and most other loot-based action-RPGs that came after it, but going back to the game that started it all after playing two decades of titles that were directly inspired by it, including Diablo 3, can make for a bit of whiplash. Diablo 2 can be rather unfriendly to the uninitiated. It's easy to invest skill and stat points recklessly and make a terrible character that will struggle through most of the game. Many critical mechanics don't get much explanation, much less handy tools like a list of the best runewords to use in the early game or a handy list of Horadric Cube recipes. It was all left up to players to discover back in the day, but those booting up Diablo 2: Resurrected for the first time after playing more modern loot-based RPGs will be largely in the dark.

Thankfully, that doesn't mean Diablo 2: Resurrected's gameplay doesn't hold up. Frantically running around the environment slinging spells or bashing foes, all while keeping an eye on health and mana pools and chugging potions appropriately, is still a thrill, even if the game's outdated stamina meter occasionally grinds the action to a halt. The action itself is still as fun as it ever was, and building a character can be a joy - if a player knows what they're doing.

That's where online guides and resources come in. Dedicated players and guide makers know all the best Diablo 2: Resurrected class builds, the best items, how to most efficiently allocate stat and skill points, and it's all online for new and returning players to use. Having build guides or runeword cheat sheets allows players to actually focus on the game itself, instead of worrying about making an iffy character choice or being confused about the specifics around what certain runes or items do. Players should feel no shame in consulting a guide here, and it actively makes for a much better experience than going in blind and expecting Diablo 2 to be something it's not.

A little homework goes a long way towards enjoying Diablo 2's older, less forgiving gameplay. While swapping between abilities can be a bit unintuitive compared to modern games in the genre, and its skill-tree system can be punishing if players aren't sure what they are doing, Diablo 2 stands the test of time as being of the best RPGs ever made for a reason. Its gameplay cycle is addictive, and building a powerful character who can sweep armies of demons aside with a single spell is a joy to experience.  Diablo 2: Resurrected makes one of gaming's best even better, as long as newer players are willing to meet it on its own terms.

Next: How To Find The Secret Cow Level In Diablo 2: Resurrected