So after many hours of gaming, possibly 14 or 15, I finally got to Diablo. It started out with reasonable ghouls and creatures and slowly built. I ran through the first two acts with little issue. I had teamed up with my friend to play so we were a good match. He could toast them all from a distance and I would run right into the mix hacking, slashing, and spinning the rest.

We even got through act 3 but for 4 I was on my own, no fault to my friend. He had played when I had a very productive week or so of home repair, programming classes and web development. Needless to say he isup up in the 40s now and I had some catching up to do. He has been on his own real life adventures as well so it seemed to be a good time so I could be ready for nightmare.

I did not necessarily choose the easiest path for myself, I played as my barbarian but instead of choosing the Templar who is very good at keeping me alive, or the Scoundrel who just plain kicks some ass, I went with the Enchantress. I buffed her out with some stalls, splats, and major attacks complete with the most complicated 2 handed staff I could blacksmith. It took 53 essence, so took me a while but i prefer the payback of materials over gold.

It wasn’t impossible on my own with the Enchantress but I died quite a few times. I could do it though. I was glad. Then I got to this relatively large boss battle, the last before Diablo. Could not for the life of me take him out on my own. Luckily a lvl 43 associate whom I had battled with before was online and able to hop onto my game to help me out for 5 minutes so I could keep going. I fought the rest with relative ease and then the battle.

I wasn’t expecting much. I am awful at boss battles. I am impatient and not very good at moving accurately so even obvious patterns can slip me up. I did alright, even got to his level of hell to continue the fight. However, the shadow warriors were too much and couldn’t reach for Q in time.

I really am looking forward to finishing this with my friend and getting into nightmare level where the really good items are. It is a beautiful game, and despite some odd ticks with the item titles of loot, it all looks amazing in 3D. The perspective is so well done. I wish it was dynamic, but for a static (non side scroller) it is an amazing
I don’t find myself getting caught up in the backstory, certainly not as much as Skyrim but I have enjoyed it realms over what I thought I would. In return for me joining him for this one, I do believe Jay still owes me getting the demo derby game… But maybe when it gets down to $20

** update 2012 06 17 **
I am now into Nightmare difficulty. It really wasn’t that hard. I joined a public game for last couple episodes. We breezed through the. First couple levels and eventually go to Diablo t and took him down. He actually makes you fight 3 times in a row. It was a long long battle, even with three people.

As long as he is on normal difficulty, the Skeleton King also nears that level of endurance once you get to nightmare. I don’t recommend just finding random people but it gets the job done. No one cooperates, no one waits, or even replies in party chat. They’re all business but it serves a purpose. Otherwise I would continue to be frustrated playing him over and over.

Nightmare has been interesting, like I said, I just got throughthe Skeleton King and I believe I have 9 blacksmith papers and 8 jewelcrafter papers. They are not easy to come by but check the dead bodies. I have gotten more from the poor dread villagers then even the most difficult bosses and golden enemiesi am eager to see what the unlocks are for both but still only cautiously optimistic. The chance of valuable ratesrares is so much greater then making your own.

It is similAR, but it really is a new game the next time through.