Diablo

Description

Diablo on PlayStation from 1998 is an interesting transfer of the original PC phenomenon to the console world, though not without some compromises. Originally created by Blizzard, the game earned a reputation for its dark atmosphere, compelling story and addictive gameplay, which the developers have managed to carry over to this version, albeit with some minor pitfalls.

First and foremost, it's worth highlighting the fact that the PlayStation version retains the core of the original experience. The player once again finds himself in the medieval city of Tristram, full of dark atmosphere, where he ventures into underground passages and gradually makes his way to hell itself in order to defeat the lord of terror - the Devil. The graphics, while slightly less detailed than on PC, still impress with the PlayStation's capabilities and manage to evoke a properly grim and oppressive atmosphere.

However, the controls, a key element for the action RPG genre, suffer from the conversion to a console controller. Adapting the controls to the PlayStation gamepad has not been easy, and it sadly shows. Instead of precise mouse clicks, the player has to rely on analogue sticks and buttons, which makes some actions less precise and intuitive. This is especially apparent during combat, where it's noticeable that the controls sometimes lag behind the pace of the game.

The soundtrack and music remain strong points of this version. Matt Uelmen's atmospheric tracks capture the dark and horrific nature of the game, ideally complementing the overall feel and drawing the player deeper into the game. The quality dubbing of the NPC characters also adds to the believability and overall immersion.

Diablo for PlayStation also offers the option of a two-player multiplayer mode on a single screen. This feature adds greatly to the game's value, as cooperative play with friends can be great fun and overcomes some of the frustrating moments associated with control.

Last but not least, we should mention the stability and loading times, which are a bit longer on the console version than we were used to from the PC. However, this occasional wait is not so distracting as to fundamentally disrupt the overall impression, yet it could be less frequent.

In short, 1998's Diablo on PlayStation is a solid attempt to bring the iconic RPG to consoles. The PC adaptation presented a few challenges, especially in terms of controls, but the game's fundamentals - atmosphere, story and music - remain intact. For fans of the franchise who want to experience the old familiar story on a different platform, this is an interesting title, though not entirely without flaws.