PC CD-ROM minimum system requirements: Pentium/60mhz; 8MB RAM; 3MB hard disk space; Windows 95; Dual speed CD-ROM drive; SVGA. £34.99
ONCE upon a time there was a little village. It wasn't very big but its housed all the people necessary to make it function as a unit. And, of course, there was the village hero. But there's ne'er sight nor sound of the famous Lamborghini in this role-playing game from the people who brought us Warcraft II.
Diablo, you see, is the Lord of Terror and his hang-out is the local dungeon. All things being equal, no one would ever set foot near the place but our hero (you) has little choice - that is, of course, unless you want to spend every hour that Our Lord gave you wandering around the God-forsaken place catching up on all the local gossip.
Needless to say you won't. No matter which of the three character traits you choose (Warrior, Sorcerer or Rogue) you'll be hungry for some action and if that's what you are looking for, head north. This will lead you to the gates of the dungeon where you will meet one of the few people still breathing after their tour of hell's opening. This fellow has little going for him, except that he can still talk, but he begs that you slay the Butcher (it might be pointed out at this stage that this guy isn't the fellow you buy your steak from).
With gay abandon, off you head into the abyss where you are greeted by the welcoming party - armies of Zombies, Skeletons and Magma Demons et al - whose only purpose in life is to end yours. After the initial fracas you then go around the slain searching for money and any weapons or spells. These will come in handy later on when you have more than these relative small fry to take on.
As you become more experienced, your character gains strength and other abilities. Obviously, the stronger you are the bigger the weapons you can carry. However, there will come a time when you will become laden down with his booty and will have to return to the village to sell some of it. This is also a chance to have some running repairs done your weapons and perhaps purchase" something a little meatier from the blacksmith to defend yourself.
But as you increase your strength, weapons and armour, it seems the creatures you encounter somehow become bigger and badder. And when you have completed the said quest it won't be long before you are given some other little job to do. And off you go back down the dungeon.
Because you return to the dungeon after each quest, it will come as refreshing news to know that when you do go back, the layout of the place is totally different.
Diablo is tremendous fun to play, it has that come-back-for-more feel about it and the graphics are quite stunning. But it a mix and match of other games than a pioneer in its own right and unless you have the facilities to play over the Internet or one of the other multi-player modes, you're never going to really appreciate it to the full.
Graphics: 92%, Sound: 92%, Gameplay: 88%