"Monty Haul." "Hack and Slash." If these names mean anything to you, you'll like Diablo. The story is simple and doesn't get in the way of the action: the demon Diablo has set up shop beneath the cathedral on the edge of town, and it's your job to destroy him. Diablo was and is one of the great PC role-playing games, and this PlayStation port holds true to the original. You create your character--Warrior, Sorcerer, or Rogue--and take him or her up in experience levels as you hack your way down, level by level, to the bottom of the dungeon beneath the cathedral, where Diablo awaits. Along the way you gain a lot of cool magical artifacts, weapons, and equipment. These mystical tools define your character as much as or more than the obligatory character stats such as strength, dexterity, and stamina.
The game's only flaws are due to its translation to the PlayStation. The controls can be difficult, especially with ranged weapons, and the two-player mode throws both characters on the same screen, often making it problematic to negotiate the various rooms of any given level.
Complaints aside, Diablo is a solid hack and slash adventure game. You'd be either a fool or a coward to pass it up. --John Cocking
Pros:
- Great hack and slash action
- Magical goodies galore
- Classic dungeon crawl
Cons: - Awkward controls
- Frustrating 2-player mode
