Describing Diablo II as iconic is not merely a random descriptor, it is a seminal release which not only helped define a genre but laid the groundwork for a long time in which loot, real time action, player progression, and objects like assembles and weapons and Diablo 2 Items character classes became as ubiquitous as military shooters that focused on gruff soldiers with assault rifles. Actually you could probably trace Call of Duty's multi-player systems back to Diablo. Probably.

In BlizzCon last month, when we got our first glance at Diablo II: Resurrected, the surprise came not from the announcement itself but in how the execution seemingly exceeded all expectations. Impressive, contemporary 3D visuals which stay true to the look and feel of the first. Visuals that sit at the top of these classic 2000-era pixels, introducing a radical visual makeover that averts what makes Diablo II, well, D2.

"I will argue that it is easier than trying to reconstruct brick-for-brick the whole game. I'd rather take the Sistine Chapel and rotoscope it over afterward be like here is a bunch of pictures, go build it over here. It does have unique challenges because we are seeing behind the curtain."

For Diablo II: Resurrected, that includes the game and the Lords of Destruction expansion, 1 way to think about it's in that rotoscope or tracing sense. Employing the inherent assets and match as a means to push the 3D layer. In addition to taking each and every part and recreating it, animating it, including textures, and light too -- the challenge mainly derives from the nature of going 3D.

"It is the 2D into 3D world translation," Rod Fergusson, Executive Producer on Diablo II: Resurrected adds. "When you have a sprite-based 2D world it's a horizontal thing on a level thing. And now you have stairs with altitude, you have undulating ground a sword has to fall onto. Even simple things like readability become a challenge, like a Paladin's Aura. The way which you can view the Aura very definitely tells you you have that particular Aura. Imagine if you are walking through a grassy field and the air is being blocked by grass because that's 3D now and it is physically on the ground and growing up Cheap Diablo 2 Resurrected Items through the Aura. And there is clarity in Diablo II's 2D world"