The release of Diablo 2: Resurrected is quickly approaching, with the remade version of the classic action-RPG arriving on September 23. Building up to its launch, Blizzard has decided to let the game speak for itself. Two videos were released yesterday, featuring Diablo 2: Resurrected's remade versions of the Act 1 and Act 2 cinematics. While each is exciting on its own, a Diablo 2 fan has decided to call attention to the videos' similarities to the originals with a thrown-together comparison video.
Cycu1's video puts both the original cinematic for Diablo 2's Act 2 introduction and the new Diablo 2: Resurrected Act 2 video side by side, along with some cheesy and rather distracting fire animations below. The pairing is rather simple, because Diablo 2: Resurrected appears to use the same audio that the original game had. As such, the two videos are perfectly aligned for comparison using the new trailer's audio recording.
The first thing that watchers will notice is how authentic Diablo 2: Resurrected's cinematic is the original video. There have been no significant changes to the material of the cinematic, with each sequence matching to the other video. Of course, the visuals have been improved dramatically in every way, but otherwise, Blizzard and Vicarious Visions have done nothing to alter the intent or storytelling of the original Diablo 2 Act 2 cinematic.
As authentic as the Diablo 2: Resurrected Act 2 cinematic is to the original, it's also obvious that it's not a 1:1 recreation. The most dramatic differences in the opening montage show the Wanderer and Marius wandering through the desert. There's one sequence where the pair aren't in the original game, but are shown in the new game. Another sequence shows that it's daylight in the original game, but night in the new game, better conveying the passage of time and the Wanderer's head start.
The changes line up with Vicarious Visions' promise to only make adjustments where it improves or enhances the experience without taking away from the original game. If there is a criticism, it's that the new cinematic has made Tal Rasha's tomb much brighter than the original game. The unsettling nature of that original video has been toned down a notch or few.
All ten of the original Diablo 2's cinematics have been updated in a similar way to what's shown in this comparison video. Naturally, they'll all be included with the purchase of Diablo 2: Resurrected. Who knows, if enough Diablo 2 fans buy the new game then Vicarious Visions may even have to put together some new ones, too.
Diablo 2: Resurrected releases September 23 on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.